University of Arkansas Mission

The University of Arkansas is a nationally competitive, student-centered, research university serving Arkansas and the world. The University embraces and expands the historic trust inherent in the land-grant philosophy by providing access to academic and professional education, by developing intellectual growth and cultural awareness in its students, and by applying knowledge and research skills to an ever-changing human condition.

School of Social Work Mission

Consistent with and flowing from the mission of the University of Arkansas, the mission of the University of Arkansas School of Social Work is to conduct research, educate leader/practitioners, and apply research findings in outreach efforts, to improve the quality of life of vulnerable persons, families, groups, organizations and communities. This mission is achieved through the research, education and outreach activities of the School’s students, faculty, and professional staff.

School of Social Work Goals

The goals of the School of Social Work flow from its mission and provide direction to its education, research, and service/outreach units including: the baccalaureate social work program, the MSW program, the Social Work Research Center, and the Academic Partnership in Social Welfare. These goals are to:

1. Provide excellence in professional baccalaureate and masters social work education with special attention to poverty reduction and the integrating of new technologies.
   
2. Conduct, disseminate, and apply social work research through faculty, student, and professional staff efforts, particularly in the broad area of poverty reduction.
   
3. Provide outreach/service n the forms of training, consultation, and continuing education to help address the needs of diverse vulnerable people locally, nationally, and globally.
   
4. Prepare students for life-long and interdisciplinary learning including graduate and post-graduate education required in a global context with ever expanding knowledge.
   

MSW Program Goals

Each unit of the School derives its goals from those of the School. The goals of the MSW program flow form those of the School and are listed below.

1. Prepare graduates for advanced independent professional social work practice grounded in a solid liberal arts and professional foundation of knowledge, skills, and values.
   
2. Prepare graduates for advanced empirically based professional social work practice from a multi-system, life course perspective.
   
3. Prepare graduates for advanced social work practice with a firm grounding in strategies and tactics for poverty reduction, including interdisciplinary collaborative learning, across system levels in Arkansas, nationally, and globally.
   
4. Prepare graduates for advanced professional social work practice who are skilled in the use of a variety of technologies for direct practice including research, intervention, and advocacy across the range of social systems with sensitivity to the differing needs of persons across the life course.
   
5. Prepare graduate for advanced practice emphasizing collaborative and assets-based practice approaches to prepare non-profit, public, and private sector leader/practitioners committed to social and economic justice who are skilled in the use of a variety of technologies for practice in community and organizational development, management, and finance.
   
6. Prepare advanced professional social work practitioners for life-long learning including but not limited to doctoral studies.