Master of Social Work

Graduates of the MSW programme are prepared to address the complex social welfare challenges facing Zambia such as poverty; unemployment; juvenile delinquency; gender-based violence/domestic violence; human rights violations; social and economic injustice; and child abuse and neglect, among others. They are expected to assume leadership roles in the profession and in their communities, and bringing their knowledge of research, policy analysis, and advocacy to bear in diverse social work fields of practice

Social Work is an internationally recognised profession and an academic discipline. Its historical mission is to promote and enhance human well-being and alleviate poverty, vulnerability and oppression. Against this background, the primary mission of Graduate social work program at the University of Zambia is to provide quality professional education that would prepare students for competent practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in accordance with regional and international acceptable standards. The ultimate goal is to equip students with most appropriate skills and knowledge to design and implement innovative programs; and to devise creative strategies that would enhance human well-being with special attention to meeting basic human needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable and live in poverty.

The aim of the Master of Social Work at the University of Zambia prepares culturally responsive practitioners and scholars to be leaders in addressing social problems and promoting social justice, locally and globally, through teaching, research, and service.

The aim of the Master of Social work degree is to engage students into broad-based, critical and scholarly learning and research of Social issues relevant to the local and national setting of Zambia, as well as internationally. Other aims include

1. Inculcate knowledge, values, and skills in the student in order for them to help people in need and to address social problems;
2. Pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable individuals and group of people;
3. Focus their social change efforts primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, human rights violations and other forms of social injustice;
4. Endeavor to enhance people’s capacity and opportunity to change and address their own needs;
5. Engage in social work practice from a sound empirical/evidence base to understand and apply theory to practical situations;
6. Undertake social work research from a sound theoretical base;
7. Promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities and other institutions to individuals' needs and social problems; and
8. Uphold the mission, core values and ethical principles and standards of practices of the social work profession in Zambia.