Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Summarize the value base of the profession.
2. Summarize the ethical standards and principles of the profession.
3. Practice according to the ethical standards and principles of the profession.
4. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge and skills related to clients' age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.
5. Discuss the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.
6. Apply under supervision strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
7. Apply under supervision the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of various sizes.
8. Apply under supervision research findings to practice.
9. Evaluate own practice to determine if interventions are effective.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and program levels. Instructors assess knowledge of ethical standards in SOW 3036 Social Work and Social Welfare. Practice skills are assessed in the four practice courses offered: SOW 3300, 3322, 4331, and 4332; and in field internships under a qualified supervisor. Instructors in SOW 3322 Social Policy evaluate the student's progress after the completion of the final advocacy project demonstrating required knowledge. Field instructors and field coordinator evaluate applied competencies in SOW 4060 and 4061 Field education I and Field education II. Instructors in social work research assess the final research project, which demonstrates the required research skills. Graduating seniors will complete the Core Curriculum Comprehensive Examination.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Employ the conventions of standard written English.
2. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives.
3. Select, organize, and relate ideas and information with coherence, clarity, and unity.
4. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.

Communication skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed in ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Differential communications skills are assessed in the internship (Field education I and II) and by the instructors of the four practice courses: SOW 3300 Individuals and families, SOW 3322 Groups and communities, SOW 4314 Case-management, and SOW 4332 Community and Organizational Development.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Select and organize information.
2. Identify assumptions and underlying relationships.
3. Synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
4. Formulate an appropriate problem solving strategy.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy.
6. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.

Critical thinking skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Critical thinking skills are assessed at several points, including the field internships and practice courses. Papers, exams, quizzes, and practicum evaluation in the field education courses are done in conjunction with the internship supervisor. SOW 4060 and SOW 4061 maintain records of applied critical thinking skills.