The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has established nine core interrelated skills that all social workers must be able to demonstrate in practice, known as generalist competencies, along with more specific component behaviors that consist of knowledge, values, skills and cognitive and affective processes for each competency.
Each Master of Social Work (MSW) Program then develops additional specialized competencies and component behaviors unique to the specialization of the program that build on the foundation of generalist practice.
Generalist Social Work Competencies and Component Behaviors
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction between personal and professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions influence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession’s history, its mission, and the roles and responsibilities of the profession. Social Workers also understand the role of other professions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers recognize the importance of life-long learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and effective. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice. Social workers: G1.1 Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context. G1.2 Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations.
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Social workers understand how diversity and difference characterize and shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors including but not limited to age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereign status. Social workers understand that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power. Social workers: G2.1 Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. G2.2 Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences. G2.3 Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Social workers understand that every person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations, and are knowledgeable about theories of human need and social justice and strategies to promote social and economic justice and human rights. Social workers understand strategies designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods, rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural human rights are protected. Social workers: G3.1 Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels. G3.2 Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Social workers understand quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice. Social workers know the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and culturally informed and ethical approaches to building knowledge. Social workers understand that evidence that informs practice derives from multi-disciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also understand the processes for translating research findings into effective practice. Social workers: G4.1 Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research. G4.2 Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings. G4.3 Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.
Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Social workers: G5.1 Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services. G5.2 Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services. G5.3 Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate. Social workers: G6.1 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies. G6.2 Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in the assessment of diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers recognize the implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the importance of inter-professional collaboration in this process. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making. Social workers: G7.1 Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies. G7.2 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies. G7.3 Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies. G7.4 Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand that intervention is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are knowledgeable about evidenceinformed interventions to achieve the goals of clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to effectively intervene with clients and constituencies. Social workers understand methods of identifying, analyzing and implementing evidence-informed interventions to achieve client and constituency goals. Social workers value the importance of interprofessional teamwork and communication in interventions, recognizing that beneficial outcomes may require interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and inter-organizational collaboration. Social workers: G8.1 Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies. G8.2 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies. G8.3 Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes. G8.4 Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies. G8.5 Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Social workers recognize the importance of evaluating processes and outcomes to advance practice, policy, and service delivery effectiveness. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in evaluating outcomes. Social workers understand qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating outcomes and practice effectiveness. Social workers: G9.1 Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes. G9.2 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes. G9.3 Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes. G9.4 Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
UTSA MSW Specialized Competencies and Component Behaviors
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence understand multiple frameworks for culturally responsive ethical reasoning and decision-making. They know how to use the principles of critical inquiry and reflection to provide ethical and culturally responsive practice, policy, and research. They understand how to formulate and apply ethical and culturally congruent strategies to address complex ethical and legal dilemmas across multidisciplinary settings. They appreciate the importance of being socially responsible in their practice with diverse populations including the centrality of social, economic, and environmental justice. They know the profession’s history in relation to practice methods, with attention to the profession’s role in advancing justice. They anticipate how ethics, practice, and culture may be incongruent, thus perpetuating social, environmental, and economic injustice and human rights violations. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence understand how cultural contexts and standards for ethical, technology-based, and culturally responsive practice inform their decision-making. When formulating and communicating culturally congruent professional judgments, they use the multidimensional contextual perspective and social construction to synthesize, evaluate, and adapt knowledge from multiple sources. They understand the unique roles of social work with diverse and underserved populations within interprofessional settings. Social workers with specialized, advanced cultural competence value the importance of enhancing the profession’s and their own work with diverse populations, which requires dedication to continuous life-long learning and development. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S1.1 Select and adapt ethical decision-making strategies to be culturally responsive. S1.2 Ensure professional judgment and behavior by using critical reflection, self-regulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, biases, affective/emotional responses, and influences of personal experiences in relation to ethical decision-making. S1.3 Evaluate interprofessional and social work roles and boundaries with attention to diversity, social justice, and professional standards. S1.4 Demonstrate ethical and culturally congruent use of technology in practice, policies, and service delivery. S1.5 Articulate strategies for lifelong learning and development that include assessment of their knowledge, beliefs, values, and skills.
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence know how to apply the multidimensional contextual perspective to understand diversity and difference in practice including the intersectionality of client and environmental factors, and the impact of oppression, discrimination, injustices, and power and privilege differentials. They understand that the social construction of difference includes marginalization, creation of oppressive structures, and the privileging of knowledge and resources. They understand cultural humility as central to cultural competence, and that it is operationalized through relational dialogues. They recognize the importance of ongoing critical reflection, self-evaluation, self-regulation, and self-correction to provide culturally congruent and just practice, policy, research, and service delivery. They understand how their own and others’ experiences as targets or agents of oppression, discrimination, micro aggressions, and power and privilege differentials influence professional relationships, including the dialogic process with diverse clients, stakeholders, and colleagues. They feel a sense of personal agency in addressing these issues. They understand that cultural competence is not an end-point but a life-long process including knowing how to learn about diverse and marginalized groups. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S2.1 Engage in dialogues about differences in culture, power, and privilege with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients across multidisciplinary settings. S2.2 Demonstrate ability to guide their own learning about diverse and marginalized groups by taking the posture of learner with client as expert (for example, through use of ethnographic interviewing). S2.3 Provide culturally congruent and just practice, policy, research, and service, by engaging in critical reflection, self-regulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, personal values, affective/emotional responses, “isms,” micro-aggressions, implicit and explicit biases on an ongoing basis.
