MSW Mission Statement

The purpose of the Master of Social Work Program is to achieve the aims of the profession of social work by educating students for knowledgeable and competent practice with diverse populations. Originating in a commitment to increasing social and economic justice for underrepresented and oppressed groups, the MSW Program prepares professional social workers for advanced practice with individuals and families within the context of their communities. Special attention is paid to the multicultural environment, in particular to Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander and Asian cultures of our communities, state, and the Pacific region.

The University of Hawaiʻi awards a master of social work (MSW) degree upon completion of the MSW Program.

MSW Goals & Objectives

The MSW Program objectives specify the abilities students master in order to be prepared for effective professional social work practice.

1. Values and Ethics

At the completion of classroom and field education, graduating MSW students will be able to:

  • Understand, articulate, and integrate the principles, values, and ethics of the social work profession into their practice.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Identify and discuss the core values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the social work profession as codified in the NASW Code of Ethics

  • Practice in a manner consistent with the mission of social work and its core values

  • Determine when an ethical issue is present and identify the key values and principles involved

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum, students will be able to:

  • Understand legal regulations and standards related to social work in Hawaiʻi and their application in professional practice

  • Employ ethical problem-solving in their social work practice

  • Analyze ethical dilemmas and develop, implement, and assess an action plan in line with their analysis.

2. Professional Use of Self

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate achievement of professional use of self in practice.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Distinguish professional and personal roles, with awareness of the need to elevate service to others above self-interest

  • Use self purposefully and with awareness of own personal strengths and limitations in carrying out professional roles

  • Demonstrate flexibility in assuming various social work roles and coping with change, and is able to utilize supervision effectively.

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum students will be able to:

  • Understand their own personal values and biases and show understanding of and be able to describe how these impact work with clients

  • Participate in and assume responsibility for ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills

  • Identify and modify personal and professional barriers to effective practice and use self effectively in practice in an area of concentration.

3. Critical Thinking

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Apply critical thinking skills in professional contexts.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Understand the differences between verifiable facts and value claims, and the need to weigh knowledge claims against the evidence for them

  • Critically examine arguments and evidence and show openness in the evaluation of their own practice

  • Utilize research to inform and evaluate their practice.

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum students will be able to:

  • Examine evidence, synthesize disparate information, see patterns, determine relevance of evidence, develop and defend a theoretically based, empirically grounded rationale in analyzing a problem and developing a strategy

  • Modify their practice as a result of weighing feedback from supervisor, clients, instructors, self, and other data

  • Use research as a basis for practice, accurately interpret evidence, evaluate and select among alternative approaches, and determine and increase the extent to which clients benefit from their practice.

4. Applying Theory to Practice

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Analyze and apply knowledge to assessment and intervention in social work practice of biopsychosocial variables and theoretical frameworks that explain individual and social systems development.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Understand and apply at multiple system levels a broad range of knowledge regarding individual and social development and behavior

  • Display a community-based, generalist perspective on practice

  • Apply theory-grounded assessment tools and interventions appropriate to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum students will be able to:

  • Synthesize and apply a broad range of theory and knowledge with respect to assessment and intervention in an area of concentration

  • Engage in learning activities and apply new theory and knowledge relevant to their area of concentration

  • Select and apply theory-grounded assessment tools and practices appropriate to their area ofconcentration.

5. Advocacy

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Advocate effectively for social and economic justice.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Integrate knowledge of the mission, history, and philosophy of social work and social welfare

  • Use their knowledge and skills to improve the lives of communities and the individuals in them

  • Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies.

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum students will be able to:

  • Understand and critically analyze specific social welfare policies and programs pertinent to their area of concentration

  • Engage in social change in the quest for social and economic justice

  • Demonstrate skills for influencing change through advocacy, empowerment, and other strategies.

6. Diversity

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Achieve competency in working with diverse populations.

Upon completion of the foundation curriculum students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate personal and professional awareness of their own cultural values and biases and how these impact their abilities to work with others

  • Demonstrate skills for ongoing knowledge development of diversity with a focus on Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans and other oppressed groups and diverse populations

  • Develop skills in engaging persons from diverse cultures and groups.

Upon completion of the advanced curriculum students will be able to:

  • Understand and analyze the forms and mechanisms of discrimination and oppression, and the strategies and skills that advance social and economic justice for all populations at risk, with special attention to Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Asians

  • Actively evaluate and improve their own ability in valuing diversity and challenging oppression

  • Demonstrate competency in the areas of diversity relevant to their concentration.

7. Communication

At the completion of classroom and field education, MSW students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the oral, written, and attending skills that will enable them to communicate effectively and appropriately in relation to their setting and audience.

At the foundation level, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic requirements of record keeping in social work; and use information technologies appropriate to communicating effectively with clients and colleagues

  • Demonstrate that they are able to relate to clients in a non-judgmental manner

  • Demonstrate skill in interviewing and in communicating with different audiences orally and in writing in their academic and field work.

At advanced level, students will be able to:

  • Understand the specific forms of written and oral communication relevant to their area of concentration

  • Communicate appropriately and respectfully with different groups and client systems

  • Demonstrate a professional level of oral and written communication skills in the context of a specialized area of practice, including the ability to vary the use of those skills with different client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.

For more information, please review the information on this site, or contact Jennifer Kishida, MSW and PhD Program Assistant, at jenkishi@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-3831.

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