Master's in Social Work (MSW) Program

The Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Program offered by Kean University provides comprehensive training to prepare students for the field of social work.  With a focus on direct clinical practice, Kean University graduate students are taught clinical skills rooted in evidence-based practice.  The curriculum is designed to give students an opportunity to enhance their abilities in working with individuals, families and groups. As students learn to master clinical practice, they are also prepared in areas such as research, policy, and diversity.  Kean is proud to be recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ethnically diverse universities in the country.  The pride we hold in our diversity is reflected in our curriculum as we teach about cultural competency, the importance of advocacy and working with marginalized communities.  

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Social Work program aligns with the values of the social work profession. The central theme of the mission embraces the six core values of the profession as the program provides an engaging, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where the intent is to develop clinically competent diverse social workers. The goal is for these social workers to serve as advocates in clinical practice, and as ethically grounded professionals to promote social, economic, and environmental justice in a global society. 

The alignment between the program’s mission and National Association of Social Workers’ six core values are indicated as the following: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of a Person, Importance of Human Relationship, Integrity and Competence. The Master of Social Work program is committed to expanding learning opportunities for students from diverse local, national, and international communities by fostering knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes. The program is dedicated to developing clinically competent and ethically grounded social workers to engage in evidenced based clinical practice and research-informed advocacy to promote social, economic, and environmental justice with diverse individuals, families, and groups.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) provides educational competencies, that all accredited MSW Programs must use to guide delivery and assessment of the curriculum.

The competencies you will master(also used as student learning objectives) are as follows:

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities