POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS VIEWS OF THE IDEAL UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL-WORK CURRICULUM

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) curriculum design is generally considere d a collaborative process involving educators, students, practitioners , and employers. The social agency contributes in critical economic, p edagogical, and political ways. The literature is ambiguous, however, regarding compatibility of educators' and practitioners' views on curr icula, homogeneity of perceived training needs, and societal changes n ecessitating curriculum revision. In this study, 77 agency personnel r eported their views of 56 BSW curriculum items. The development of com munication competence, the mastery of content on socialization and the small group, and the cultivation of basic social work values were com monly viewed as essential. BSW program directors, graduates, and poten tial employers generally had compatible views. Practice conditions-esp ecially service position (direct or indirect), field of practice, and client age group-influenced curriculum priorities. Changes in educatio nal priorities across a decade were minor, with increasing emphasis on ethical practice, especially as related to confidentiality.