Social Work Students’ Experiences With Group Work in the Field Practicum

ABSTRACT

The study reported on in this article assessed MSW and BSW students’ opportunities to practice group work in their field practicum. More than one third of participants had no such opportunity during their yearlong internship, despite their program’s requirement that group work opportunities be available. Among the students who did have experience leading a group for clients, their opportunities to engage in core group work activities and skills was limited, as was their academic preparation to do so. Students demonstrated a desire to practice group work as professionals. Yet the findings call into question whether they were adequately prepared to effectively engage in the modality. The findings underscore the need for schools and programs of social work to collaborate more closely with field instructors and agencies to ensure that students are provided with suitable opportunities to practice group work. Greater attention also must be focused on ensuring that practice opportunities in the field reflect the depth and breadth of the group modality and complement learning in the classroom.

KEYWORDS:

• BSW students
• field education
• group work
• MSW students

Notes

^1. The remaining discussion is focused on the 192 students who reported some group work experience with clients.

^2. Percentages may add up to more than 100% in cases where respondents could select more than one option.