This paper aims to understand the impact on student learning of redesigning an elective substance use course with the intent of contextualizing the topic by modeling a structural critical lens. In addition, we look at how this shift impacts students' approaches to working with clients who use substances. Secondary data from student course…

Advocacy for social justice is a core duty of the social work profession. Social injustice, oppression, and marginalization in the United States demand that social workers critically evaluate and address systemic oppression, in the profession, society, and social work education. This study sought to explore the attitudes of social work students in…

This study sought to respond to the increased number of mature students in social work education and the understudied topic of their experiences. The research deployed semi- structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore the benefits, challenges, and needs of mature students (N = 19) over the age of 30 in a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work…

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic upon social work programs have been profound and institutions have struggled to identify appropriate policies and interventions to address students' educational, health, and safety needs. This manuscript reports the results of a survey administered to BSW and MSW students at three different timepoints during the…

Many factors within the social work profession can lead to empathic distress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. These concerns also apply to college students preparing for a career in social work. Compassion has been noted to be of benefit in connecting workers to clients, families, and communities. Likewise, self-compassion involves the skills of…

The long-recognized disconnect between research and practice is reflected by social work students who often report significant apprehension about their research classes, likely at least in part because of a poor understanding of the research-practice interface and an unfamiliarity with larger professional social change initiatives like the Grand…

There is an established need for evidence-based trauma treatment education in MSW programs. This quantitative, cross-sectional study explores the experiences and post-graduation career outcomes of graduates from an evidence-based trauma treatment certificate program offered to MSW students at a midwestern university (N = 59), including the role of…

Social work programs are facing the need to gain further clarity about how to leverage instructional strategies specific to the course modality (i.e., traditional, hybrid, online hybrid, and fully online). At its heart, this challenge is an analogical transfer problem: practice instructors must adapt what they do in one modality to new modalities…

Given the increasing value placed on research among social work practitioners, and that field education is primarily responsible for the integration of social work values, knowledge, and practice, it is essential that research skills be incorporated into BSW and MSW field practica. In 2020, a team of faculty co-investigators and students explored…

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, a severe acute respiratory syndrome. Public health authorities throughout Canada were emphasizing early detection, physical distancing, hand washing, sheltering in place through household and self-isolation, and the…

Social work pedagogy recognizes the educational value of experiential learning for the professional development of social workers, with a particularly rich experiential learning literature related to clinical work and field education. This study evaluates an experiential learning activity for large undergraduate courses in another area: social…

Social work educators must prioritize effective preparation of MSW students for the pivotal roles they will play in supporting clients struggling with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Understanding what concerns MSW students have about working in the substance use field can highlight student training needs and inform learner-centered curricula.…

Technological innovations present new pedagogical opportunities. The use of technology in the classroom may provide an opportunity for social work programs to engage students in a better understanding of policy practice, to get their voice heard on the issues, and to feel empowered about social change at the macro level. This article will discuss…

College students appear to have statistics anxiety, and even negative attitudes, strongly related to learning, knowledge, and further interest in statistics. This study investigated social work students' attitudes toward statistics and correlated academic factors. The pseudo mixed-methods survey of 196 social work students revealed mixed feelings…

Understanding and applying effective research methods in social work practice is a mandate from both the National Association of Social Workers and the Council of Social Work Education. While research courses are fundamental to ensure that students master the competency needed to meet these expectations, students frequently tend to dread them. The…