Practice Interests and Self-Identification among Social Work Students: Changes over the Course of Graduate Social Work Education

Bridging the Crevasse Between Direct Practice Social Work and Management by Increasing the Transferability of Core Skills

“…In a similar study of incoming MSW students, Butler (1990) found that while more were interested in the profession's mission to help the disadvantaged, the majority (84%), were still seeking a career in direct practice. Butler's findings are consistent with others who found students shared a dual interest in direct practice and the profession's traditional focus on disadvantaged populations (Bogo, Michalski, Raphael, & Roberts, 1995;Limb & Organista, 2006). Although the data on student interest in direct social work appears to be less than what Rubin and Johnson (1984) originally reported, the current literature indicates that approximately 80% of MSW students' primary interests are in direct practice (Austin & Ezell, 2004).…”

Why Social Work, and What does the Future Hold?: The Narratives of Recently Graduated Hispanic and African-American Male BSW and MSW Students

“…While these values are a strong initial factor in the social work career choice for all student groups, findings from several studies (Rabe et al, 1998;Whitely & Wolk, 1999;Limb & Organista, 2003, 2006Bogo, Michalsk, Raphael, & Roberts, 1995;Abell & McDonald, 1990) indicate small but significant differences between white students and students of color regarding the importance placed on, and continued commitment to, the value of working with poor and disadvantaged populations. That is, students of color placed a significantly higher value on working with poor and disadvantaged populations than did their white counterparts (Limb & Organista, 2003, 2006Abell & McDonald, 1990).…”

MSW Students' Perspectives on Social Work Goals and Social Activism Before and After Completing Graduate Education

“…Their multi-school study, using a questionnaire, presents student views on the social work mission, career motivations, and practice preferences between entry into the MSW and graduation from 1991-1999. They, like Bogo et al (1995), found that overall, students were still committed to the social work mission; indeed, they report that a higher proportion of students at graduation chose societal/institutional change over individual adaptation as a goal of social work (Limb & Organista, 2003) and had a significantly lower interest in clinical practice and psychotherapy at the end of training (Limb & Organista, 2006). Perry's (2003) secondary analysis of the California data found that graduates expressed stronger adherence to social work's mission of social justice and working with vulnerable and oppressed populations than they did at entry.…”