Dual degree programs in social work and divinity: Graduates' experiences of 'journey companions'

There is a growing trend for graduate schools of social work to offer students the option of receiving dual degrees, which gives students the ability to obtain a Master of Social Work (MSW) along with a second graduate degree in less time than it would take to complete each degree individually. As of 2005, there were approximately 30 different types of degrees that could be combined with graduate studies in social work--one of which is a Master of Divinity (M.Div.). Very little is known about the effectiveness of such programs and the experiences of graduates completing them. The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of persons receiving an MSW and an M.Div. from dual degree programs. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) includes religious and spiritual beliefs in its definition of culturally competent practice within the code of ethics. Dual degree graduates are trained to engage in culturally competent practice by virtue of being extensively trained in the cultural context of the church through their M.Div. degree and extensively trained in the context of social work service delivery though their MSW degree. Dual degree programs in social work and divinity are quite timely given that 96% of Americans say they believe in God or a universal spirit. Phenomenology seeks to understand a particular phenomenon from the point of view of those who have experienced it. With this in mind, this study reports the findings resulting from interviews conducted with 16 graduates regarding their experiences while in a dual degree program. One of the key phenomenological patterns that emerged in all the interviews conducted was that dual degree graduates want "journey companions," i.e. persons who share their worldview.