Product Details - National Association of Social Workers

Product Details
“We shouldn’t have to struggle this hard to help others”: Student perspectives on challenges and barriers in social work education
- Credit(s): 1 Social Justice
- Course Number: PA20240410
- Duration: 59 minutes
- Access: Available for 1 months after Registration
Self Study
- Non-Member Price
- $30.00
- Member Price
- $20.00

Description

Field practicum is the signature pedagogy of social work education. A growing body of literature illuminates the conceptual, interpersonal, and practice skills students attain via field instruction. In contrast, few studies explore the challenges and costs borne by students engaging in field practicum. To address this knowledge gap, this presentation summarizes findings from a cross-sectional, online survey of current and former social work students (N = 408). Administered by the National Association of Social Workers (PA chapter) from mid-December 2022 through mid-January 2023, this survey asked respondents about the financial and psychosocial challenges they encountered while pursuing a social work degree, with special emphasis on field practicum. Underscoring the wide range of challenges and support needs voiced by diverse student groups, findings offer insights for professional accrediting bodies, universities, and field placement organizations seeking to understand and address the concerns of contemporary social work students.

Learning Objectives:

Examine ethical issues surrounding field practicum, with special focus on the implications of field practicum requirements for “non-traditional” students (e.g., part-time, mature-aged, parenting, and/or working learners) in the United States.
Explore the utility of survey research in identifying common financial and psychosocial challenges encountered by undergraduate- and graduate-level students pursuing social work degrees.
Critically reflect on study findings and their implications for equitable access to higher education, social justice, and accreditation standards for social work degree programs.

Credits

1 Social Justice

Faculty

John Royden Gyourko
Jennifer Silver, MSW, LSW, Manager, Research and Evaluation

Desktop Site