Renaming “Field” in Social Work Education: Necessary but Not Sufficient for Promoting Antiracist Education

Abstract

The University of Southern California (USC) announced the removal of the term “field” from its social work curriculum due to racist connotations, with other accredited university programs following suit. The 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards promulgated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) charge social work educational programs to challenge racist practices and closely examine existing traditions considering professional diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates. The term “field” currently and historically appears in accreditation standards. This article challenges faculty, students, accreditors, and others to use the dialogue about the continued use of “field” to make more widespread, substantive reforms that are consistent with antiracist social work education.

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