Framing Education for a Science of Social Work: Missions, Curriculum, and Doctoral Training

Social work education has historically been grounded in professional practice but recent discussions have urged a reconsideration of social work as a science. Social work is progressively doing more intervention work, service systems research, implementation research, and translational research which are elevating research standards to new levels of sophistication. Because social work is also receiving greater recognition at the federal level, it seems that now is the appropriate time for the profession to review how education is done and the place that social work as a science should hold in our doctoral programs. This article critiques current literature and finds that the term social work as a science is frequently missing in the language and terminology of the social work encyclopedia and desk reference, but the term evidence-based practice replaces or makes up for missing references. Some of the key social work organizations also lack the emphasis on social work as science in the framework of their mission statements. Alternative possibilities are given in creating new mission statements, designing curriculum for doctoral education, and revamping accreditation standards for required graduate and undergraduate social work education.