Critical Issues in Social Work Education

Abstract

The following critical issues facing social work education are reviewed: lack of an instructional methodology, effectiveness of practice, admissions to social work education programs, theories of people, assessment of competence, and generic curriculum. Possible avenues to effective education for practice are elaborated: relationship-building training, empirical bases of interpersonal helping, degree correspondence, and research on the instructional process. Where relevant, prototypes of effective training procedures and requisites are discussed briefly.