Social Work as a Career: Comparative Motivations of Black and White Social Workers

Abstract

This research investigated differential career choice factors (CCFs) that motivated Black and White graduates to enroll in MSW programs. The purposive sample (N=1,020) was mostly White (66.4%), and consisted of individuals living primarily in Tennessee (71%) and Florida (13.2%), with MSWs from CSWE-accredited schools in 45 states. Most (36%) were social work majors as undergraduates, followed by psychology (27.3%) and sociology (7.2%) majors. Data were collected using the Career Development Subscale of the Preparation for Graduate Social Work Education Scale. Influential CCFs were different for Blacks and Whites, with the former emphasizing a desire for increased income and the latter emphasizing a desire for recognition and acquiring new skills. Results affirmed the idea of data-based MSW program recruitment strategies based on race and cultural preferences. BSW faculty were found to be ideally suited to influence MSW program recruitment and should be more deliberate toward that end.