Contact Information

phone: (716) 839-8515
daemen.edu/socialwork

Chair

Diane R. Bessel
(716) 566-7876

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
• Master of Social Work

Accreditation Information

The Social Work baccalaureate program is an accredited program. You can find SW accreditation information in our catalog.

Mission Statement

Daemen University Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) Program prepares its students to use the generalist intervention model to effectively address the needs and desires of diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, in various settings, and at all levels of social work practice.

The BASW Program is grounded in the liberal arts, with a strong emphasis on service here at home and in the world. It teaches its students to engage in critical thinking, research, and awareness of social structures, policies, and systems to identify problems and advance strategies designed to educate, empower, and ensure access to resources, rights, and opportunities. The BASW program also encourages the development of greater self-awareness, cultural competence, and humility among emerging practitioners as well as the delivery of culturally responsive programs and services

Program Goals

In accordance with its mission, the Daemen University BASW Program seeks to:

• Prepare students with the knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and critical judgment necessary for effective practice and/or advanced study in social work;
• Encourage critical self-reflection and self-management as well as a commitment to life-long learning as part of ethical and professional social work behavior;
• Ensure students are prepared to engage diversity and difference in practice – integrating knowledge of human behavior and the environment; awareness of oppression, discrimination, power, and privilege; and recognition of how each can shape life experiences – while also advocating for social, economic, and environmental justice and the advancement of human rights;
• Provide opportunities for students to engage in practice with various constituencies and in multiple settings – using research to inform practice and practice to inform research; and
• Enrich the local, national, and international community through service, research, innovation, and other capacity-building support.

Program Objectives

Graduates of the Daemen University Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Program will demonstrate that they are able 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; and
• Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Admission Requirement

First-year students are admitted to the Social Work program on a conditional basis. In the second semester of the sophomore year, students must complete the Upper Division application and participate in an interview in order to be fully accepted into the Social Work program.