Bachelor of Social Work

Building a foundation

BSW courses will give you a strong foundation for social work practice. Coursework explores how social work intersects with diversity, Indigenous perspectives, mental health and addictions, and social determinants of health, among others.

Experiential learning

As part of the BSW program, you will participate in seminars that go hand-in-hand with your practicum placement. You will bring your classroom learning to your placement, bring your placement learning back to the classroom, and learn from the experiences of your peers. This exchange of knowledge is an integral and expansive part of the BSW learning experience.

Deepen your understanding

Elective courses allow you to choose one subject to explore further. Whether you're interested in working with older adults, international populations, or expanding your knowledge of social work fields of practice, your elective will enhance your BSW.

Full-time study	Part-time study
Completed in as little as 10 months Seven core courses, one elective, three practicum courses In class two days per week Three days of field placement per week Guaranteed field placement to complete required 720 hours More information about full-time study	Completed within three years, flexible to suit a busy lifestyle Seven core courses, one elective, three practicum courses A maximum of two courses per term + one field placement Two days of field placement per week after completion of at least one 400-level SWREN course Guaranteed field placement to complete required 720 hours More information about part-time study

Though the BSW is a post-degree program and a bachelor's degree is a requirement for admission, you may consider pursuing a Social Development Studies (SDS) degree. SDS is an excellent way to build your understanding of social work and ensure you have the seven prerequisite courses before applying to the BSW program.

Applicants to the BSW program must have a Bachelor of Arts degree of equivalent to be eligible to begin the program. If you're completing your degree at the time of application to the BSW, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission. 

Applicants to the BSW program must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent to be eligible to begin the program. If you have a Social Service Worker diploma, you can apply to the BSW through our Social Service Worker Pathway.

If you're accepted into the pathway, you'll receive transfer credits into the Bachelor of Arts Social Development Studies (SDS) program to fast-track your completion of an undergraduate degree. As part of your pathway acceptance, you will also receive a conditional offer to the BSW, which begins after your SDS degree is complete.

No. Applicants to the BSW program must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent to be eligible to begin the program, but it does not have to be an SDS degree. Many students, however, do choose to pursue an SDS degree to complete prerequisite courses.

If you have completed an undergraduate degree but are missing one or more prerequisites, you can complete those courses during the application process. If you have completed a minimum of 4 prerequisites and/or you are registered for them at the time of application, you may receive a conditional offer to the BSW.

Here are the 7 prerequisites to the BSW program.

The full-time BSW is in-person, on-campus. The part-time BSW is offered as blended learning; courses are primarily online, however, there may be one or two in-person classes on campus per semester.

A BSW is a professional degree which is required for many social work careers and related professions. We see our graduates working forward in a variety of career areas, including

• child welfare
• community mental health and addiction
• housing support
• settlement services
• youth services
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• Black, Indigenous, and people of colour
• persons with disabilities

Graduates from the BSW program often pursue Master of Social Work degrees or further education in related areas (e.g. public health, law). Once you have completed a BSW degree, you are eligible to apply for advanced-standing MSW programs, including the Waterloo MSW program housed right at Renison's School of Social Work.

Full-time students in the BSW program can expect to complete their degree in as little as 10 months. Part-time students complete the BSW program within three years.