UofC

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

The Faculty of Social Work provides post-secondary education throughout Alberta. The BSW degree, accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, is offered from the Faculty's home location in Calgary, the Edmonton-based Central and Northern Alberta Region, and the Lethbridge-based Southern Alberta Region. The BSW is also offered by blended learning in communities around the province through the community-based Learning Circles and online through the Virtual Learning Circles.

The undergraduate social work curriculum is delivered face-to-face in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge and in some of the community-based Learning Circles sites. The Virtual Learning Circles program is delivered primarily online with some face-to-face course work at the University of Calgary campus.

The BSW program in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge prepares students for generalist practice.

The community-based Learning Circles curriculum prepares students for practice that is geographically relevant and particularly sensitive to the needs of Indigenous peoples.

The Learning Circles program is administered from Edmonton for sites in central and northern communities, and from Lethbridge for sites in southern communities. The Virtual Learning Circles program is administered from Calgary.

Students may study for the BSW degree on a full-time or part-time basis. Students have up to five years to complete the 3rd and 4th year of the BSW program.

The Faculty of Social Work's admission routes into its different programs are described in the section 3.1 Admission.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

The Faculty offers a Master's program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education leading to the MSW degree. The objective of the MSW program is to prepare students for advanced professional practice in social work. The Faculty of Social Work offers MSW programs in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. In all locations, students choose between the course-based or the thesis route to the degree, except for the Leadership in Human Services specialization, which is only course-based.

In Calgary, MSW students are admitted annually and choose from one of the three Specializations: Clinical Social Work Practice, Leadership in the Human Services, or International and Community Development. Students without an undergraduate degree in social work must complete nine Foundation courses prior to taking any Specialization courses. BSW graduates are admitted directly into the Specialization route.

In Edmonton, the Faculty of Social Work offers only the Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization. Students without an undergraduate degree in social work must complete nine Foundation courses prior to taking any Specialization courses. BSW graduates are admitted directly into the Specialization route.

In Lethbridge, the Faculty of Social Work offers only the Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization and only to students with a BSW. Lethbridge does not offer the Foundation route.

The course-based MSW in Leadership in the Human Services Specialization is administered through Calgary as a blended program and is accessible to students regardless of home location.

More details about the MSW program may be found in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar at grad.ucalgary.ca.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work

The PhD program offers a research-based degree and is intended to produce highly qualified social work researchers and teachers. It is Calgary-based.

Please consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for further information: grad.ucalgary.ca.

MSW/MBA

The Faculty of Social Work and the Haskayne School of Business offer a combined program leading to the Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration (MSW/MBA) degree. Offered from the Calgary location, this program is designed to prepare students for business-related social work careers.

Post-baccalaureate Certificate and Diploma

A Post-baccalaureate Certificate and Diploma in Mental Health and Addictions is offered in Calgary. Information about this program can be obtained from the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work or from the Faculty’s website at: fsw.ucalgary.ca/.