Social Work, Minor
Program Coordinator:
Elena Chernyak
Faculty:
Elena Chernyak; Adjunct Faculty: Denise Newvine
Minor
Social Work
About
The minor in Social Work is designed to familiarize students with the social work profession and areas of work, social service systems, and major social welfare programs. This is an excellent minor for students interested in combining a primary academic area (major), such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, nursing, anthropology or global studies with the study of complex social problems, social welfare systems, social services and professional social work content. A minor in social work should be of interest to those who intend to pursue a career in the social work field - a growing and high demand profession.
Mission Statement
The Hartwick College Social Work minor program prepares students to advance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities and is committed to promoting social justice through advocacy, community partnerships, and action. Through excellence in teaching, research and service and emphasizing respect for the social, political, and cultural diversity of upstate New York population, the Social Work minor program develops practitioners, advocates, leaders, and scholars to serve vulnerable population on the micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels and to contribute to the development and dissemination of social work knowledge and skills.
Values
The social work program supports the core values of the social work profession, reflecting the six value elements of the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics and two value elements added by the Council on Social Work Education. These elements include:
- Service
- Social justice
- The dignity and worth of the person
- The importance of human relationships
- Integrity
- Competence
- Human rights
- Scientific inquiry
These values provide the foundation for the mission and goals of the social work program and Hartwick College social work program curriculum.
The social work minor program provides a rigorous curriculum grounded in the liberal arts and geared to promote the knowledge, values and skills used in the social work field that can be applied across settings and diverse populations. The program also promotes critical thinking skills, as well as ethical and competent social work practice consistent with the mission and objectives of the social work profession. To this end, the program goals include:
- to provide student with a comprehensive background in the social welfare system in the United States, its relationship to the market economy, and the historical, political, and cultural factors that shape its course
- to provide students with the opportunity to explore in depth some of the challenging issues confronting individuals and society and to familiarize themselves with available services and programs aimed at improving of the quality of life for individuals, families, communities and society
- to help students better understand the work of social work professionals who work with and within agencies and state, federal, and tribal governments
- to prepare professionals who understand and respect social and cultural diversity at the local, national, and international levels
- to contribute to the development of social work knowledge by promoting student and faculty research in the social work field in general and, more particularly, research to enhance the quality of social work education and practice.