Social Work Professional and Technical Standards

Observation

Students must be able to:

• Accurately observe clients to effectively assess their situations.
• Have functional use of the senses and sufficient motor capability to carry out the necessary assessment activities.

Communication

Students must be able to:

• Communicate effectively with other students, faculty, staff, clients and other professionals, and exemplify a willingness and ability to listen to others.
• Demonstrate effective communication in oral presentations, written assignments, small group settings, and through electronic means.
• Perceive and interpret nonverbal communication.
• Use spoken and writ­ten English to understand the content presented in the program.
• Comprehend reading assignments and search and evaluate the literature.
• Demonstrate competency in writing skills.

Sensory and Motor Functions

Students must have sufficient sensory and motor abilities to:

• Attend class and complete the required number of hours during their field practicum.
• Maintain consciousness and equilibrium and have the physical strength and stamina to perform satisfactorily in the classroom and in social work agency settings.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Functions

Students must have the ability to:

• Think critically, analyze and interpret objective and subjective data, and apply effective problem solving skills. These skills allow students to make proper assessments, use sound judgment, appropriately prioritize therapeutic interventions, and measure and report client outcomes.
• Demonstrate skills of recall using long and short term memory, inferential reasoning, application of knowledge, and evaluation of predicted outcomes at appropriate levels in the program.

Self Awareness

Students must exhibit:

• Knowledge and openness to learning how one’s values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions and past experiences affect thinking, behavior and relationships.
• Willingness to examine and change their behavior when appropriate and work effectively with others in subordinate positions as well as with those in authority.

Emotional and Mental Stability

Students must demonstrate the ability to:

• Deal with current life stressors through the use of appropriate coping mechanisms effectively by using appropriate self-care and developing supportive relationships with colleagues, peers, and others.
• Effectively use help for medical or emotional problems that interfere with academic and clinical performance.