Educating Students on International Social Work Issues in U.S. Social Work Programs: How Is It Done?

ABSTRACT

Although social work education standards call for graduates to be able to practice in a global environment, it is unknown how schools are working to accomplish that as well as what supports they have and what the aims of this education are. A survey of all U.S. BSW and MSW program directors found they have multiple goals for introducing international perspectives in social work education and are using a number of methods in the implicit and explicit curriculum, including speakers, study abroad, international internships, and infusion of material in courses and stand-alone courses. Respondents indicated more supports are available at the institutional level than in their program alone. These results have a variety of implications for social work education including how to further integrate this material into courses and increase the number of students who learn this critical material.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Mapp

Susan Mapp is Professor of Social Work at Elizabethtown College.

Shirley Gatenio Gabel

Shirley Gatenio Gabel is Professor of Social Work at Fordham University.