USM School of Social Work
Assessment of MSW Student Learning Outcomes May 2024:
Generalist & Specialized
Based on 2015 EPAS
Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan: Master of Social Work
Assessment Measure 1: Competency Attainment Evaluation
| Dimensions Assessed | Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive/Affective Processes |
| When/Where Students are Assessed | Online, delivered in BrightSpace at the end of each spring semester |
| Who assessed student competency | The CAE is facilitated by the Associate Dean of SW |
| Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | For each competency domain, 80% will achieve competency |
| Competency Benchmark (percent of have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures, for competencies 1-9: | 80% for each competency domain |
Assessment Measure 2: Fieldwork Evaluation
| Dimensions assessed | Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive/Affective Processes |
| When/where students are assessed | In fieldwork, end of spring semester |
| Who assessed student competence | Field Instructors |
| Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | For each competency, 80% of students will achieve competency defined as at least 4 on the 5-point Likert scale |
| Competency Benchmark (percent of have achieved the minimum scores, Competencies 1-9: | 80% of students will achieve the minimum score |
The assessment data presented in Table 1 (MSW/Generalist) and Table 2 (MSW/Specialized) below represent the outcomes from the data collection at the end of Spring 2024. The tables present competency attainment in average percentages, aggregated across both the CAE and the Fieldwork Evaluation for the MSW curriculum. The first value in the formula represents CAE data; the second represents Field Evaluation data. Findings are used to inform quality improvement and special attention is given to the areas that fall beneath the set benchmarks.
Table 1:
Average Competency Attainment Aggregated Across Both Measures:
MSW Generalist
Competency Attainment Evaluation (CAE) & Field Evaluation
N=35
| Competency/Dimensions | Benchmark | % Attaining | Benchmark Met? |
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior (kvsca) | 80% | (87+99.4)/2=93.2% | Yes |
| Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice (kvsca) | 80% | (94+96.4)/2=95.2% | Yes |
| Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice (ksca) | 80% | (88.9+100)/2=94.5% | Yes |
| Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research- informed Practice (ks) | 80% | (90.5+86.9)/2=88.7% | Yes |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice (kvs) | 80% | (75.5+94.3)/2=84.9% | Yes |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (kvsca) | 80% | (93.1+98.5)/2=95.8% | Yes |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (kvsca) | 80% | (93+97.1)/2=95.0% | Yes |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (ksca) | 80% | (91.3+95.4)/2=93.3% | Yes |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (ks) | 80% | (75.5+87.2)/2=81.3% | Yes |
Table 2:
Average Competency Attainment Aggregated Across Both Measures:
MSW Specialized
Competency Attainment Evaluation (CAE) & Field Evaluation
N=30
| Competency/Dimensions | Benchmark | % Attaining | Benchmark Met? |
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior (kvsca) | 80% | (78.1+95.4)/2=86.7% | Yes |
| Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice (kvsca) | 80% | (83+95.8)/2=89.4% | Yes |
| Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice (ksca) | 80% | (75.5+86.7)/2=81.1% | Yes |
| Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research- informed Practice (ks) | 80% | (88.1+86.7)/2=87.4% | Yes |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice (kvs) | 80% | (84.3+91.1)/2=87.7% | Yes |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (kvsca) | 80% | (75.4+93.3)/2=84.3% | Yes |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (kvsca) | 80% | (84.4+94.1)/2=88.75% | Yes |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (ksca) | 80% | (77.3+95.3)/2=86.3% | Yes |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (ks) | 80% | (74.4+90.8)/2=82.6% | Yes |