A Look in the Mirror: Unveiling Human Rights Issues Within Social Work Education

Area of Science:

• Social Work Education
• Higher Education Policy
• Socioeconomic Studies

Background:

• The financial implications of mandatory field practicums for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students are not well-documented.
• Nontraditional and underserved student populations often face unique financial challenges in higher education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the financial effects of the field practicum requirement on BSW students.
• To identify financial burdens and human rights issues impacting vulnerable student groups.
• To inform anti-oppressive strategies within social work education.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed-methods design.
• Surveys administered to current and recent BSW field students.
• Interviews conducted with social work field instructors and faculty.

Main Results:

• The field practicum requirement imposes significant financial burdens on BSW students.
• Human rights issues were identified, disproportionately affecting nontraditional and underserved students.
• The study reveals a gap in the literature concerning the financial realities of social work fieldwork.

Conclusions:

• Financial barriers associated with field practicums can impede access and success for diverse BSW students.
• Recommendations are provided for institutional changes to support students and promote equity.
• Further research and the implementation of anti-oppressive pedagogical approaches are crucial for social work academia.