Skip to main content
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Hotline Apply Visit
  • Academics
    • The 2+2 Plan: Start Here, Finish Anywhere
    • Degree Programs at Greater Allegheny
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
    • Academic Engagements
    • Student Support
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • Information for Transfer Students
    • Information for International Students
    • Accepted Students
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Veterans
  • Athletics
  • Information For
    • Future Students
    • Current Students
    • Alumni and Friends
    • Faculty & Staff
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Greater Allegheny
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Apply Visit
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Athletics
  • Career Services
  • Student Life
  • About Us

Find Information For:

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Alumni and Friends
  • Faculty & Staff

Helpful Links

  • Campus Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Information Technology Services
  • University Police
  • Sign Up for PSU Alerts
  • Give to Penn State Greater Allegheny

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Degree Programs
  4. Social Work (BSW)

Mission and Values of Social Work

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. The BSW program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.  

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) program is a mission, vision, and values based program that can prepare you for an impactful and rewarding career as a generalist social work practitioner.  

Dr. Christopher Robinson, BSW Program Director and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Greater Allegheny shares the duties, mission and vision of a social worker

BSW Program Mission

To prepare generalist practitioners to enhance human well-being and eliminate social injustices through advocacy, cultural humility, global citizenship, scholarship, and service.

The BSW program intends to address social problems and systems that affect diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through collaborative partnerships, ethical practice, scientific inquiry, social empowerment, and theoretical application. 

BSW Program Vision

To cultivate a competency-based, diverse, student-centered, technologically advanced learning environment that empowers generalist practitioners to advance human well-being through competent, culturally sensitive, anti-discriminatory, and anti-racist social work practice.

BSW Program Values

  • Advocacy – Championing the rights of others through social, economic, environmental, and political forms of direct intervention and human empowerment.
  • Diversity – Embracing cultural humility and fostering an environment of equity and  inclusion that promotes dignity, respect, and the advancement of social justice and human rights.
  • Global Citizenship – Possessing an enhanced awareness of one’s local and international environments while recognizing the collective responsibility to act and participate in developing a just and sustainable society.  
  • Research – Engaging in producing scholarly work to acquire new or improved appreciation, insight, knowledge, and understanding within social work.
  • Service – Serving and empowering individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through exemplary servant leadership, public service, and quality programming for the betterment of society.

BSW Program Goals

  • To provide a culturally sensitive, professional social work education that prepares generalist practitioners to engage in the empowerment of diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • To prepare generalist practitioners to apply ethics, evidence-based knowledge, theory, and professional best practices in diverse communities and social work settings.
  • To prepare generalist practitioners to identify and engage in professional social work practice focused on human well-being, alleviating poverty, and social injustices.

Social Work (BSW)

  • Mission and Values of Social Work
  • Social Work Related Certificates
  • BSW Program Competencies
  • Practice Settings
  • Meet the Social Work Faculty
Visit Us
Schedule a visit
Request Admissions Info
Request Info Here
Apply to Penn State
Apply to Penn State
Map of the campuses of Penn State throughout Pennsylvania highlighting the location of Penn State Greater Allegheny

Penn State Greater Allegheny

Located on 52-acres, Penn State Greater Allegheny is a residential campus offering 2 year and 4 year degree programs, including the Bachelor in Social Work program, starting in Summer 2022.  Students benefit from small class sizes, numerous on-campus job opportunities, and a Digital Fluency Project which places an iPad in the hands of each student.  
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
Apply Visit
  • This is Penn State
    • Our Impact Keeps Growing
    • Signature Programs & Initiatives
    • Mission and Values
    • Campus History
    • Chancellor's Welcome
  • Academics
    • The 2+2 Plan: Start Here, Finish Anywhere
    • Degree Programs at Greater Allegheny
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
    • Academic Engagements
    • Student Support
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • Information for Transfer Students
    • Accepted Students
    • Tuition and Student Aid
    • Information for International Students
    • Veterans
  • Athletics
  • Campus Resources
    • University Police
    • Information Technology Services
    • Campus Calendar
    • Campus Map
    • Virtual Tour
    • COVID-19 Information
  • Student Resources
    • CANVAS
    • Microsoft Office 365
    • LionPATH
    • Penn State Bookstore
    • Starfish
  • Contact Us
    • Campus Directory
    • Faculty Directory
    • Staff Directory
Penn State University
4000 University Drive, McKeesport, PA 15132 412-675-9000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State