According to the 2015 Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, nine foundational competencies at the baccalaureate level include a set of professional practice behaviors that BSW students must demonstrate to enter the profession as entry-level generalist social work practitioners.
These nine foundational competencies are in alignment with the BSW program goals and mission in addition to the broader mission of Penn State. BSW coursework and field education experiences are created to assist in the development of each core competency and professional practice behavior. The nine core competencies embedded in the BSW curriculum include:
1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
2: Engage diversity and difference in practice
3: Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
4: Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
5: Engage in policy practice
6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
7: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
8: Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
9: Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
(CSWE, 2021)