Motivation for social service and/or social change

MSSW Professional Statement
As part of your application to the MSSW program, you must submit a professional statement
that addresses the four key areas described below. Your content, critical thinking, and writing
style will provide important information about your understanding of the goals and values of the
social work profession and your ability to successfully engage in graduate level education. Your
statement must be 4‐5 typed, double spaced pages
1. Motivation for social service and/or social change, social work education, and a career
in the profession. Explain why you want to pursue professional social work education,
your reasons for applying to the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, and
your social service and/or social change interests and career goals.
2. Capacities for professional social work education. Comment on the nature and
circumstance of any strengths and/or problems, including emotional or social, that
might enhance or limit your study.
3. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. The NASW Code of
Ethics, which defines clients as individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities, includes the following statement: “Social workers treat each person in a
caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic
diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible self‐determination. Social
workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address
their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to
the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and the
broader society- interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values,
ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession”
(www.socialworkers.org/oubs/code/default.asp). Discuss how your personal values and
beliefs are or are not compatible with this professional standard. How will you reconcile
any conflicts between your personal values and the requirement of the profession?
4. Social Concern Analytical Essay. Concisely describe what you consider to be a major
social problem. Address the following areas in your essay:
a. Key societal and other factors that contribute to the problem.
b. Plausible strategies to solve the problem, including leadership roles that you
might use.
c. Challenges, including ethical dilemmas, which might arise in seeking to solve the
problem.
d. If relevant, personal experiences that have contributed to your interest in this
social problem.
Please upload your professional statement with your online Graduate Admissions application