The course is intended to introduce students of the department of Social Work to the nature of social Work professional, its basic concepts, knowledge base, and its professionalism.

Rwanda and the World in general is faced with a variety of social, economic and political injustices which has led to massive poverty, rising of slums and its related consequences, diseases, alcoholism, degradation of human and social values, and the like. The plight of the marginalized like women, aged people, disabled and children, etc… has been enormous.

This unit of “Introduction to Social Work “first of all helps students of bachelor's of Social Work to get the entrance of their future profession. It examines the profession of social Work, its values base, field of practice, and social role. Major social problems, philosophies of social welfare provision, program and policy initiative, and the response of social work as a profession are addressed. In addition, the obligation of professional Social Workers to promote social and economic justice on the behalf of populations vulnerable to or oppressed by ethnocentrism, racism, sexual orientation, disability, ageism, or religious/ spiritual affiliations is emphasized.