Standard of Professional & Ethical Behavior
The Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver is mandated by the Council on Social Work Education () to foster and evaluate the professional development of all students enrolled in the BSSW and MSW programs. In accordance with the and grounded in the values codified by the , the Department of Social Work has identified specific behavioral expectations that all students are required to uphold. These Standards of Professional & Ethical Behavior are designed to ensure that students are prepared for the ethical, justice-oriented, and professional demands of the social work profession, and are grounded by the mission and vision of the Social Work department at 海角社区.
As members of a values-based profession, social work students are expected to demonstrate a commitment to human dignity, social justice, integrity, and service鈥攏ot only in formal learning environments, but in all interactions within and beyond the university. The behavioral standards articulated in this document apply across multiple domains of student activity: in the classroom (in-person and online), in internships, in interactions with peers, faculty, and staff, in all forms of written and verbal communication, and in community contexts where students represent the Department.
The purpose of this document is to support the professional formation of students and provide clear guidelines for conduct that reflect the responsibilities of social work practitioners. These expectations are enforceable and exist to protect the integrity of the learning environment, the safety and dignity of all community members, and the public trust in the profession. Students are always held accountable to these Standards during their enrollment, and failure to meet them may result in a grievance that will be addressed by an Informal or Formal Resolution process. Possible resolution outcomes may include a warning, academic sanction, or other disciplinary consequences as outlined by department and university policy. These standards are binding regardless of whether a student has signed an acknowledgment form.
Social Work Values
The social work profession is grounded in a set of core values that form the basis for ethical and professional behavior. These values are articulated in the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and are reflected throughout the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Students in the 海角社区 Department of Social Work are expected to internalize these values and demonstrate them consistently in the classroom, in internships, and in the community.
These values are not aspirational ideals鈥攖hey are ethical mandates. Professional conduct requires that students not only understand these values intellectually but embody them through their daily professional behavior, decision-making, and communication. The following value areas constitute the ethical framework that guides student expectations throughout the program.
A. Service
Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Students are expected to prioritize learning opportunities, demonstrate initiative in coursework and internships, and contribute meaningfully to the classroom and university community. Avoiding undue disruption, meeting deadlines, and being dependable in group work and internship responsibilities are all reflections of a commitment to service.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Service
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers鈥� primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
B. Social Justice
Social workers pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups. Students are expected to identify and challenge systems of injustice, actively participate in anti-oppressive learning, and reflect critically on their own positions within structures of power and privilege. This includes responsible engagement in classroom discussions, respectful debate, and a willingness to be accountable for harm caused.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Social Justice
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers challenge social injustice.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 2 鈥� Engage Anti-Racism and Engage Human Rights and Justice
C. Dignity & Worth of the Person
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for clients, peers, faculty, and community members, including those with different beliefs, identities, or life experiences. Language and behavior that belittles, devalues, or excludes others鈥攚hether intentionally or unintentionally鈥攊s not acceptable.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 3 鈥� Engage in Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
D. Importance of Human Relationships
Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships. Students are expected to participate in the classroom and internship settings as collaborative learners, to engage others with empathy and compassion, and to demonstrate a commitment to mutual growth and learning. Disrespectful communication, dismissive behavior, or failure to engage relationally with others undermines this professional expectation.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 6 鈥� Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
E. Integrity
Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner. Students are expected to act honestly in all academic, professional, and interpersonal contexts. This includes accurately representing one鈥檚 work, citing sources, completing internship notes and timesheets truthfully, and following through on commitments. Integrity also includes admitting mistakes, seeking supervision, and engaging in ethical decision-making.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers behave in a trustworthy manner.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
F. Competence
Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise. Students are responsible for their own learning and are expected to seek feedback, ask questions, and demonstrate growth over time. This includes participating fully in academic activities, preparing for internship responsibilities, and responding constructively to evaluations.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
CSWE Professional Competencies
The Department of Social Work at 海角社区 is responsible for ensuring that all BSSW and MSW students demonstrate competency across the dimensions of knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive/affective processes identified by the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Competency development is a central measure of professional readiness and is assessed throughout academic coursework and internships.
Students are expected to uphold these professional competencies in their conduct, communication, and performance. The behaviors associated with each competency apply not only in direct practice settings but also within the academic and community contexts that shape social work identity. The following competencies form the basis for evaluation and accountability.
