-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Charlotte Lyn Bright, Social Work Education in 2021, Social Work Research, Volume 45, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 3–5, https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svaa021
Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
As we enter 2021, we reflect on the tumultuous year behind us. The global impact of social uprising, political unrest, and the pandemic will be dramatic; 2021 promises to bring about many changes to our way of life. As we consider these changes, it is important to think through implications for social work education.
A recent report by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) (2020a) noted that recent years have seen a decrease in enrollment of undergraduate social work students, despite an overall expansion in BSW education in the past decade. For master’s programs, student enrollment overall has increased, but has been outpaced by new program creation. In practical terms, this may translate to decreased enrollment per MSW program. Fluctuations in the student population will require ongoing adjustments to faculty composition and numbers, classroom learning approaches, and possibly curriculum. Additional study of who composes the student body should also inform pedagogical changes, as student experiences and responsibilities will affect both their level of preparation for social work education and their ability to engage in learning activities. It remains to be seen whether the economic impact of the pandemic will affect who enters the social work profession, and the academy will need to attend to potential changes in the composition of the social work student body.
