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To: The Commission on Educational Policy
The Commission on Accreditation
From: Anita Curry-Jackson,
Chair, Department of Social Work
Wright State University and Chair, BPD, Advanced Standing Committee
Re: 2nd Draft of EPAS
I want to thank the two Commissions for the work related to the analyses of comments
submitted with respect to the first draft of EPAS and to the incorporation of suggestions and recommendations into the second
draft of EPAS. The second draft represents an improvement over the first draft.
The BPD Advanced Standing Committee
is interested, especially, in content related to the social work continuum. That is, we are interested in content that addresses
or has implication for the articulation between the baccalaureate social work degree and the graduate social work degree (master's
degree). The BPD Advanced Standing Committee reviewed EPAS/2nd Draft and identified areas that we want to endorse and support
their continued inclusion in EPAS, and an area that requires additional attention, development or refinement.
We want to underscore the importance of keeping the following three statements:
1. Educational Policy. Section
IV. Professional Foundation Curriculum - "All social work programs provide content on social work values and ethics;
diversity, populations-at-risk, and social and economic justice; human behavior in the social environment; social welfare
policy and services; social work practice; research, and field practicum. Content areas may be combined and delivered with
a variety of instructional technologies. Content is relevant to the mission, goals, and objectives of the program and to
the purposes, values, and ethics of the social work profession. In those areas where students demonstrate knowledge and skills,
they do not repeat program content."
The last sentence supports the social work education continuum and
helps to safeguard students from repeating educational content.
2. Accreditation Standards 2: Curriculum - 2.0
"The curriculum is developed and organized ...Social work education is grounded in a liberal arts base and contains a
coherent, integrated professional foundation in social work practice from which an advanced practice curriculum is built at
the graduate level."
B2.0.1 ...describes its coverage of the professional foundation curriculum identified
in the Educational Policy, Section IV, Professional Foundation Curriculum, ... M2.0.1 "The program describes its professional
foundation curriculum, identified in the Educational Policy, Section IV, Professional Foundation Curriculum. The program
defines its conception of advanced practice and explains how the advanced curriculum is built from the professional foundation...."
Accreditation Standards 2.0, B2.0.1 and M2.0.1 address the professional foundation for social work practice that
is be used by both the undergraduate and graduate social work programs. Therefore, the professional foundation content is
required for all social work graduates and serves as the base for the advanced curriculum for graduate social work education.
These statements support the social work education continuum.
3. Accreditation Standard 5: Student Professional
Development - "M5.3.1 Advanced standing status is only awarded to graduates of social work baccalaureate programs accredited
by CSWE or approved by its Foreign Equivalency Determination Service."
The BPD Advanced Standing Committee
supports the continuation of these content areas in the final EPAS (Educational Policy, Section III. Program Objectives and
Section IV. Professional Foundation Curriculum; and Accreditation Standards 2: Curriculum, B2.0.1, M2.0.1, and
M5.3.1).
Area For Further Development And Refinement
The BPD Advanced Standing Committee notes one area for
further development - Educational Policy, Section III. Program Objectives. These program objectives relate to the professional
foundation for both undergraduate and graduate social work education. Thus, students completing the professional foundation
at either the undergraduate level or graduate level will be expected to meet the outcomes listed. However, it seems that there
should be additional expected outcomes for master's social work graduates completing the advanced practice curriculum.
Thank you for the attention given the above matter.
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