MSW Students’ Motivations for Taking an International Social Work Elective Course

Abstract

This article presents motivating factors for taking an international social work course for a sample of graduate students in the United States. Literature on international education, including courses and international field placements, provides a framework for the study. Qualitative themes showed that students were motivated primarily as a result of prior international experience, or the desire for such, as well as a wish to understand the phenomena of globalization. Findings point to the need for offering more courses in international social work and globalization.

KEYWORDS:

• international social work
• globalization
• MSW students