Human Behavior in the Social Environment theories are a crux of
social work education. However, they are often difficult to discuss
in class because theories can be abstract and elusive for students.
This may be especially true when exploring macro level theories.
Social work students are attracted to the field of social work because
of its practical application and often because they are interested
in working with micro level systems. Further, in considering
social work education at the BSW and often MSW level, using
Bloom's Taxonomy, theory discussions and synthesis are certainly
beyond the undergraduate expectation and similarly difficult for
MSW students to contextualize. However, HBSE theories are the
conceptual foundation of competent social work practice. This lack
of exposure can also be said of working with diverse populations.
Many undergraduate BSW programs are not in urban areas, but
social workers need to understand urban problems as they advocate
for social policy development and work with urban client systems
at various levels of practice. As such the authors of this paper have
created a context for elucidating macro HBSE theories exposing
students to realistic urban scenarios using HBO’s The Wire. This
framework provides both explanations of common SW macro level
theories and discusses the ways in which a contemporary television
show can be used in class to annotate macro theories including
Systems Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Construction,
Conflict Theory, and Rational Choice Theory