Title
Perceptions of Macro Social Work Education: An Exploratory Study of Educators and Practitioners
Department/School
Social Work
Date of this version
2017
Document Type
Article
Keywords
social work education, social work licensure, macro social work
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18060/21455
Abstract
Social work graduate education is responsive to and reflective of larger environmental forces, including economic and job market trends, regulations by diverse organizations, and student interests. A national online survey of macro social work educators (n=208) and macro social work practitioners (n=383) explored their perceptions of the intersections between these forces and graduate social work education. Findings indicate that while there remains a consistent level of support for and inclusion of macro social work within MSW programs from both groups, macro practitioners identified a concurrent experience of negative perceptions, attitudes, and experiences toward macro social work education while in their graduate programs. We suggest that social work programs seek out opportunities to integrate macro practice content and field experiences into their curriculum, so that students can be better equipped to respond to the complex systemic challenges they will encounter while in professional practice.
Volume
18
Issue
2
Published in
Advances in Social Work
Citation/Other Information
Hill, K., Erickson, C., Donaldson, L., Fogel, S., & Ferguson, S. (2017). Perceptions of Macro Social Work Education: An Exploratory Study of Educators and Practitioners. Advances in Social Work, 18(2), 522-542. https://doi.org/10.18060/21455