Diversity Within Bachelor of Social Work Programs: Perspectives and Interventions

Diversity is a term that has become increasingly relevant in the field of social work. Perhaps there is no other sector of the social work profession where diversity is more relevant than in higher education. With the ever changing ethnic and racial make-up of the United States, it is imperative that social work educators are able to convey the differences and/or challenges that working with diverse individuals will present. One of the easiest and most direct ways for this to occur is for the student body itself to be diverse. Yet, many social work programs have remained ethnically and racially uniform. It becomes even more puzzling when statistics show that the ethnic and racial diversity of college campuses has become more diverse. Therefore, if the profession of social work wants to continue to be relevant in its practice with minorities, it is imperative to identify where social work in higher education comes up short. Research Questions: 1. Do BSW program directors in the Upper-Midwest believe their programs lack diversity? 2. What (if any) effect does location have on the racial and ethnic makeup of students and professors? 3. What interventions (if any) do the BSW program directors use in an effort to increase diversity within their program