HBSE in the Undergraduate Curriculum: A Survey

Abstract

Abstract This paper begins with an historical view of HBSE in the undergraduate social work curriculum and then proceeds to examine the current state of HBSE in baccalaureate social work education, which was determined via a survey sent to all accredited undergraduate programs. The findings were as follows: 1) a large majority of HBSE courses were taught within social work departments by social work faculty; 2) the most frequently used conceptual framework for social-work-taught HBSE courses was ecosystems; 3) HBSE primarily serves an integrative function in the undergraduate curriculum; and 4) the prerequisites to HBSE in social-work-taught courses are drawn mainly from the social and biological sciences and introductory social work courses. The findings generally suggest both a departure from the traditional medical model for understanding human behavior and a widespread lack of agreement on HBSE content. Recommendations for future research are included.