The Current State of Group Work Education in U.S. Graduate Schools of Social Work

Abstract

Social work has historically recognized group work as a core practice methodology; however, group work’s prominence within the graduate curriculum has diminished over the years. This article reports the results of a national survey of accredited U.S. MSW programs’ curricular offerings in group work. The survey replicates and builds upon a 1994 Birnbaum and Auerbach study to identify changes and trends over this 20-year period. Overall, a further decline in group work curricular offerings was found. Strategies to renew and bolster commitment to group work education are offered.

KEYWORDS:

• social group work
• group work education
• social work education
• social work methods
• generalist social work education