An Approach to Curriculum Design for Rural Practice

Abstract

Social work educators concur that a generalist model is most appropriate for the preparation of rural practitioners. Beyond this basic agreement, however, they debate which social work roles should be most emphasized in the curriculum. The authors utilized a field-based research approach to identify roles and responsibilities for graduates who practice in rural communities, but responses indicated so much variety that they rejected a role approach for educating future practitioners for rural service. Instead, the authors propose five processes as an overlay of the generalist approach, which offer a systemic, complimentary, and more universal approach.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard E. Doelker

RICHARD E. DOELKER, Jr., is an assistant professor and chairman, and BONNIE C. BEDICS is an assistant professor, both in the Department of Social Work of the University of West Florida.

Bonnie C. Bedics

RICHARD E. DOELKER, Jr., is an assistant professor and chairman, and BONNIE C. BEDICS is an assistant professor, both in the Department of Social Work of the University of West Florida.