Teaching Group Work in the BSW Generalist Social Work Curriculum: Core Content

Abstract

In this article, nine considerations associated with social work practice with groups are identified and discussed. These range from the importance of mutual aid and the role of the group leader to multicultural competence and practice skills needed in the beginning, middle, and ending phases of group work. Group work is only one of four modalities that must be taught in the undergraduate practice sequence. Therefore, the nine considerations represent the essential content on group work for the generalist practice curriculum. The author assumes that this content can be presented in a 7-week time frame. In a companion article, the author presents teaching strategies and techniques that assist the instructor in conveying the principles for practice discussed in the present article.

Keywords:

• group work
• mutual aid
• generalist social work education
• undergraduate education

Notes

1. An earlier version of this article, “Critical Content on Group Work for the Undergraduate Social Work Practice Curriculum,” appeared in the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 5, 93–111, 2000.