MSW Admissions - Next Steps

All MSW students MUST commit to attending the ON-CAMPUS Summer Institute held over one week in August at the beginning of the program and the ON-LINE Summer Institute held over 3 weeks in August at the end of the program), which are mandatory and form an integral part of the program. 

The dates for the on-campus Summer Institute for students starting the program in fall 2025 will be Monday August 18 to Friday August 22, 2025, inclusive.  NOTE:  The 5 on-campus days will be preceded by preparatory learning activities and an assignment, and followed by more activities that will wrap up the course learning, essentially making this course 3 weeks in length, with the on-campus component in the middle week.

Please personalize and email the following text to renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca within 10 business days of the date of your offer on Quest:

University of Waterloo Student ID Number:

I, (name), understand I MUST attend the two Summer Institutes which form an integral part of the MSW program offered by the School of Social Work at Renison University College.  I understand that the dates for the initial Summer Institute, which includes SWK 600R: Health, Equity and Social Justice, are from Monday August 18 to Friday August 22, 2025, inclusive, and will be held IN-PERSON at Renison University College.  I understand that attendance is mandatory.

I understand that the 5 on-campus days will be preceded by preparatory learning activities and an assignment, and followed by more activities during August and September that will wrap up the course learning, essentially making this course 3 weeks in length, with the on-campus component in the middle week.

I understand that I will not be allowed into the program, or to graduate, unless I attend BOTH intensive Summer Institute courses, the first of which is held on campus over 5 days in August (with preparatory learning activities beforehand and further activities afterwards) at the beginning of the program and the second of which is completed online over 3 weeks in August (date TBD) of my graduating year.

Signed: 

You must complete the text in the statement below and send, by email, to renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca within 10 business days after your Offer of Admission has been posted on Quest.   

You must complete the text in the statement below and send, by email, to renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca within 10 business days after your Offer of Admission has been posted on Quest.   

Statement of commitment from the applicant

To: renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca

School of Social Work,
Renison University College,
240 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G4

(ONLY full-time applicants complete the following paragraph:)

I, (applicant’s name), am aware that the full-time Master of Social Work program offered by the School of Social Work, Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, requires one year to complete.

(ONLY part-time applicants complete the following paragraph:)

I, (applicant’s name), am aware that the part-time Master of Social Work program offered by the School of Social Work, Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, requires two years to complete.

(ALL applicants include the rest of this text:)

I am aware that the Master of Social Work program is a course-based curriculum, which includes a degree requirement of EIGHT courses: 

• 6 core courses, two of which are offered as intensive Summer Institutes. The beginning Summer Institute is offered as a week-long, on-campus course in August, with preparatory online assignments beforehand and further online activities afterwards, (essentially making this course 3 weeks in length) before the rest of the fall term courses start in September. The final Summer Institute is offered as a three-week long intensive, online course with synchronous components in the second week, and is held in August at the end of the program. The remaining four ​core courses are completed as 12-week online, asynchronous courses. 
• 2 online elective courses.

plus TWO Milestones: 

• An unpaid Practicum (minimum 450 hours of supervised practice), and
• An Integration Seminar and Capstone.
• The Practicum, Integration Seminar and Capstone are all graded credit/non-credit.

I am also aware that as a student in the MSW, I must obtain an average of at least 75% in the courses presented in fulfillment of the degree requirements. A failing grade in any course will occasion an automatic review of an MSW student’s status by the School of Social Work and may, in some cases, result in the requirement to withdraw from the program.

Applicant’s Name__________________________________

Applicant’s ID Number______________________________

Home Address____________________________________

Home Telephone /Cell Phone Number__________________

Email Address_____________________________________

Employment Position (if applicable)____________________

Agency/Organization (if applicable)____________________

Applicants who have yet to complete a university level Research Methods course AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, must submit proof of successful completion by July 1, 2025 to meet this condition.

For applicants enrolled in a University of Waterloo Research Methods course(s): send an email to renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca once the course is completed and final grade available. We will check your grades through QUEST.

For applicants enrolled in a Research Methods course at other institutions: you must arrange for PDF copy of your unofficial transcript to be sent by email to renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca showing successful completion of the Research Methods course to meet this condition.  

Notification of completion of the Research Methods course by email must be received by July 1, 2025, or your place on the MSW program will be withdrawn.

If you have any queries about this condition please contact renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca

UPDATED CODE OF ETHICS 2024

Any academic or non-academic offence may result in suspension or withdrawal from the program. 

If you have any queries about this condition please contact renison.socialwork@uwaterloo.ca