Accreditation and Licensure
Learn more about accreditation and licensure for PNW’s social work program.
As part of a metropolitan university, the Social Work program at PNW serves a diverse student body reflective of our community and region. Students in the B.A. in Social Work (BASW) participate in several experiential-based courses and practicums where they learn and put into practice the theory, tools, skills, methods, and roles utilized in generalist social work as they advocate for individuals and families. Accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), the BASW prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that allow them to engage, advocate for, and enrich the communities in which they serve.
CSWE accreditation ensures that our program meets or exceeds peer-reviewed quality standards and has sufficient resources to meet its goals. It also reasonably assures our graduates are ready to practice in the field.
The B.A. in Social Work (BASW) program at PNW fulfills the educational requirements for a bachelor’s degree social worker license as required by the State of Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IC 25-23.6-5-1.5). Licensure in social work ensures that social workers possess the proper education and training to provide ethical and competent services. Social work License requirements differ from state to state; students should contact their home state’s licensing board for additional information regarding licensure requirements.
The data indicate that students graduating from the BASW program at PNW can demonstrate their competency in the nine competencies identified by CSWE.
Assessment Outcomes for 2023-2024
All students are assessed using the Field Instrument SWEAP Field Practicum Placement Assessment Instrument (SWEAP) and the Embedded Course Learning Plan Portfolio. These assessments are conducted during the final year of the student’s program of study and indicate their abilities to meet the nine competencies identified by the CSWE for Social Work generalist practice. The program strives to have at least 80% of its graduates performing at or above minimum competency levels on these assessments. Further, the results from these assessments are reviewed annually at the Annual Program Meeting to identify any concerns and make improvements to the program.
The data indicates that students graduating from the BASW program at PNW can demonstrate their competency in the nine competencies identified by CSWE.
This form is used to assist the COA in the evaluation of the program’s compliance with the accreditation standard below:
- 4.0.3: The program uses Form AS 4(B) and/or Form AS 4(M) to report its most recent assessment outcomes for each program option to constituents and the public on its website and routinely up-dates (minimally every 2 years) its findings
All programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) are required to measure and report student learning outcomes. All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. These holistic competencies reflect the dimensions (knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive & affective processes) of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.
Programs determine a percentage-based benchmark for each competency and determine an outcome-measure benchmark (minimum score) for each measure. The competency benchmark (which can differ for each competency) represents the minimum percent of students the program expects to have achieved the outcome measure benchmarks in both/all measures for each of the nine competencies. The program then determines the percentage of students that attained each outcome measure (e.g., minimum score or higher), and aggregates the percentages for both/all measures together to obtain the percentage of students demonstrating competence inclusive of two (2) or more measures. The result of aggregating both/all outcome measure percentages provides the percentage of students achieving the competency benchmark. An aggregated percentage at or above the competency benchmark is considered achievement of that competency. If the program has more than one program option, the program must report data for each program option, and also an aggregate of all program options combined to determine an overall percentage of students across all program options achieving the competency benchmark.
Posting Form AS 4 for Ongoing Compliance with AS 4.0.3
Per the requirement of CSWE COA’s recognizing body, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and accreditation standard 4.0.3, programs must post this form publicly on its website and routinely up-date (minimally every 2 years) its findings. Upon request, programs must provide CSWE with the weblink to the published form on the program’s website where it is accessible to the public. Data presented on the form must be collected within 2 years of today’s date at all times.
Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan | Generalist Practice
All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. Summarize the program’s competency-based assessment plan. Programs may add/delete rows to accurately reflect the number measures included in the data presented.
Assessment Measure #1: Field Placement/Practicum Assessment Instrument
| Dimension(s) assessed: | Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes |
|---|---|
| When/where students are assessed: | Internship sites in Field Practicum in Social Work II (Experiential) in Spring semester |
| Who assessed student competence: | Field Instructor |
| Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | 3 of 5 points |
| Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: | 80% |
Assessment Measure #2: Course Embedded Portfolio Assignment
| Dimension(s) assessed: | Knowledge, Cognitive & Affective Processes and Values |
|---|---|
| When/where students are assessed: | Field Practicum in Social Work II (Lecture) |
| Who assessed student competence: | Social Work (Field) Faculty |
| Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | 4.9 out of 7 points |
| Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: | 80% |
Directions for completing Form AS 4
Indicate the benchmark percentage for each competency. The competency benchmark is the percent of students the program expects to have achieved both/all outcome measure benchmarks. Programs calculate the percentage of students achieving each outcome measure benchmark, then calculate the percentage of students achieving each competency inclusive of two or more measures for each program option. Programs with multiple program options must present data for each program option, and in aggregate inclusive of all program options per competency. Programs may add/delete columns to accurately reflect the number of program options offered. This is a required form. The assessment data table may be altered to accurately reflect the number of program options offered and additional program-developed competencies program. However, beyond these formatting alternations, the program may not alter the content of this form.
Assessment Data Collected During the Academic Year (2023-2024)
| Competency | Competency Benchmark (%) | Percentage of Students Achieving Benchmark (n=10) |
|---|---|---|
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures | 100%+100%/2= 100% |