Admission

Students who have completed a minimum of twenty transferable half courses or equivalent (nineteen of which are non-Social Work courses) or who have a complete non social work degree may apply to the third year of the BSW University Transfer Route in the Faculty of Social Work. All courses (or equivalent) must have been completed by the end of the Winter Session preceding the Fall Session for which entry is sought. Spring and Summer Sessions courses taken in the sessions immediately preceding admission will not be used in the calculation of the GPA.

Social Work 201 is a prerequisite to admission into the University Transfer Route. Applicants who have not completed Social Work 201 (or equivalent) may be admitted on a conditional basis.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (60%). The grade point average is calculated on the last ten half-course equivalents completed. Refer to the general admissions section for detailed information on calculation of the GPA;

2. Relevant work/volunteer experience (20%);

3. Admission essay (10%);

4. Three letters of reference (10%).

Note: Applicants wishing to take the complete BSW degree program at the University of Calgary may complete their nineteen specified half-course equivalents required for admission in a number of Faculties. The three most common choices are (in alphabetical order) Communication and Culture, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Note: Applicants with a complete non-social work four year degree are encouraged to apply to the two year MSW program.

Requirements

In order to graduate students must have completed:

Eight and one half full-course equivalents: Social Work 201, 353, 367, 383, 385, 388, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 410, 411, 412, 413

Two full-course equivalents in Social Work at the 500-level

Nine and one half full-course equivalents of non-Social Work courses.

Note: All 300-level Social Work courses must be completed prior to registering in Practicum courses.

Admission

Students who will have completed a Social Work Diploma at an Alberta Community College that has an admission agreement with the Faculty of Social Work may apply for admission to the third year of the BSW Post-Diploma route. Such applicants must also meet basic University admission requirements. Applicants not meeting University basic admission requirements cannot be admitted to the Faculty.

Applicants to the Post Diploma route will receive credit for ten full-course equivalents from their Diploma program. In order to be considered for admission, students must have completed four full-course equivalent university transfer non-Social Work courses (normally, as part of the Social Work program).

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (60%). One-third of the grade point average is calculated on the cumulative grade point average for social work courses and two-thirds of the grade point average is based on the last five full-course equivalent non-Social Work courses completed. Refer to the general admissions section for detailed information on calculation of the GPA.

2. One letter of reference from the field instructor of record (5%);

3. Admission essay (10%);

4. A recommendation from the chair/director of the social work program that the student attended (15%);

5. Relevant volunteer/work experience (10%).

Note: For those students who graduated with an Alberta Social Work Diploma more than five years prior to applying to the University of Calgary, three letters of reference are required in place of the recommendation from the chair/director of the social work program that the student attended and the field instructor of record.

Note: Students who have graduated with a Social Work Diploma from a College that does not have an agreement with the Faculty of Social Work, will normally receive credit for five unspecified full-course equivalents which will include Social Work 201, from their Diploma program.

Requirements

In order to graduate students must have completed:

Four full-course equivalents: Social Work 351, 353, 357, 385, 389, 412, 413

Two full-course equivalents Social Work at the 500-level

Four full-course equivalents of senior non-Social Work courses.

Note: All 300-level Social Work courses must be completed prior to registering in Practicum courses.

Note: Students who have graduated with a Social Work Diploma from a College that does not have an agreement with the Faculty of Social Work, will normally be required to complete an additional five full-course equivalents of options towards their degree requirements.

Note: During Fall and Winter sessions, social work courses in the Post-diploma Route in Calgary will normally be offered on evenings and weekends. Required senior non-social work courses may not be available on evenings and weekends.

Introduction

The BSW Learning Circles route (formerly Access route) provides opportunities for undergraduate social work education for Alberta students in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities. In order to register in the BSW Learning Circles route, students must be available to attend course offerings in selected rural, remote, and Aboriginal communities.

New applicants should refer to "Admission Requirements" in the Academic Regulations section of this Calendar for regulations regarding University admission requirements.

The overall objective of the BSW program is to prepare students for entry-level general social work practice. The BSW program provides opportunities for students to acquire sufficient knowledge, values, and skills to enable them to maintain a professional standard of practice.

The BSW Learning Circles route promotes access to the BSW degree for students in rural, remote, and Aboriginal communities in Alberta. The BSW Learning Circles Virtual Site offers the curriculum through a blended learning approach integrating technology with some face-to-face opportunities. For more information on the BSW Learning Circles Virtual Site consult the Student Services Office or the web page: http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/students/current_bsw/virtual

The BSW Learning Circles route provides an undergraduate curriculum that is culturally and geographically relevant to communities outside urban areas. Course content is innovative and aligned with traditional philosophies and knowledge systems. Community collaboration and adaptive delivery methods are key features of the Learning Circles route. The Learning Circles route offers an innovative variation of the BSW program. The final degree remains the accredited University of Calgary BSW degree.

