Competencies

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requires social work students to complete nine core competencies that correlate with social work ethics and values in order to obtain a Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree. Each competency has multiple practice behaviors that must be evidenced in coursework and field placement. Listed below is an outline of the Nine Core Competencies as well as the associated practice behaviors demonstrated:

• Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • 1.1 Develop a practice framework for analysis of complex environments that is ethical, value-grounded, and evidence-based
  • 1.2 Implement supervisory and self-care strategies that integrate professional strengths, limitations, and challenges
  • 1.3 Exhibit commitment to professional growth through continuing education, supervision, and ongoing consultation
  • 1.4 Demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills
• Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • 2.1 Develop and implement strategies that strive to eradicate discrimination in any form
  • 2.2 Implement evidence-based and culturally-informed strategies with diverse populations
• Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • 3.1 Demonstrate leadership in advocating for human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice
  • 3.2 Design and implement social action strategies
• Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
  • 4.1 Engage in a review of contemporary best practices
  • 4.2 Conduct research that responds to social work practice needs
• Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • 5.1 Advocate with and inform stakeholders to impact policy change
  • 5.2 Develop and implement a policy and/or advocacy plan
• Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • 6.1 Examine evidence-based practices to prepare for professional engagement across systems
  • 6.2 Engage with systems utilizing evidence-based practice strategies
• Competency 7: Assess with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • 7.1 Formulate comprehensive assessments, using a variety of diagnostic classification systems
  • 7.2 Design and implement organizational and/or community assessments
• Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • 8.1 Implement clinical evidence-based interventions with individuals, families, and/or groups
  • 8.2 Integrate macro level evidence-based strategies with organizations and/or communities
• Competency 9: Evaluate Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • 9.1 Select evidence-based evaluation strategies according to their efficacy with specific client systems
  • 9.2 Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of practice outcomes across systems