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence know how to translate (a) their understanding of global interconnectedness of oppression and (b) their commitment to social, economic, and environmental justice into practice that advances human rights and ensures equitable distribution of social goods, rights, and resources. They understand how to articulate and apply theories of justice in practice with diverse clients/client systems by applying social constructionism, the multidimensional contextual perspective, ecological/systems, and empowerment/strengths theories. They understand that transformational culturally competent social work must address the global interconnections of human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S3.1 Articulate advocacy approaches with attention to advancing human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice, and promoting social change from a local/global perspective. S3.2 Understand that culturally responsive advocacy plans must address oppressive structural barriers and ensure equitable distribution of social goods, rights, and responsibilities. S3.3 Apply understanding of the global interconnections of justice and human rights to evaluating their own roles and local practice context.
Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence understand the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders/clients in planning and conducting culturally responsive research to generate evidence-based and practice-based knowledge. They understand how to critically analyze and address issues of power and privilege differentials and adapt research methods to ensure that research conducted is culturally relevant and just. They value the importance of cultural congruence in research conduct. Specifically, transformational culturally competent social workers understand how to apply the principles of critical inquiry to differentially analyze, select, translate, and adapt theoretical, evidence-based, and practice-based findings and local knowledge to provide effective culturally responsive and just practice, policies, and service delivery congruent with populations served. They are able to interpret findings of research syntheses like meta-analyses or qualitative meta-syntheses. They understand how community-based participatory research empowers stakeholders to learn how to conduct their own research and identify community strengths, problems, and needs. They understand how personal, professional, societal, and cultural values, beliefs, and biases may influence cultural responsiveness of the research process. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S4.1 Analyze issues of power and privilege differentials in the conduct of research. S4.2 Differentially apply research skills and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to conduct culturally congruent and just research, including community-based participatory research. S4.3 Use critical inquiry to synthesize, translate, and differentially adapt evidence-based and practice-based findings and client-based/indigenous knowledge to provide effective culturally responsive and just practice, policy, and service delivery. S4.4 Conduct culturally competent practice-informed research and research-informed practice by engaging in critical reflection, self-regulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, personal values, emotional/affective responses, implicit and explicit biases as they pertain to research.
Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence understand how to draw on their knowledge of social construction and a multidimensional contextual perspective as they engage in policy practice that promotes culturally responsive systems change, with attention to diverse and intersecting circumstances, problems, needs, and injustices. They know the history of social policies and services and their impact on marginalized groups, including social movements and special interest groups, and are able to assess proposed and existing policies to determine the impact on diverse individuals and groups. They are able to advocate for social change and engage stakeholders/constituency groups in the change process. As transformational culturally competent social workers, they understand the importance of providing leadership and advocating for culturally responsive policies and services that promote social, environmental, and economic justice and empower clients/constituency groups to lead and advocate as well. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S5.1 Influence policy through analysis and advocacy, with attention to diverse and intersecting circumstances, problems, needs, and injustices. S5.2 Articulate advocacy approaches that address advancement of human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice from a cultural and global perspective. S5.3 Act as change agents, in collaboration with stakeholders/clients, to promote provision of sustainable, culturally responsive services. S5.4 Demonstrate understanding of the cultural congruence of local, state, and federal policies that impact social service delivery and access.
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence know how to draw on their understanding of social construction and multidimensional contextual, ecological/systems, and empowerment/strengths perspectives as well as human behavior and the social environment and multidisciplinary theories to engage clients and stakeholders. They understand the ongoing engagement process from a range of practice theories and approaches for culturally responsive engagement with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. They value the importance of relationships and collaborative partnerships when engaging clients and client systems. To ensure cultural congruence with clients/client systems served, they know how to use critical inquiry augmented by the multidimensional contextual perspective and social construction to synthesize, adapt, and evaluate multiple sources of knowledge about engagement strategies, including evidenced-based, practice-based, theoretically-based, multidisciplinary, and client-based/indigenous. Culturally competent social workers understand the influence of power and privilege differentials, diversity, and social, economic, and environmental justice upon the engagement process. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S6.1 Value the centrality of empathy, collaboration, and interpersonal skills in dialogues with diverse clients, stakeholders, and colleagues. S6.2 Engage individuals, families, and groups as partners in the change process with attention to power and privilege differentials, diversity, and social, economic, and environmental justice. S6.3 Engage organizations and communities as partners in the change process with attention to power and privilege differentials, diversity, and social, economic, and environmental justice. S6.4 Use critical inquiry to synthesize and differentially adapt engagement skills from theoretical, evidence-based, practice-based, and local knowledge to provide culturally responsive engagement to clients/client systems. S6.5 Ensure culturally responsive engagement practices by using critical reflection, selfregulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, implicit and explicit biases, affective/emotional responses, personal values, and influences of personal experiences arising during engagement processes.