Core content has been grouped into four theme areas: Generalist Practice in Context; Research in Context; Diversity and Oppression; Social Work Methods. These form the basis for courses that are listed as Social Work 300-level courses (Social Work 300, 301; 302, 303; 304, 305; 306, 307). Courses related to local region practicum placements are listed as Social Work 400-level courses (Social Work 410, 412). Social work option courses for Learning Circles students have the same 500-level designation as option courses for the students in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.

Note: Social Work 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, and 307 cannot be taken by students in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.

Each theme area is comprised of three half-course equivalents, including one theme course (full-course) and one additional half-course. One theme area is offered in each Fall and Winter Session. The same theme area is offered in each site location in any given session. Students can complete the four theme areas over two academic years. Practicum and integration seminar courses will be taken after all four social work theme areas and all non social work courses have been completed. The theme areas do not have to be taken in a particular sequence.

Social Work option courses may be taken at any time in the program. Option offerings in block format will be made available in Spring/Summer Sessions.

Admission

The Learning Circles University Transfer route admits students at the third year level. Therefore, by the end of the Winter Session preceding the Fall Session for which entry is sought, applicants will have completed a minimum 18 (of the 20) non-Social Work half-course equivalents.

Spring and Summer Sessions courses taken in the session immediately preceding admission will not be used in the calculation of the GPA for admission purposes.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (60%). The grade point average is calculated on the last ten half-course equivalents completed. Refer to the general admissions section for detailed information on the calculation of the GPA;

2. Relevant work/volunteer experience (20%);

3. Admission essay (10%);

4. Three letters of reference, either academic or professional in nature (10%).

Requirements

In order to graduate students must have completed:

Nine full-course equivalents: Social Work 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 410, 411, 412, 413

One full-course equivalent Social Work at the 500-level

Ten full-course equivalents non-Social Work courses.

Note: Normally all 300-level Social Work courses and non social work courses must be completed prior to registering in Practicum courses.

Admission

Students who will have completed a Social Work Diploma at an approved Community College may apply for admission to the Learning Circles Post-Diploma route. Such applicants must also meet basic University admission requirements. Applicants not meeting University basic admission requirements cannot be admitted to the Faculty.

Applicants to the Learning Circles Post-Diploma route will receive credit for ten Social Work half-course equivalents from their Diploma program. In order to be considered for admission, students must also have completed eight university transfer, non-Social Work half-course equivalents.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Grade Point Average (60%). One-third of the grade point average is calculated on the cumulative grade point average for social work courses and two-thirds of the grade point average is based on the last ten non-social work half-course equivalents completed. Refer to the general admissions section for detailed information on calculation of the GPA

2. One letter of reference from the field instructor of record (5%)

3. Admission essay (10%)

4. A recommendation from the chair/director of the social work program that the student attended (15%)

5. Relevant volunteer/work experience (10%).

Requirements

In order to graduate students must have completed:

Seven and one half full-course equivalents: Social Work 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 412, 413

One full-course equivalent Social Work at the 500-level

Six and one half full-course equivalent non-Social Work courses of which four full-course equivalents are completed within the Social Work diploma.

Note: Normally all 300-level Social Work courses and non-Social Work courses must be completed prior to registering in Practicum courses.

Admission - Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge

Students who have completed an acceptable undergraduate degree may apply to the third year of the BSW University Transfer routes in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. However, these students are encouraged to apply to the MSW program.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Grade point average (60%) composed of:

(a) Completion of Social Work 201 and

(b) Completion of an acceptable undergraduate degree at an accredited institution with a competitive GPA as calculated on the last ten half-course equivalents under basic admission requirements.

2. Relevant work/volunteer experience (20%)

3. Admission essay (10%)

4. Three letters of reference (10%).

Note: Social Work 201 must be completed prior to admission. Please contact the Student Services Office for possible transfer equivalencies.

Requirements -- Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge

Please refer to the University Transfer route section for graduation requirements.

Admission - Learning Circles

Students who have completed an acceptable undergraduate degree may apply to the Learning Circles route. Applicants to the Learning Circles route are evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Completion of an acceptable undergraduate degree at an accredited institution with a competitive GPA as calculated on the last ten half-course equivalents under basic admission requirements (60%);

2. Relevant work/volunteer experience (20%);

3. Admission essay (10%); and

4. Three letters of reference (10%).

Requirements - Learning Circles

In order to graduate students must have completed:

Nine full-course equivalents: Social Work 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 410, 411, 412, 413

One full-course equivalent Social Work at the 500-level.

Note: All 300-level required courses must be completed before students register in Social Work 410 or 412.

Note: Normally all 300-level Social Work courses and non-Social Work courses must be completed prior to registering in Practicum courses.

Admission

Admission requirements for part-time students are the same as those listed for the routes described above.

University Transfer Route Students in Calgary

A part-time program in the BSW University Transfer Route is available in Calgary. Core courses in this part-time route will normally be offered on evenings and weekends during Fall and Winter sessions.

Program Requirements

Degree requirements for all students must be completed within five consecutive 12-month periods from the date of initial registration in the Faculty of Social Work. Please see an academic advisor to confirm a program of study.

The Faculty of Social Work partners with numerous agencies from across the province to provide field education. Please refer to our web site for the list of affiliated agencies: http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/.