Master of Social Work (MSW)

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • Online
• Length of program 
  • Full-time: 3 terms/12 months
  • Part-time: 6 terms/24 months
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • Minimum 75% average in the final two years of study (equivalent to last 20 half-credit courses).
  • Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited Social Work program. If an applicant’s BSW degree is from a country other than Canada, the applicant is required to show proof that their degree is recognized as being equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work Degree.
  • Successful completion of one full-course equivalent in Research Methodology and Statistics; that is, a half course in Research Methodology and a half course in Statistics, or one full course which includes both. There is no specific minimum mark requirement.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    2 must be professional and the third may be academic or professional.

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Required courses
  • SWK 600R Health, Equity & Social Justice (week-long, on-campus Summer Institute block course, in August at the beginning of the program)
  • SWK 601R Health Policy
  • SWK 602R Social Work Practice in Health
  • SWK 603R Social Work Leadership in Health Care (week-long, on-campus Summer Institute block course, in July or August (TBD) at the end of the program)
  • SWK 606R Advanced Social Work Research
  • SWK 608R Health Issues and Ethics
• Students are required to take 2 of the following elective courses:
  • SWK 609R Clinical Practice in Mental Health & Addictions
  • SWK 610R Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency
  • SWK 653R Grief and Palliative Care in Social Work
  • SWK 654R/HLTH 644 Indigenous Health and Social Justice
  • SWK 672R International Experience
  • SWK 680R Critical Topics in Social Work and Health
  • SWK 690R Special Topics in Social Work
• Students cannot take BOTH SWK 609R Clinical Practice in Mental Health & Addictions and SWK 610R Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency
• Students must complete all courses with a minimum 75% overall average including the compulsory and elective courses required in order to graduate from the program.

Link(s) to courses

• Social Work (SWK) courses

Master's Seminar Presentation

• The Master's Seminar Presentation (or Capstone) is graded credit/no-credit.

Master's Seminar

• The Master’s Seminar (or Integration Seminar) is graded credit/no-credit, students must obtain a passing credit.

Graduate Studies Practicum

• The program includes a field education experience component of at least 462 hours (minimum of two 7-hour days per week) of supervised practice in an approved agency (normally other than the student’s place of employment).
• The Practicum is graded credit/no-credit, students must obtain a passing credit.