Career Choice Factors for BSW Students

This article examines the major factors involved in choosing to enter social work for 746 undergraduate students studied over a 10-year period. Its findings suggest that, although altruism remains the touchstone for their choice, students are motivated by both service to others and job self-interest. The findings also indicate that the dimensions of motivation for choosing social work have not significantly changed over the last 10 years. The implications for these findings are also discussed.