Key Considerations for Finding the Best Social Work Textbooks

Published: 9/6/2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There’s a lot to juggle when considering which textbooks and materials are the right fit for your Social Work courses. There are newer standards for accreditation, as well as accessibility and quality considerations. Given today’s uncertain economy and job market, prioritizing course materials that build job-ready skills is key. Affordability is another major consideration. Students that go into this discipline want to make a difference — and they shouldn’t have to make choices between learning materials, and being in good financial standing when they graduate. 

Choosing the best Social Work textbooks for your course is a multifaceted decision. Here are the top things to consider when making selections for your Social Work courses.

The EPAS were updated in 2022 — what about your course materials?

The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), which are used to accredit B.A. and Master’s-level Social Work programs, were updated in 2022. 

To ensure that students are well prepared for real-world requirements, it will help significantly to upgrade to course materials that leverage the latest EPAS standards. At Cengage, we’ve made sure our newer titles map back to these standards, including the 7th edition of “Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective” by José B. Ashford, Craig W. LeCroy and Lela Rankin and the 5th edition of “Addiction Treatment: A Strengths Perspective” by Katherine Van Wormer and Diane Rae Davis. We support the full Social Work curriculum, and we have you covered with materials for the vast majority of the courses a Social Work major would take. Think of us as your one-stop-shop, so regardless of the course you’re teaching, you’ll find materials that meet your needs.

Ensure accessibility and ease of access

Today, many students prefer eBooks vs. a hardcopy textbook, because they are, on average, 31.9% less expensive, and more portable. They also support accessibility and different styles of learning — some eBooks enable students to highlight, take notes within the text, bookmark pages and use keyword search to find topics they need to study.

Students can also benefit from textbooks that pair with online learning platforms, so all their materials for the course are in one place. This often provides a more engaging learning experience with more opportunity for hands-on practice and real-world skill application. Online learning platforms such as MindTap can be paired with Social Work textbooks and house multimedia resources, videos, homework assignments, practice problems, exams, discussion boards and simulations — and can be customized to match your teaching style and needs. 

Ensure students have what they need — without breaking the bank

It’s a reality that the cost of higher education has been on a mostly upward trend for the past two decades. This affordability issue is especially top of mind in the Social Work discipline. The median annual wage for social workers ranges from just $51,970 to $58,380. In the current economy, that is likely challenging for many graduates, especially given 71.3% of Social Work graduates with a B.A. report also having to juggle significant loan debt. 

Faculty can help students by lessening the burden when it comes to course materials. Consider a subscription that gives students access to course materials, eBooks, study guides and more all in one place, for one set cost. For example, Cengage Unlimited is a subscription where students can pay a flat, one-time fee to receive course materials across disciplines. Students get access to at least four free hardcover textbook rentals (only paying for shipping and handling), as well as access to thousands of Cengage eBooks and online learning platforms (including MindTap), employability and student success skill-building resources and activities, and study tools. 

The flat fee applies, even if a student uses it for multiple courses, as long as the materials come from Cengage — another benefit of having the whole department on board. Since 2018, students have saved $780M+ on course materials with the Cengage Unlimited subscription. 

Learn from the market leaders

We’re honored to work with some of the most popular authors in the Social Work discipline. They include Marianne Schneider, Gerald and Cindy Corey, Mary Bradford and Allen E. Ivey and Charles Zastrow, among others. 

We know that choosing the best Social Work textbooks and course materials isn’t an easy decision, as it will have a significant impact on your students’ learning outcomes, and their finances. We’re always here to help — and you can browse our Social Work catalog to find textbooks that align with your course needs, teaching preferences and all the considerations we’ve outlined here.