Assessing Potential Master's of Social Work Students for Suitability to the Field: The Importance of Relevant Experience
The purpose of this qualitative dissertation in practice study was to describe the current nonacademic factors considered by accredited Master's of Social Work programs in their admissions process and to create an evidence-based framework that programs may implement to better assess student suitability to the field. Although assessing potential social work students’ suitability prior to entering the field may be the most effective way to ensure quality care and prevent future harm, it has historically been difficult, due to unclear definitions, subjectivity, and a lack of standardized practices. Admissions criteria were obtained from all 244 Master’s of Social Work programs in the United States that were accredited by the CSWE at the time of the study. In addition, a small sample of individual program directors completed a qualitative survey in order to obtain a more in-depth analysis. It was found that despite continued difficulty around assessing suitability, programs have made few changes in the past 20 years, and although programs value potential students’ experience prior to admission into a master’s level social work program, few programs required this experience for admission. It is recommended that Master’s of Social Work programs require students to have significant experience prior to admissions, implement a suitability assessment that may be completed by individuals who worked with potential students during their previous experience, and that traits and skills necessary for a social worker to be considered suitable to the field are communicated clearly to applicants. Making improvements in assessing potential students for suitability to the field of social work may not only reduce the likelihood of potential harm to future clients, but also provide a focus on finding highly competent individuals who are well-suited to the profession.
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