The classification, intercorrelation, and dynamic nature of msw student practice preferences

Data was collected biannually (1992-98) from a complete population of stude nts entering and exiting accredited graduate programs of social work in Cal ifornia (N=5,793). Findings suggest that practice interests and career aspi rations of MSW students are more diverse and dynamic in nature than the deb ate in the literature on social work's mission would lead readers to believ e. Although the proportion of all students most interested in each of the s even practice areas studied does not change throughout graduate studies, th ere is tremendous movement among individual students with respect to practi ce preferences during the course of their education.