BSSW GATE 4 & Comprehensive Exam – SOWK 494

Course Description

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requires that all social work programs have a gatekeeping process to ensure that students have a thorough understanding of the profession of social work and will be a good fit for the program and profession. The BSSW program at Liberty University includes 4 gates. All students must apply for and be approved through all 4 gates to be eligible to graduate from the BSSW Program. This SOWK 494 course houses the application process for GATE 4 of the BSSW Program. This course is 0 credits and is Pass/Fail. Approval through GATE 4 and successful completion of the comprehensive exam indicates readiness to graduate out of the Social Work Program with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Social Work (BSSW).

Rationale

Approval through GATE 4 and successful completion of the comprehensive exam indicates readiness to graduate out of the Social Work Program with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Social Work (BSSW).

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Degree Completion Plan Audit Assignment

The student must submit a PDF of his or her Degree Completion Plan (DCPA) to verify eligibility for Gate 4.

This quiz is designed to assess the student's understanding of the purpose and structure of this course. 

Quiz: Growth Areas & Competency Development Plans

This quiz is to assess whether or not the student had any Areas of Needed Growth noted in his or her Gate 3 Decision.

This quiz is designed to ensure that students have begun making the proper arrangements in their schedule to be available during the designated date/time of the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam.

The student must submit an Application to Graduate through his or her ASIST account to be eligible to participate in Commencement and have his or her degree conferred. This application is processed through Registrar. This quiz verifies that students have completed their Graduation Application. 

Quiz: Overview of the Comprehensive Exam

This quiz verifies that the student is aware of the guidelines and requirements for the exam.

Quiz: Licensure Review

This quiz is designed to ensure that the student is aware of the licensure requirements in his or her state of interest.

Quiz: Growth Areas & Competency Development Documentation

If an Area of Needed Growth was specified in the student’s Gate 3 Decision email, he or she will need to submit the associated documentation to show that the student has been growing in that specific area. The student can see assignment instructions for what to do if no Areas of Needed Growth were noted in his or her Gate 3 Decision email.

Quiz: Comp Exam Acknowledgements

This quiz verifies that the student is aware of the guidelines and requirements for the exam.

Quiz: Student Award Nominations

The student has the opportunity to submit nominations for their peers to win one of the annual student awards presented by the department. Nominations must include the elements listed in the assignment instructions for this quiz.

Quiz: Comprehensive Exam

The Quiz: Comprehensive Exam is a 200-question quiz created by the department to assess each student’s understanding and application of the core competencies and practice behaviors of the profession. Each student must pass it with a 70% or higher to be able to graduate out of the program. For any students who do not pass the first time, there will be an opportunity to retake the quiz. The student will have 4 hours to complete this closed-note, closed-book quiz. Students who do not pass the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam will need to take the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam Re-Take. Those who pass the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam will be exempt from the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam Re-Take.

The Quiz: Comprehensive Exam is not a licensure exam although it is designed to mimic the style and content of most licensure exams.

Quiz: Understanding Your Comprehensive Exam Score

This quiz is designed to ensure that the student understands their score on Quiz: Comprehensive Exam and whether or not they need to take the Quiz: Comprehensive Exam Re-Take.

Quiz: Graduation Survey

This survey helps the department gather data about where/what the student will be doing post-graduation.

Quiz: Program Review

This brief survey helps the department gather data about student experiences and feedback for bettering the program.

Final Degree Completion Plan Audit Assignment

The student must submit a PDF of his or her Degree Completion Plan (DCPA) for final verification of eligibility for Gate 4 approval.

Quiz: Group Exit Interview Confirmation

The student may be randomly selected to participate in a group exit interview to discuss with the department his or her experiences and the program.

The student will then complete this quiz to confirm either his or her attendance in the Group Exit Interviews (if selected) or that he or she was not selected to participate in the Group Exit Interviews.

Gate 4 Decision Assignment (Completed By Department)

The student's Gate decision will be emailed to the student and posted within the gradebook. Approval (both full and provisional) will result in full awardance of points and completion of the Gate.

Quiz: Handshake Resource

This quiz is designed to ensure that the student is aware of the resources available to them through LU's Handshake platform.

Quiz: Moving Forward

This quiz is designed to ensure that the student is aware of the resources available to them through department and how to contact the Social Work Department for future needs after graduation.