Master of Social Work

The mission of George Fox University’s School of Social Work Masters Program is to prepare graduates for worldwide leadership and service as social work professionals who integrate the values, knowledge, and skills of social work with the highest competence and ethical integrity within public and private human service organizations, faith communities, and religiously affiliated agencies.

Three themes relevant to the convergence of mission between the university and the MSW program emerge:

• Competent, ethical integration of Christian faith and the highest standards of social work scholarship and professional practice
• Leadership in professionally oriented, globally engaged, experientially grounded education
• Commitment to social justice and service 

The program is designed for students who are committed to social justice and human service in an MSW program that:

• Combines the highest standards of social work scholarship and professional practice in the context of a strong, respected private university that maintains its distinctive Christian identity
• Prepares graduates to work ethically and effectively with spiritual and religious diversity
• Is characterized by the personal investment of faculty members in community building and the success of graduates

The social work program prepares graduates for competent professional practice of social work. The foundation (first year) of masters in social work programs prepares graduates for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

In the second year, we prepare graduates for advanced levels of social work practice in direct practice and community practice. These concentrations are selected for their fit with the program’s assessment of its mission, the needs of its envisioned service area (local, regional, national and/or international), and the interests of prospective students.

The George Fox MSW program has two advanced practice concentrations:

• Direct Practice with Families, Children, Individuals and Groups
• Community Practice (Organizations and Development)
• These concentrations focus on important and needed areas of practice while also providing graduates with a great deal of flexibility in their future career paths.

Consistent with the university and program mission, infused into both concentrations will be themes related to:

• The ethical integration of personal beliefs and competent professional practice
• Working effectively with diverse spiritual and religious beliefs, practices and organizations
• Meeting human needs and seeking social justice locally, nationally and globally