Social work is a helping profession which focuses on providing skilled intervention in the prevention and amelioration of individual and societal problems. It is a challenging and rewarding career involving the application of knowledge, skills, and professional values to assist individuals, families, groups, and communities in reaching their potential. The primary mission of the undergraduate social work program is to develop generalist social workers who are strategic thinkers, life-long learners, and opinion shapers. It is the purpose of the college to provide an education which enhances individual and career development and fosters involvement on behalf of social and economic justice. The program prepares students for social work careers in such diverse areas as schools, youth programs, family service agencies, nursing homes, courts, mental health, and welfare agencies. The degree provides graduates a competitive advantage in many jobs, the possibility of up to one year's standing in some master's degree programs in social work, and the potential to be licensed in a number of states throughout the nation. The social work curriculum builds on a strong liberal arts base. The humanities and the social and behavioral sciences are emphasized to help students understand human diversity and the transactions between people and their environment. The curriculum combines classroom experience and agency-based field placements. Courses provide a knowledge base in social work practice theory, human behavior, social welfare policy, and research. Educationally directed field placements, which consist of over 600 clock hours of supervised field instruction in agency settings throughout greater Knoxville, provide extensive and challenging opportunities for students to apply the lessons of the classroom to the needs of society. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.