BYU NewsNet - BYU Cancels Social Work Major

By Tiffany Burhoe Wilson

The social work major at BYU has been discontinued, and not everybody is happy about it.

"This is first and foremost about trying to help students in the long run," said David B. Magleby, dean of the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences.

Though the bachelor's program will be discontinued, the master's program will remain.

Some students, like Marc Gilchrist, were not prepared for the removal.

"This is a big issue," said Gilchrist, who is a first-year master's of social work student. "It was a big shock for the faculty and students,"

Gilchrist is a member of a group opposing this change which calls itself Voices for the BYU School of Social Work.

Magleby said the social work bachelor's degree serves some important ends, but its objectives could be served just as well under sociology, psychology or family life, which are large and strong majors. About 27 percent of all other master's social work programs don't have an undergraduate in social work.

"We are not alone in deciding not to have a social work program," Magleby said. "We are in good company. We are with the very best schools of social work by doing that."

The college is going to focus on improving the master's program.

"The [master's of social work] program will also become more interdisciplinary," said Gordon Limb, an associate professor in the school of social work. "Faculty in affiliated programs will teach courses in social work and faculty members in social work will also teach courses in other departments."

The best schools of social work are more interdisciplinary than BYU's, Magleby said.

"And if we are going to get better, and we are going to get better, than we need to become more interdisciplinary," he said.

Magleby did research into social work programs at other colleges and found there is not a lot of value added for a bachelor's of social work , but there is value in getting a master's degree in social work.

"[There is value] in getting a strong degree in a related discipline: psychology, family life, sociology," he said. "That is a clear and consistent message that our students need to know, and I would not be doing my duty as a dean if I didn't tell students the truth about that."

Gilchrist and others continue to battle this change.

"We have received 120 letters that we have forwarded to President [Cecil O.] Samuelson from alumni, organizations and students expressing shock and disappointment," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist also said this organization doesn't represent the opinion of all social work students, and the organization has about 40 members.

"We are just voices supporting the program," he said.

Some students still see the benefits of this program.

"The value of this major is that it prepares you to go into a field as well as get a master's degree," said Justin Fagnant, a second-year student majoring in social work. "Other programs aren't required to do 480 hours of field work, [where] students can actually work with people."

One of the biggest problems with discontinuing this major is that students are losing field experience, he said.

"The big issue is that it is a constant fight over whether or not social work is a valued profession, and some think it should be a trade," Gilchrist said. "[By discontinuing it] they are saying that this major is basically unessential."

Surprise aside, some are choosing to deal with the change.

"I was as shocked as anyone when I heard about this decision." Limb said. "But I care a lot about social work here at BYU and am going to do everything I can to help move the school of social work forward."

To answer any concerns over the bachelor's of social work closure, Magleby will hold a question and answer meeting at 11 a.m. on Thursday in 250 SKWT.