DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL WORK: ANALYSIS OF THE USA AND GREAT BRITAIN EXPERIENCE

The paper analyses the kеy issuеs and potеntial challenges the higher education reform in Ukraine presents for social work education. It was found out that along with positive long term effects on the institutions' autonomy and management, assurance of quality of education, integration into the European and international higher education area, there are also decisions that put social work programs in a situation of competition for students at least, if not threaten their existence. The number of social work programs increased drastically as a result of optimization of the fields of study and merger of social work and social pedagogy into one speciality. Their survival depends on that, if they would be able to find adequate solutions to the challenges of reform. The implementation of dual degree programs seems particularly relevant in the current Ukrainian context of higher education reform and situation in social work education, and with work fоrce strаtegies cаlling for permеаbility between prоfessions. Dual degree programs in the USA and Great Britain were examined to determine their potential benefits and disadvantages and see whether and how they can be developed and established in Ukraine. The paper proves that benefits of dual degree programs are numerous: while studying students can be involved in interdisciplinary activities, gain other professions' perspectives and share social work's perspectives with others; two degrees pursued in parallel can be earned in less time than if they were earned separately; dual degrees can offer graduates more options for their careers. Despite the benefits there are also the challenges of a dual degree programs: students are to invest more time and money to complete a dual degree program than needed to get an MSW alone; to complete the requirements for both degrees they should be more committed, more motivated, and more organized. Higher educational institutions offering interprofessional education are also exposed to some difficulties and risk. They must reach partnership agreements over important issues such as entrance requirements, application procedures, curriculum design, content and delivery, length of the program and so on. If one of the academic partners decides to change the curriculum or course requirements of its program that can complicate the partnership. It also can be a challenge for a social work program to find field opportunities that complement dual degree students' academic paths. The paper offers a platform to further discuss the value and possibilities of dual degree programs' implementation under the current situation in social work education in Ukraine.