Interprofessional Education for BSW Students: A Pilot Course

Abstract

The focus on interprofessional education (IPE) for professional training programs in allied health professions such as social work has increased recently. There is limited pedagogical literature regarding either the instruction or application of IPE in any given profession. Based on a co-teaching model of instruction, this article delineates the preparation and integration process of a pilot course on IPE. The pilot course was taught at a small liberal arts college where it was cross-listed in two undergraduate professional programs in social work and speech-language pathology. This article discusses the relevance of including IPE in allied health professional training programs. Additionally, this article outlines the timeline for developing and implementing the course, from conceptualization to the integration phases including implications from student evaluations of their experience in the course. Elements of the course including delivery, descriptions of assignments, and projects also are discussed.