Criminal Justice/Social Work Learning Outcomes

Social Work Learning Outcomes

The purpose of Social Work education at Lourdes University is to prepare competent and effective professionals who will work to enhance the social functioning and interaction of individuals, families, and groups.

The Social Work Program at Lourdes University provides students with a generalist practice curriculum based on professional standards and in collaboration with a liberal arts education. In doing so, the program provides curriculum that builds on the liberal arts perspective that promotes breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills.

• The program advances the knowledge, values and skills that are essential to the practice of any social worker.
• Students receive a well-integrated body of knowledge that includes training in bio-psycho-social and spiritual assessment.
• Students learn to apply knowledge and skills of a generalist social work practice with diverse and at-risk populations.
• The program prepares students to use theoretical frameworks and research strategies to evaluate the process and effectiveness of social work practice.

A significant focus of the program is the enhancement of human well-being in order to alleviate poverty, oppression and other forms of social injustice. Students prepare to practice without discrimination, and to apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.

Criminal Justice Learning Outcomes

• Students will understand basic sociological concepts and theories and their relationship to the institutions of social control.
• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the administration of law enforcement agencies, adult and juvenile court systems, corrections policies, policing, philosophies of crime and punishment and theories of deviance.
• Students will express themselves in a clear and coherent manner and be able to discuss, in written and oral form, issues related to law enforcement and the provision of justice in society.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to apply ethical principles to the administration of justice.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural nature of society and the implications of societal diversity for the justice system.

Sociology Learning Outcomes

• Basic Sociological Concepts & Theory 
  1.  Students will understand basic concepts in sociology so that they will be able to
  • Define, give examples, and demonstrate an understanding of sociological concepts and theories.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply sociological concepts and theories
  • Express ideas in a clear and coherent manner in writing and in oral presentations.
• Basic Research Competence 
  2.  Students will understand the role of evidence in sociology, such that they will be able to:
  • Identify basic methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge;
  • Compare and contrast the basic methodological approaches for gathering data;
  • Complete  component(s) of a research study and explain why various decisions were made.
• Cultural and Global Diversity 
  3. Students will understand the diversity of American society and its place in the international context such that they will be able to:
  • Describe the significance of variations by race, ethnicity, class, gender, age and sexual orientation and other culturally relevant categories in human relations;
  • Compare and contrast the basic methodological approaches for gathering data;
  • Describe the social factors and processes through which prejudice and discrimination are created and perpetrated