Field Supervisors’ Perceptions of Online Social Work Programs: New Discrimination Against Online Students

Limited empirical research has examined field supervisors’ perceptions of online education within the helping professions, particularly their willingness to offer field placements to online students or the challenges encountered by field directors of online programs. Accordingly, this study investigated how field supervisors in human and social service organizations perceive online social work programs, as well as online students’ knowledge and skill development. Thirty-one valid responses were collected via an online survey tool and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Survey findings revealed that some social workers held unfavorable views of online education and were reluctant to accept online students for internship placements. These findings offer important implications for online programs in the helping professions by informing strategies to strengthen field placement opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of online students relative to those in traditional, in-person programs.