Nexus between environmental justice and social work education: perspectives from the School of Social Work, McGill University, Canada

This paper addresses the imperative for social work educators and professionals to integrate environmental dimensions into curricula and field practice purposefully. Advocates argue that this integration is vital for the profession to effectively contribute to social and environmental justice. Despite these calls, there is a paucity of scholarly attention to the extent of environmental justice considerations in social work curricula. In response, this study employs in-depth interviews with program directors and curriculum content analysis at McGill University's School of Social Work to assess the inclusion of environmental justice issues. The findings reveal that these issues are marginally and superficially integrated into the curriculum. Despite this, interview participants express confidence in social work students' ability to support clients facing significant environmental challenges. This study suggests broadening the traditional 'person-in-environment' concept in social work education and practice to encompass the physical environment.