Applicants must meet the basic University admission requirements. Students who lack university admission requirements cannot be admitted to the Faculty. In addition, applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.30 calculated over the most recent course work to a maximum of ten half-course equivalents (University of Calgary courses and/or transfer courses taken at other institutions). All grades within a session will be included except where the number of courses taken within a session exceeds that required to fulfill (to a maximum of) ten half-course equivalents, in which case, the highest grades will be used. See the BSW Routes sections regarding use of Spring and Summer Sessions courses.

Admission quotas limit enrollment in each of the routes. Therefore, not all qualified applicants may be admitted. All students compete for admission. Students are admitted to the Fall Session only.

Applicants must submit both a completed Faculty of Social Work or Faculty of Social Work Learning Circles Application for Admission form in addition to a University of Calgary Application for Admission form. Additional requirements for each route are listed below in the "BSW Routes" sections.

Students who wish to transfer from one location (e.g. Calgary) to another location (e.g. Edmonton) must seek advice from the Student Services Office. A Change of Program form must be completed by April 1 and Faculty approval must be obtained. Requests for transfer will not automatically be approved.

Application Deadlines

Application and documentation deadlines for the Bachelor of Social Work program:

Refer to the Applications for Admission Schedule at the front of this Calendar for application and documentation deadlines.

April 1 for the Faculty of Social Work "Application for Admission" or Faculty of Social Work Learning Circles Application form, three reference letters (one of which must be academic), required essay, information on relevant volunteer/work experience to the Faculty of Social Work.

Note: Spring and Summer Sessions courses taken immediately prior to the Fall Session for which admission is being sought will not be used in the calculation of the grade point average for admission purposes.

Only continuing students at the University of Calgary may complete a Change of Program form. The following categories of applicants to the University of Calgary must complete the regular University of Calgary "Application for Admission/Readmission" form:

(a) not previously attended,

(b) attended as a visiting or Open Studies student,

(c) attended another institution since leaving,

(d) not attended for two years or more.

In addition, all applicants must complete the Faculty of Social Work or Faculty of Social Work Learning Circles "Application for Admission" form.

Course Load

The normal course load is five half-course equivalents per session.

Accuracy of Registration

All students are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of their registration and for arranging their course selections to meet all program requirements as detailed in this Calendar.

Interruption of Program Leading to a Degree

Students who interrupt their degree program in the Faculty of Social Work are warned that after an absence of one calendar year from academic study at the university level, they may be required to comply with any regulations that may have come into effect in regard to their program requirements. Students who choose to withdraw for a year will not be required to re-apply for admission. However, they must notify the Faculty of Social Work in writing by March 1 of their intention to return. Students who are required to withdraw for academic reasons will not normally be readmitted.

Other Requirements

In order to take advantage of technically enhanced courses, video-conferencing and web-based tools, students must be familiar with navigating on the internet and have access to computer hardware and software. Some courses may be available only on-line or by video-conferencing. E-mail is routinely used to disseminate information to students. An e-mail address is required for full participation in Faculty life. Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge provide limited space in computer laboratories. Students should seek advice from the Student Services Office or the Manager of Information Technology (located in Calgary) if they encounter difficulties in meeting these expectations.

Effective Writing Requirement

Students who have not met the University's Effective Writing requirement on admission must satisfy the requirement by the end of their first year in the Faculty of Social Work.

Arrangements can be made for the Effective Writing Qualification Test to be administered in Edmonton, Lethbridge and Access sites.

Field Practicum

Field practicum courses provide an opportunity for the student to be directly involved in social work practice. Successful completion of these courses is a requirement for continuation in the program. The field practicum courses are Social Work 400, 402, 404 and 408/409. All continuing students planning to enroll in the field practicum courses must complete a "Field Request" form and register in the appropriate course(s). Students will be assigned placements in the field practicum based on availability, student interest and choices made by agencies. Information on field placement arrangements, including international placements, is available from the Director of Field Education.

Note: Students registered in the field practicum courses - Social Work 400, 402, 404 and 408/409 - are required to attend the practicum during Reading Days. Students should also note that Social Work practicum courses will normally run one week past the last day of lectures in Fall and Winter Sessions.

Note: All students must be registered full time when they enroll in Social Work 408/409.

Criminal Record Check

Prospective students are advised that many agencies who offer social work practicum placements require that students have a criminal record check prior to acceptance into a placement. Registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers also requires a criminal record check.

Student Advising

The Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work advises students on academic matters and University regulations. BSW students are assigned a faculty advisor who can assist the student with professional development and academic issues.

Program Duration

Degree requirements must be completed within five consecutive 12-month periods from the date of initial registration in the Faculty of Social Work.

Promotion and Graduation Requirements

1. Academic performance and professional suitability (see Code of Conduct) will be monitored throughout the program and assessed at the end of each Winter Session

2. Students are allowed a maximum of two "D" or two "D+" grades in the equivalent of two half courses throughout their program.

3. A student who fails or withdraws from a field practicum course (Social Work 400 or 402 or 404 or 408/409) will fail or be required to withdraw from the corequisite courses (Social Work 403 or 405 and 407). In addition, the student may be required to withdraw from the program.

4. A cumulative grade point average of 2.30 or above is required on all courses taken towards the BSW degree. Normally, a student who has obtained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 but less than 2.30 will be placed on academic probation. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 will be required to withdraw.

5. Students who are required to withdraw from the Faculty of Social Work will not normally be readmitted.

To be awarded the Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary, students must meet all program requirements as described below under "BSW Routes." All students must complete a minimum of 10 half courses at the University of Calgary to obtain a degree from this institution. In the case of a student repeating a required course, the GPA for graduation purposes (not degrees with distinction) shall include only the higher grade.

Minor Field Programs

Students may formally declare a Minor Field and have this officially recorded on their transcript of record provided they satisfy the requirements for the relevant Minor Field program. This declaration must be made no later than the time of their last registration.

Minor Fields may be taken from Continuing Education and the Faculties of Communication and Culture, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Medicine, Science, Social Sciences, and the Haskayne School of Business. Students must satisfy the minor field requirements of the relevant Faculty.

Grading

The regular University grading system applies to all courses except field practicum courses (Social Work 400, 402, 404 and 408/409). These courses are graded as: Completed Requirements (CR) or Fail (F).

Graduation With Distinction

The notation "With Distinction" will be inscribed on the permanent record and graduation parchment of all BSW students whose grade point averages on University of Calgary Social Work graded courses places them in the top 10 percent of the Faculty's graduands. A minimum GPA of 3.60 will be required. For determination of the top 10 percent, the grade point averages obtained by the previous year's graduating class will be used.