BSW gatekeeping, student assessment, evaluation, longitudinal data
Abstract
Social work educators have an obligation to the profession to admit into
its ranks those applicants judged to have the requisite knowledge, skills, and values
for effective practice. Even though considerable disagreement exists as to what those
specifics encompass, there is a general sense that students should be monitored
throughout the curriculum and that, by making admission decisions for students,
the profession and ultimately the clients are better served. This study presents longitudinal
data on an instrument utilized by a small BSW program across five pre-professional
courses, yielding scores at mid-term and at the end of the semester that
address students’ compatibilities with the demands of the profession.Data are used
in a feedback loop for assessing students compatibility with the profession prior to
the initial point of entry into the major. Strengths and limitations of the study are
addressed.
