Holistic Admissions and Racial/Ethnic Diversity: A Systematic Review and Implications for Social Work Doctoral Education

Research evaluating holistic admission practices in social work doctoral programs is nascent. This systematic literature review aims to answer two questions: What holistic admissions practices exist in U.S. graduate education? and Are these practices effective in increasing racial and ethnic diversity? In September 2019 we conducted searches of six databases using eight key word combinations to locate the relevant extant literature. The final sample of 16 articles described varying aims of holistic admissions and showed promising practices for increasing racial and ethnic diversity in graduate programs primarily through the expansion of indicators of success used during the review process or through improving retention rates of underrepresented minorities and ensuring that recruitment practices are fair and equitable. Promoting the admission of underrepresented racial minority doctoral students is key to ensuring the social work profession mirrors the diverse populations it strives to serve.