1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Students are expected to conduct themselves in ways that reflect professional integrity, sound judgment, and adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics. This includes respectful communication, timely completion of responsibilities, protection of confidentiality, and responsiveness to feedback. Students should represent themselves honestly and uphold the ethical standards of the profession in classroom interactions, internship activities, and public or online settings where they identify as social work students.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Submitting original academic work and properly citing sources
- Arriving prepared and on time for classes and internship shifts
- Avoiding dual relationships or conflicts of interest
- Taking responsibility for mistakes and engaging in reflective supervision
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
The 2022 EPAS include an explicit expectation that social workers understand and address environmental and climate justice. Students should recognize how environmental factors disproportionately affect marginalized communities and integrate this awareness into classroom learning and practice.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Participating in coursework or discussions about ecological justice
- Identifying environmental factors in assessments of client needs
- Connecting climate impacts to social determinants of health
- Demonstrating intersectional understanding of justice issues
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
Students must demonstrate an active and ongoing commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. This includes developing cultural humility, recognizing how systems of power and oppression shape lived experiences, and adapting communication and practice approaches to engage respectfully with diverse identities and perspectives.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Listening without defensiveness when receiving feedback related to identity
- Challenging biased language or practices in classroom or internship settings
- Valuing diverse forms of knowledge and expression in academic discourse
- Acknowledging and working through one鈥檚 own implicit biases
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Students are responsible for identifying, analyzing, and applying relevant research to guide decision-making and practice strategies. This competency applies in both academic work and applied settings, and requires that students stay informed about emerging knowledge and critically evaluate sources.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Citing peer-reviewed evidence in papers and presentations
- Applying research findings to hypothetical or real client cases
- Questioning assumptions and evaluating competing perspectives
- Engaging with scholarship on anti-oppressive practice and systems change
5. Engage in Policy Practice
Students are expected to understand how policy shapes service delivery and client outcomes, and to participate in policy advocacy or reform where appropriate. This includes knowledge of local, state, and federal policy contexts and a willingness to engage civically.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Attending advocacy days or engaging in civic learning
- Connecting internship work to relevant policies
- Demonstrating awareness of policy barriers faced by clients
- Raising policy concerns in class discussions and reflection papers
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students are expected to build effective, respectful, and ethical relationships across a range of social systems. This includes demonstrating interpersonal skills, using evidence-informed engagement strategies, and adapting to the needs of diverse individuals and groups. Engagement begins in the classroom through group collaboration and extends to internship settings and community outreach.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Actively participating in group projects and discussions
- Practicing empathy and perspective-taking
- Adjusting communication style based on audience and context
- Establishing appropriate rapport with clients and team members
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Assessment involves gathering information, analyzing needs, and understanding the interplay of strengths, challenges, and environmental factors. Students must demonstrate critical thinking, attention to context, and an ability to collaboratively identify goals and potential barriers. Academic assignments and internship tasks both offer opportunities to build these skills.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Asking informed and relevant questions during interviews or discussions
- Incorporating client voice and lived experience into assessment
- Using assessment tools ethically and with cultural sensitivity
- Applying classroom learning to real-world practice scenarios
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students are expected to participate in planned, ethical interventions that support client goals and uphold social work values. This includes contributing meaningfully to collaborative solutions in group work, engaging in strengths-based approaches, and recognizing the limits of one鈥檚 role and competence. Interventions must be informed by current best practices and respectful of cultural context.
听Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Following through on commitments made to peers, clients, or partners
- Identifying and referring to appropriate resources
- Practicing solution-focused, strengths-based thinking
- Recognizing when supervision is needed before acting
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students must be able to critically evaluate the effectiveness of their actions and reflect on personal, organizational, and structural outcomes. This includes using feedback from clients, peers, and instructors to refine practice, and applying evidence-informed strategies to improve service delivery and learning outcomes.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
- Reflecting honestly on performance during supervision or debriefs
- Participating in course- and internship-related evaluations
- Using data or feedback to modify behavior or approach
- Demonstrating openness to continuous improvement
Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior
Standard of Professional & Ethical Behavior
The Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver is mandated by the Council on Social Work Education () to foster and evaluate the professional development of all students enrolled in the BSSW and MSW programs. In accordance with the and grounded in the values codified by the , the Department of Social Work has identified specific behavioral expectations that all students are required to uphold. These Standards of Professional & Ethical Behavior are designed to ensure that students are prepared for the ethical, justice-oriented, and professional demands of the social work profession, and are grounded by the mission and vision of the Social Work department at 海角社区.
