A Guided Review of Top-10 Rated Social Work Education Program Websites: Diversity in the Digital Age

Abstract

Increasingly, higher education is a competitive industry, with students considering numerous schools through which to obtain their college degrees. Many prospective students rely on the programs' websites to inform their decisions. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits schools of social work based on standards set forth in its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) for bachelor-and master-level education. The EPAS document sets forth specific directives for programs' missions and goals, and explicit and implicit curriculum and assessment. The goal of this study was to conduct a content analysis of the websites of top-rated social work education programs with special attention to their diversity content. Analysis of diversity content is crucial to increase the utility of the websites for potential applicants. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.