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About the Social Work Program There are two major goals of the Social Work Program at UT Martin. The first of these goals is to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice (employment). Upon graduating, social work majors are ready for employment in the helping professions. The second major goal is to prepare students for study in graduate schools of social work. Social Work majors receive preferential consideration and advanced standing as candidates for graduate study. Most graduate schools of social work now offer an "accelerated" program of study whereby the student who has graduated from a CSWE accredited bachelor's level social work program may complete the master's program in twelve or eighteen months, rather than in the traditional two-year program for non-social work majors.
Although not a formal goal, the program also attempts to prepare students for life and living. As the social work major learns how to help others solve problems, modify behavior, improve coping and adapting abilities, et cetera, there is a carry-over in the student's day to day living which leads to more adequate functioning, more meaningful interpersonal relationships and greater ability to deal with anxiety, pressures and strains of life. Applying in one's personal life what has been learned in the classroom contributes toward a mastery of life.
At program entry and concurrent with classroom instruction, social work majors begin to come in contact with both providers and consumers of social services. This enables the student to integrate classroom learning and field experience through meaningful interaction with human services professionals and with clients, patients, consumers, and others.
The student is able to make an early assessment of feelings, reactions, impressions, and beginning abilities to function as a helping agent with the profession. This enables the student to make alternate career selections before too great an investment is made if social work is not satisfactory choice.
Course sequence is designed to carry the student through various levels of learning. Each level of learning in the social work curriculum requires a related field activity (practicum) which enhances the student's ability to relate what is taught in the classroom with actual practice in the work setting.
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