UofC

Location: MacKimmie Tower 301

Student Information: 403.220.5942/1.877.282.0667

Dean's Office: 403.220.5945

Dean's Office Email: fswdean@ucalgary.ca

Student Services: Contact a Student Advisor

Website: socialwork.ucalgary.ca

Students interested in pursuing the BSW in Calgary or through the Virtual Learning Circle program must contact:

Student Services
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
MT 301, 2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2N 1N4
Telephone: 403.220.5942 or toll free 1.877.282.0667
Email: bswinfo@ucalgary.ca

The BSW is regularly offered in Edmonton. In addition, Central and Northern Alberta communities currently hosting the BSW Learning Circles program are: Grande Prairie, Red Deer and West Yellowhead (one-time cohort).

Students interested in studying in the Central and Northern Alberta Region must contact:

Student Services
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
Central and Northern Alberta Region
3-250, 10230 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4P6
Telephone: 780.492.3888 or toll free 1.888.492.2083
Email: fswcnar@ucalgary.ca

The BSW program is regularly offered in Lethbridge. The Southern Alberta community currently hosting the Learning Circles program is Medicine Hat.

Students interested in studying in Southern Alberta Region must contact:

Student Services
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
Southern Alberta Region
4401 University Drive, University Hall Room 526
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1K 3M4
Telephone: 403.329.2794 or toll free 1.866.329.2794
Email: fswsar@ucalgary.ca

International Definition of Social Work

“Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.”
(ifsw.org/get-involved/global-definition-of-social-work)

Faculty of Social Work Vision

Creating social well-being and just societies.

Faculty of Social Work Mission

• Dedicated to promoting societies that respect human dignity and worth, meet basic human needs, are anti-oppressive, inclusive, and based on principles of social justice.
• Committed to learners by providing and building a knowledge base and set of skills in environments designed to stimulate and support a spirit of critical inquiry.
• Focused on serving as a catalyst for positive community impact through the creation and dissemination of knowledge and innovation.

The Faculty of Social Work prepares BSW graduates to address individual, family, community, and social concerns in the context of diverse and changing societies. Graduates are prepared to draw upon a variety of assessment and intervention methods to help achieve social well-being outcomes with appropriate structural supports across the life span.

The program is based on the social work tenets of mobilizing strengths of individuals and groups, social engagement and civil societies, respect for diversity, inclusion, equitable participation, and social justice.

The program is grounded in the vision and mission of the Faculty, inquiry based methods of learning, the Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the social work profession, and the national accreditation standards for schools of social work.

The BSW program provides students with the professional knowledge, theory, and skills of social work including a wide range of experiential opportunities to integrate this learning in supervised practice settings. Upon graduation, students are prepared to practice as generalist social workers in a wide variety of social welfare fields in a continuously changing world. Areas of practice may include child welfare, family violence, community development, health, gerontology, mental health and addictions, social policy development, and working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Social Work Students' Association

The Social Work Students' Association (SWSA) is actively involved in the governance of the Faculty, with representatives on Faculty Council and Faculty committees. The society is an active advocate of student interests and issues, and a sponsor of social events for educational and charitable causes. The Association is active in all regions and all students in the faculty are eligible for membership.

The study of social work practice places students in a position of special trust with professional social workers and their clients. The Faculty recognizes that social work education occurs both inside and outside the classroom and has the responsibility to ensure that its graduates are competent and ethical. Students are expected to comply with all university policies and regulations in addition to professional standards for the Social Work profession as outlined by the Canadian Association for Social Workers, Code of Ethics (2005): https://www.casw-acts.ca/files/documents/casw_code_of_ethics.pdf and the Alberta College of Social Work Standards of Practice (2019): https://www.acsw.ab.ca/site/practice-resources.

Students are expected to ensure they are both familiar and compliant with these standards.