School of Social Work

Martha, MSW graduate. Martha is standing holding her laptop at her side, smiling, in front of a greenspace.

Renison's School of Social Work prepares social work practitioners through an accessible and inclusive curriculum, in a learning environment that fosters caring and ethical social work practice within a local and global context. The School offers two post-undergraduate degree programs, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW). 

Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work distinguishes itself through strong academics as well as a hands-on, skills-oriented approach to social work practice. Your education will be further enhanced by the School of Social Work and Renison's mission promoting social justice and community service.

BSW graduates are eligible to apply for Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at Canadian universities and for MSW programs in the United States.

There are three options for admission to the the BSW program:

  • Full-time studies
    For those students who have completed an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, and who wish to enter full-time studies. 
  • Part-time studies
    For those students who have completed an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, and who wish to study part-time. 
  • Social Service Worker pathway
    For Social Service Worker graduates who wish apply for conditional admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program at the University of Waterloo. Admission is conditional based on the completion of an undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies.

My placement offered many learning opportunities to engage with various community partners, explore other areas of social work, and examine different approaches to practice.

AKIESHA, BSW Graduate

Master of Social Work

The School of Social Work is proud to offer Canada’s first health-focused Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The MSW program is housed at Renison, and is part of the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo. The MSW will build on your Bachelor of Social work degree and prepare you for leadership in health-related practice areas including clinical, community, health promotion and advocacy, program evaluation, policy, and research settings.

The MSW program is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis.  

This program has given me the platform to advocate for the oppressed. It has also revealed to me to the types of oppression that exist and how I can be an agent of change.

MARTHA, MSW Graduate

Questions? 

Contact the Renison School of Social Work at Renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca