SDS+BSW: More than a degree, a new beginning
By Nancy Schnarr, Senior Manager, Central Communications
Looking forward at Renison means not only building and managing our physical spaces but also evaluating and updating services and program offerings. For decades, the Social Development Studies (SDS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs have been pillars of Renison, meeting the needs of students as they made their way into professions like Social Worker, Teacher, or Lawyer – among many others. The two academic units worked together to support students’ professional goals throughout both the SDS undergraduate degree and the 10-month BSW post-graduate degree. More recently, they embarked on further integrating the two and, after 5 years of planning, the single pathway SDS+BSW double degree will become reality for students starting in Fall 2026.
Why combine these two popular degrees when they exist separately? One of the most meaningful benefits for students is that they build relationships and community with the School of Social Work as they begin their SDS degree. According to Dr. Trish Van Katwyk, School of Social Work Director, it will give students more time to become acclimatized to the field of Social Work and be better prepared for their studies and practicum. “The current 10-month program is so intense,” she says. “With more time, students can ease into some of the more difficult conversations and begin to develop a professional identity right as they’re starting their university career.”
There are logistical benefits too – instead of applying to the BSW after completing an SDS degree, students interested in Social Work only need to apply once. Plus, says Dr. Rob Case, Director of the Renison School of Social Sciences and Humanities, “the two degrees offer a broad base of knowledge and open up a number of possible trajectories for students.” This model keeps the degree flexible and tailored to each individual student’s interests or goals.
The SDS+BSW double degree is a timely addition to Renison and to the University of Waterloo. According to the Canada Job Bank’s Labour Market Information, Social Workers in particular will be in high demand over the next 10+ years, with issues like mental health, poverty, and addiction coming into sharp relief in many communities. Dr. Denise Marigold, former Chair of the SDS Department and key figure in the development of the new degree, emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary studies to address these issues. “We need to understand complex social issues at so many levels,” she says. “Within SDS there are Psychology, Sociology, and other interdisciplinary courses that, taken together, cover the level of individuals, families, communities, institutions, and societies. As a student enters into the Social Work profession, they will have all of these layers of understanding to support their work.”
As with any new program, the SDS+BSW double degree has taken time and collaboration to come together. Though the process has taken a number of years, Van Katwyk says it was necessary. “The initial years were spent trying to find a common ground; moving slowly means that the foundation is really strong.”
In addition to what the SDS+BSW program means for students, it’s also a reflection of the mission and values of Renison. “It’s a demonstration of what can happen when there is collaboration across the institution,” says Dr. Kristiina Montero, Renison’s VP Academic and Dean. “It reflects the community we have built here.”
From the perspective of the departments, there is excitement about the new program. “There’s definitely enthusiasm about possibilities for great collaboration with our Social Work colleagues,” says Marigold. “The process was also done with the best interests of students in mind, which is something we hold really highly.”
The School of Social Work, too, is ready to get started. “Faculty are eager to be able to see students for a longer period of time,” says Van Katwyk. “The relational piece is really exciting for faculty and for staff.”
“There are definitely some SDS faculty members who are keen to contribute more directly to the evolution of Social Work practice and standards,” says Case. “There are quite a few of us with Social Work degrees and backgrounds, but we’re kind of on the margins of the profession so the collaboration aspect is really appealing.”
As the double degree finds its footing with students, the program will also weave into the fabric of Renison with additional points of connection found between the double degree and other academic units. The new double degree will give students a whole new experience and, for Renison, it’s an exciting new chapter of our story.