As members of a values-based profession, social work students are expected to demonstrate a commitment to human dignity, social justice, integrity, and service鈥攏ot only in formal learning environments, but in all interactions within and beyond the university. The behavioral standards articulated in this document apply across multiple domains of student activity: in the classroom (in-person and online), in internships, in interactions with peers, faculty, and staff, in all forms of written and verbal communication, and in community contexts where students represent the Department.
The purpose of this document is to support the professional formation of students and provide clear guidelines for conduct that reflect the responsibilities of social work practitioners. These expectations are enforceable and exist to protect the integrity of the learning environment, the safety and dignity of all community members, and the public trust in the profession. Students are always held accountable to these Standards during their enrollment, and failure to meet them may result in a grievance that will be addressed by an Informal or Formal Resolution process. Possible resolution outcomes may include a warning, academic sanction, or other disciplinary consequences as outlined by department and university policy. These standards are binding regardless of whether a student has signed an acknowledgment form.
Social Work Values
The social work profession is grounded in a set of core values that form the basis for ethical and professional behavior. These values are articulated in the NASW Code of Ethics (2021) and are reflected throughout the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Students in the 海角社区 Department of Social Work are expected to internalize these values and demonstrate them consistently in the classroom, in internships, and in the community.
These values are not aspirational ideals鈥攖hey are ethical mandates. Professional conduct requires that students not only understand these values intellectually but embody them through their daily professional behavior, decision-making, and communication. The following value areas constitute the ethical framework that guides student expectations throughout the program.
A. Service
Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Students are expected to prioritize learning opportunities, demonstrate initiative in coursework and internships, and contribute meaningfully to the classroom and university community. Avoiding undue disruption, meeting deadlines, and being dependable in group work and internship responsibilities are all reflections of a commitment to service.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Service
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers鈥� primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
B. Social Justice
Social workers pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups. Students are expected to identify and challenge systems of injustice, actively participate in anti-oppressive learning, and reflect critically on their own positions within structures of power and privilege. This includes responsible engagement in classroom discussions, respectful debate, and a willingness to be accountable for harm caused.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Social Justice
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers challenge social injustice.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 2 鈥� Engage Anti-Racism and Engage Human Rights and Justice
C. Dignity & Worth of the Person
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for clients, peers, faculty, and community members, including those with different beliefs, identities, or life experiences. Language and behavior that belittles, devalues, or excludes others鈥攚hether intentionally or unintentionally鈥攊s not acceptable.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 3 鈥� Engage in Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
D. Importance of Human Relationships
Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships. Students are expected to participate in the classroom and internship settings as collaborative learners, to engage others with empathy and compassion, and to demonstrate a commitment to mutual growth and learning. Disrespectful communication, dismissive behavior, or failure to engage relationally with others undermines this professional expectation.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 6 鈥� Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
E. Integrity
Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner. Students are expected to act honestly in all academic, professional, and interpersonal contexts. This includes accurately representing one鈥檚 work, citing sources, completing internship notes and timesheets truthfully, and following through on commitments. Integrity also includes admitting mistakes, seeking supervision, and engaging in ethical decision-making.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers behave in a trustworthy manner.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
F. Competence
Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise. Students are responsible for their own learning and are expected to seek feedback, ask questions, and demonstrate growth over time. This includes participating fully in academic activities, preparing for internship responsibilities, and responding constructively to evaluations.
NASW Code of Ethics Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: 鈥淪ocial workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.鈥�
CSWE EPAS Alignment: Competency 1 鈥� Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
CSWE Professional Competencies
The Department of Social Work at 海角社区 is responsible for ensuring that all BSSW and MSW students demonstrate competency across the dimensions of knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive/affective processes identified by the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Competency development is a central measure of professional readiness and is assessed throughout academic coursework and internships.
Students are expected to uphold these professional competencies in their conduct, communication, and performance. The behaviors associated with each competency apply not only in direct practice settings but also within the academic and community contexts that shape social work identity. The following competencies form the basis for evaluation and accountability.
1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Students are expected to conduct themselves in ways that reflect professional integrity, sound judgment, and adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics. This includes respectful communication, timely completion of responsibilities, protection of confidentiality, and responsiveness to feedback. Students should represent themselves honestly and uphold the ethical standards of the profession in classroom interactions, internship activities, and public or online settings where they identify as social work students.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
The 2022 EPAS include an explicit expectation that social workers understand and address environmental and climate justice. Students should recognize how environmental factors disproportionately affect marginalized communities and integrate this awareness into classroom learning and practice.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
Students must demonstrate an active and ongoing commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. This includes developing cultural humility, recognizing how systems of power and oppression shape lived experiences, and adapting communication and practice approaches to engage respectfully with diverse identities and perspectives.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Students are responsible for identifying, analyzing, and applying relevant research to guide decision-making and practice strategies. This competency applies in both academic work and applied settings, and requires that students stay informed about emerging knowledge and critically evaluate sources.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
5. Engage in Policy Practice
Students are expected to understand how policy shapes service delivery and client outcomes, and to participate in policy advocacy or reform where appropriate. This includes knowledge of local, state, and federal policy contexts and a willingness to engage civically.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students are expected to build effective, respectful, and ethical relationships across a range of social systems. This includes demonstrating interpersonal skills, using evidence-informed engagement strategies, and adapting to the needs of diverse individuals and groups. Engagement begins in the classroom through group collaboration and extends to internship settings and community outreach.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Assessment involves gathering information, analyzing needs, and understanding the interplay of strengths, challenges, and environmental factors. Students must demonstrate critical thinking, attention to context, and an ability to collaboratively identify goals and potential barriers. Academic assignments and internship tasks both offer opportunities to build these skills.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students are expected to participate in planned, ethical interventions that support client goals and uphold social work values. This includes contributing meaningfully to collaborative solutions in group work, engaging in strengths-based approaches, and recognizing the limits of one鈥檚 role and competence. Interventions must be informed by current best practices and respectful of cultural context.
听Examples of Expected Behavior:
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Students must be able to critically evaluate the effectiveness of their actions and reflect on personal, organizational, and structural outcomes. This includes using feedback from clients, peers, and instructors to refine practice, and applying evidence-informed strategies to improve service delivery and learning outcomes.
Examples of Expected Behavior:
Commitment to Standards of Professional & Ethical Behavior
All students must review the Department of Social Work鈥檚 Standards of Professional & Ethical Behavior located in the student handbook and department website. The Department is committed to supporting all students in the professional formation of students and to provide clear guidelines for conduct that reflect the responsibilities of social work practitioners. These Standards are enforceable and exist to protect the integrity of the learning environment, the safety and dignity of all community members, and the public trust in the profession.
Students are always held accountable to these Standards during their enrollment, and failure to meet them may result in a grievance that will be addressed by the Informal or Formal Resolution process, as outlined in this document. Possible resolution outcomes may include a warning, academic sanction, or other disciplinary consequences as outlined by department and university policy. These standards are binding regardless of whether a student has signed an acknowledgment form.
Violations to the Standard of Professional & Ethical Behavior
The Department of Social Work at 海角社区 is committed to upholding high Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior. When students violate these standards, the Department has a responsibility to intervene to protect the integrity of the profession, ensure the safety and dignity of community members, and support student learning and accountability.
Students are expected to uphold the Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior in any context where the student is identified as a member of the Department, such as, in the classroom (in-person and online), in internship settings, in interactions with peers, faculty, and staff, in all forms of written and verbal communication, including social media and online interactions, and in community contexts where students represent the Department, such as university-sponsored activities.
If a student violates the Standards the situation will be reviewed and addressed through appropriate departmental or university processes. While the goal is always to support student development and restoration when possible, the Department must also take seriously behaviors that compromise learning environments, breach ethical responsibilities, or indicate a lack of readiness for professional practice.
Examples of Violations to the Standards of Professional & Ethical Behavior
The following list includes鈥攂ut is not limited to鈥攂ehaviors that may be considered violations of the Standards of Professional and Ethical Standards:
Classification of Violations and Resolution Outcomes
The seriousness of a violation will be evaluated in light of its impact, frequency, context, and whether the student demonstrates insight, accountability, and willingness to repair harm.
The level of severity, as indicated below, informs the next steps for supporting students through a violation of Standards.
The Writing Center offers help at any stage of a writing project, from finding a topic to organizing the content to producing a final draft. They work with writers in all areas of study, at all levels, in all stages of their writing processes, and with all types of writing projects. To schedule an appointment, please visit the Writing Center website. The Writing Center main office is located in the King Center, room 415. They also have locations across campus, including in Central Classroom Building (in the Department of Social Work 鈥� rooms 201 and 206). Visit their website to see when they will be at their various locations and to book an appointment.
Website: /writing-center/
Phone: 303-615-1888