Integrating Social Work Into Undergraduate Education Through a Community Action and Social Change Multidisciplinary Minor

Abstract

Social work education has a long and successful history of developing change agents through bachelor of social work, master’s of social work, and PhD programs, but these programs often create boundaries limiting the reach and infusion of social work perspectives. With rapid changes in social, economic, and political contexts, students from all academic concentrations need to understand how community action and social change improves society. Using systems and community practice frameworks, this article provides an in-depth case study of one university’s model of an undergraduate multidisciplinary minor bridging social work philosophy with other academic disciplines. We explore the model and its development, with specific discussion of the lessons learned in creating and sustaining a multidisciplinary minor, its effect on students, and its implications for social work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching at the University of Michigan.

Notes on contributors

Katie Richards-Schuster

Katie Richards-Schuster is assistant professor and Mary C. Ruffolo is professor at the University of Michigan.

Mary C. Ruffolo

Katie Richards-Schuster is assistant professor and Mary C. Ruffolo is professor at the University of Michigan.

Kerri Leyda Nicoll

Kerri Leyda Nicoll is assistant professor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.