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence know assessment skills and techniques from a range of theories and practice approaches and understand how to synthesize and differentially adapt them to provide culturally responsive assessment to diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. They draw on their understandings of social construction and multidimensional contextual, ecological/systems, and empowerment/strengths perspectives as well as human behavior and the social environment and multidisciplinary theories to assess clients and stakeholders. They value the centrality of relationships and collaborative partnerships when assessing clients/client systems. They know how to use critical inquiry augmented by the multidimensional contextual perspective and social construction to synthesize, differentially adapt, and evaluate multiple sources of knowledge including evidenced based, practice based, theoretically based, and client-based/indigenous assessment and goal setting strategies to ensure cultural congruence with clients/client systems served. They understand how to apply this knowledge to assess the influences of socially constructed structures, social systems and culture upon the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and the communities in which they reside. Culturally competent social workers understand how assessment processes are influenced by power and privilege differentials, diversity, and social, economic, and environmental justice. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S7.1 Assess cultural strengths, limitations, and challenges, and how these impact client/client system functioning, and integrate understanding of these assessment findings into intervention plans. S7.2 Select, evaluate, adapt, and implement multidimensional assessment methods for individuals, families, and groups with attention to cultural congruence, using critical inquiry to draw on a range of theories and practice approaches, evidence-based and practice-based findings, and client-based/indigenous knowledge, and integrate findings into culturally congruent intervention plans. S7.3 Conduct environmental assessments of organizations and communities with attention to diverse and intersecting circumstances, problems, needs, and injustices, using critical inquiry to draw on a range of theories and practice approaches, evidence-based and practice-based findings, and client-based/indigenous knowledge, and integrate findings into culturally congruent intervention plans for organizations and communities. S7.4 Assess clients/client systems with cultural responsiveness by using critical reflection, self-regulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, implicit and explicit biases, personal values, affective/emotional responses, and influences of personal experiences in relation to assessment processes.
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence master intervention skills and techniques from a range of theories and practice approaches. They understand how to select and differentially adapt them to provide culturally responsive interventions to diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. They draw on understanding of social construction and multidimensional contextual, ecological/systems, and empowerment/strengths perspectives as well as human behavior and the social environment and multidisciplinary theories to intervene. They value the centrality of relationships and collaborative partnerships when intervening with clients/client systems. They know how to engage in critical inquiry to synthesize, adapt, and evaluate multiple sources of knowledge, including evidenced-based, practice-based, theoretically-based, and client-based/indigenous knowledge to ensure culturally congruent interventions with clients/client systems. They understand how to apply this knowledge when intervening with clients/client systems. Culturally competent social workers understand the influence of power and privilege differentials, diversity, and social, economic, and environmental justice when intervening with clients/client systems. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S8.1 Use critical inquiry to evaluate, synthesize, adapt, and implement culturally responsive intervention skills and techniques from a range of theories and practice approaches, evidence-based and practice-based findings, and client-based/indigenous knowledge. S8.2 Differentially use intervention approaches that leverage indigenous helping strategies and natural support systems. S8.3 Facilitate transitions and endings with attention to power differentials, diversity, and social justice. S8.4 Provide intervention that is culturally responsive by using critical reflection, selfregulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, implicit and explicit biases, personal values, affective/emotional responses, and influences of personal experiences throughout intervention processes with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence understand the importance of ongoing evaluation to ensure effectiveness and cultural congruence. They know how to use the multidimensional contextual perspective and synthesis of ecological/systems, social construction, and empowerment/strengths conceptual frameworks in evaluation. They recognize that commonly used evaluation tools may not be culturally congruent and may require adaptation for congruence with populations served. They understand culturally congruent interpretation of findings and implications for improving services as a collaborative process with clients and stakeholders. They recognize, analyze, and address challenges of quantitative and qualitative evaluations of interventions in relation to diversity, power and privilege differentials, and social, economic, and environmental justice. Social workers who have specialized in transformational cultural competence: S9.1 Use critical inquiry to analyze and differentially adapt evaluation tools with attention to cultural congruence. S9.2 Formulate strategies to collaborate with client/client systems in the evaluation process, interpretation of findings, and application of findings to improve cultural congruence and practice effectiveness at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. S9.3 Evaluate in ways that are culturally responsive by using critical reflection, selfregulation, and self-correction of their beliefs, implicit and explicit biases, personal values, emotional/affective responses, and influences of personal experiences when evaluating practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
