MSW Program Goals, Benchmarks, Core Competencies
MSW Mission
The mission of the Rutgers University School of Social Work MSW program is to advance competent, ethical, evidence-based and community and critically-informed master’s level social work practice that promotes social and economic justice and strengthens individual, family, and community well-being with an understanding of diversity in local, national and global contexts.
MSW Program Goals
- The MSW program will prepare master’s level practitioners for ethical, evidence-based and critically-informed social work practice that promotes social justice, engages diversity and difference, and strengthens individuals, families and communities in local, national and global contexts.
- The MSW program will design and deliver an innovative, rigorous competency-based social work curriculum rooted in a liberal arts tradition and person-in-environment framework that continuously incorporates state of the art social work knowledge, prepares practitioners to employ multiple evidence-informed prevention and intervention methods at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, and responds to emergent social problems and community, professional and labor force needs.
- The MSW program will offer flexible program options that best serve a diverse student body and reflect and contribute to 21st century educational practices and advancements.
- The MSW program will establish partnerships with a broad variety of social service agencies to educate and train students though practicum learning work while respecting and contributing to the agency’s mission and function.
MSW Program-Level Learning Goals/CSWE Competencies
Through engagement with the program, students gain understanding in the dimensions of knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors as prescribed in the 2015 Council on Social Work (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). The MSW program has adopted the nine CSWE Social Work Competencies outlined in the EPAS as well as a new SSW specific competency 10 as MSW program-level learning goals. MSW students will learn to;
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
- Engage in Policy Practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Develop Liberatory Consciousness
In addition, the School of Social Work adopted three new school-wide learning goals. Upon graduation, all students will be able to:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior;
- Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice;
- Engage, Assess, and Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
MSW program mission and goals are aligned with the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set forth by the Council on Social Work and Education (CSWE). These competencies differ by the Generalist and Specialist (CSW and MAP) years and are available in the PDF's below:
- 2015 Generalist (BA in Social Work and MSW) Competencies
- 2015 Clinical Social Work (CSW) Competencies
- 2015 Management and Policy (MAP) Competencies
Council on Social Work Education - Form AS 4(M)
Rutgers Master's Social Work Program | Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Form AS 4(M) A form required for Reaffirmation, Candidacy, and ongoing compliance per AS 4.0.3.
Submitting Form AS 4 for Reaffirmation Self-Study & Candidacy Benchmarks
This form is used to assist the Commission on Accreditation in the evaluation of the program’s compliance with the accreditation standard below:
4.0.3: The program uses Form AS 4(B) and/or Form AS 4(M) to report its most recent assessment outcomes for each program option to constituents and the public on its website and routinely up-dates (minimally every 2 years) its findings.
All programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) are required to measure and report student learning outcomes. All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. These holistic competencies reflect the dimensions (knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive & affective processes) of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.
Programs determine a percentage-based benchmark for each competency and determine an outcome-measure benchmark (minimum score) for each measure. The competency benchmark (which can differ for each competency) represents the minimum percent of students the program expects to have achieved the outcome measure benchmarks in both/all measures for each of the nine competencies. The program then determines the percentage of students that attained each outcome measure (e.g., minimum score or higher), and aggregates the percentages for both/all measures together to obtain the percentage of students demonstrating competence inclusive of two (2) or more measures. The result of aggregating both/all outcome measure percentages provides the percentage of students achieving the competency benchmark. An aggregated percentage at or above the competency benchmark is considered achievement of that competency. If the program has more than one program option, the program must report data for each program option, and also an aggregate of all program options combined to determine an overall percentage of students across all program options achieving the competency benchmark.
Posting Form AS 4 for Ongoing Compliance with AS 4.0.3
Per the requirement of CSWE COA’s recognizing body, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and accreditation standard 4.0.3, programs must post this form publicly on its website and routinely up-date (minimally every 2 years) its findings. Upon request, programs must provide CSWE with the weblink to the published form on the program’s website where it is accessible to the public. Data presented on the form must be collected within 2 years of today’s date at all times.
Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan | Generalist Practice
All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. Summarize the program’s competency-based assessment plan. Programs may add/delete rows to accurately reflect the number measures included in the data presented.
|
Assessment Measure #1: Embedded Curriculum Assessments |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Knowledge, Skills, Values, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
Designated assignments in selected courses |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Faculty teaching these courses |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Assessment Measure #2: Field Evaluation |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Values, Skills, Knowledge, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
End of semester evaluation |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Field Instructor |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan | Specialized Practice
Students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education and any additional competencies programs may choose to add, that reflect the area of specialized practice. Summarize the program’s competency-based assessment plan. Programs may add/delete rows to accurately reflect the number of areas of specialized practice and each measure included in the data presented.
Area of Specialized Practice #1: Clinical Social Work (CSW)
|
Assessment Measure #1: Embedded Curriculum Assessments |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Knowledge, Skills, Values, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
Designated assignments in selected courses |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Faculty teaching these courses |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: |
82% |
|
Assessment Measure #2: Practicum Evaluation |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Values, Skills, Knowledge, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
End of semester evaluation |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Field Instructor |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: |
82% |
Area of Specialized Practice #1: Management And Policy (MAP)
|
Assessment Measure #1: Embedded Curriculum Assessments |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Knowledge, Skills, Values, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
Designated assignments in selected courses |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Faculty teaching these courses |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: |
82% |
|
Assessment Measure #2: Field Evaluation |
|
|
Dimension(s) assessed: |
Values, Skills, Knowledge, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|
When/where students are assessed: |
End of semester evaluation |
|
Who assessed student competence: |
Field Instructor |
|
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-10: |
82% |
|
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: |
82% |
Assessment Data Collected during the Academic Year (2022-2023)
Program Option #1: (Traditional Program – New Brunswick)
|
COMPETENCY: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM – NEW BRUNSWICK |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
||
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
Management |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
98 |
100 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
100 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
98 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
98 |
99 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
98 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
98 |
99 |
96 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
100 |
96 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
95 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
98 |
98 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
100 |
*Missing course data due to new course formats
Program Option #2: (Traditional Program – Camden)
|
COMPETENCY: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM – CAMDEN |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
||
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
Management |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
97 |
82 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
82 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
66 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
94 |
97 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
98 |
71 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
95 |
100 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
96 |
100 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
94 |
100 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
98 |
95 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
*Missing course data due to new course formats
Program Option #3: (Traditional Program – Newark)
|
COMPETENCY: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM – NEWARK |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
||
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
Management |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
100 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
94 |
100 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
100 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
100 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
88 |
100 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
100 |
*Missing course data due to new course formats
Program Option #4: (Blended Program)
|
COMPETENCY: BLENDED PROGRAM |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
||
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
Management |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
91 |
100 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
100 |
100 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
98 |
99 |
100 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
98 |
100 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
98 |
100 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
*Missing course data due to new course formats
Program Option #5: (Fully Online Program)
|
COMPETENCY: FULLY ONLINE PROGRAM |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
|
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
98 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
96 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
98 |
98 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
98 |
99 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
97 |
99 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
97 |
99 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
96 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
*Missing course data due to new course formats
Program Option #6: (Intensive Weekend Program)
|
COMPETENCY: INTENSIVE WEEKEND PROGRAM
|
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
|
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
||||
|
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
|
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
|
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
|
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
96 |
|
Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99 |
99 |
|
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
|
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
99 |
|
Intervene With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
97 |
|
Evaluate Practice With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
97 |
|
Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
100 |
100 |
Overall Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
(Aggregate Findings for All Students from All Program Options Combined)
Assessment Data Collected during the Academic Year (2022-2023)
|
COMPETENCY: AGGREGATE OF PROGRAM OPTIONS |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (GEN) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (CSW) |
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK (MAP) |
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK |
||
|
Generalist |
Clinical Social Work |
Management |
||||
|
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
97% |
95% |
|
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
99% |
95% |
|
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
99% |
91% |
|
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
96% |
99% |
|
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
98% |
92% |
|
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
98% |
99% |
|
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
98% |
99% |
|
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
97% |
98% |
|
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
96% |
98% |
|
Competency 10: Develop Liberatory Consciousness |
82% |
82% |
82% |
99% |
99% |
100% |
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2014-15
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2015-16
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2016-17
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2017-18
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2018-19
Combined MSW Benchmarks 2019-20