This study investigated the levels of homophobia before and after a single lecture on the topic in one undergraduate and two graduate social work classes. Using the Index of Attitudes Towards Homosexuals (IAH), pretest levels of homophobia were found to exceed the cutting point of 50 for 75% of the students in the undergraduate class. Although pretest-posttest mean scores were not found to be statistically significant, the percentage of students exceeding the IAH cutting score decreased in all three courses following a single lecture. The effect of two additional teaching units in the undergraduate course is discussed as well as recommendations for future research.
Field education programs have historically been viewed as the single most important component of social work education at both the baccalaureate and graduate levels. However, a number of factors may affect the ability to execute quality field education programs. This article identifies and discusses seven significant threats to field education in social work programs, including the academization of schools of social work, loss of autonomy in the larger academic systems; the devaluation of field directors; growth of programs; gatekeeping; changes in the student population; and a lack of faculty commitment to field education. Two of six recommendations to address these problems are also challenged.
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