A competency approach to curriculum building: a social work mission

Area of Science:

• Social Work Education
• Curriculum Development
• Professional Competencies

Background:

• The article examines the historical context of curriculum development in social work.
• It highlights the influence of The John A. Hartford Foundation CSWE SAGE-SW Project on this evolution.
• The need for integrating professional competencies into social work curricula is emphasized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical reflection on social work curriculum development.
• To explore the SAGE-SW Project's connection to established curriculum building models.
• To present a practical tool for aligning educational requirements.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of curriculum development trends.
• Exploration of the SAGE-SW Project's role and impact.
• Development of a curriculum integration tool.

Main Results:

• The article traces the evolution of social work curriculum.
• It demonstrates the SAGE-SW Project's alignment with curriculum models.
• A functional tool is provided for combining Hartford Competencies and CSWE EPAS.

Conclusions:

• The SAGE-SW Project offers valuable insights into social work curriculum development.
• The provided tool facilitates the integration of essential competencies and accreditation standards.
• This work supports the advancement of evidence-based social work education.