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Graduate Studies Calendar 2011-2012 Program Descriptions Social Work SOWK
Social Work - SOWK
Contact Information

Locations

Calgary:
Professional Faculties Building, Room 3270
Faculty number: 403.220.6945
Fax: 403.282.7269
E-mail address: fswgrad@ucalgary.ca

Edmonton:
#444, 11044-82 Avenue
Faculty number: 780.492.3888
Fax: 780.492.5774
E-mail address: eefleck@ucalgary.ca
 
Lethbridge:
4401 University Drive
Faculty number: 403.329.2794
Fax: 403.329.2787
E-mail address: aiken@uleth.ca

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
MBA/MSW (full-time; course-based)

Post-Master’s Diploma in Advanced Studies in Social Work (PMD)
Post-baccalaureate Certificate and Diploma in Mental Health and Addictions

Master of Social Work (MSW), course-based (full-time and part-time) and thesis-based; programs available for both BSW graduates and graduates from other disciplines.

PhD
The PhD is a research-based degree and is intended to produce highly qualified social work researchers and teachers. The aim of developing such advanced scholarly and research skills is to equip doctoral students for future roles as leaders of the social work profession. Students complete 9 courses, a candidacy exam, and a thesis.

The Faculty of Social Work also offers a Post-Master’s Diploma in Advanced Studies in Social Work (PMD). For information on the Post-Master’s Diploma in Advanced Studies in Social Work, contact fswgrad@ucalgary.ca in the Faculty of Social Work.

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.

MSW
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 are required to choose a course-based or thesis route to the degree. The course-based route is appropriate for students who intend to provide direct service in the field. The thesis route is appropriate for students who intend to proceed to doctoral studies and/or anticipate a career requiring advanced program evaluation or research skills.

In Calgary, MSW students are admitted annually and choose one of three Specializations: Clinical Social Work Practice, Leadership in the Human Services, or International and Community Development. Students without an undergraduate degree in social work are admitted to a two-year program, while BSW graduates are admitted directly into a one-year Specialization program.

Also offered from the Calgary location, the Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration  (MSW/MBA) program is designed to prepare students for business-related social work careers. This program is available only to full-time MSW Specialization students.

In Edmonton, the Faculty of Social Work offers the Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization. Program delivery blends on-site and web-based formats. On-site courses are offered on Friday evenings and Saturdays, four times per term, and occasional week-long intensives, allowing students from Edmonton and central and northern Alberta to continue working while pursuing graduate education. Students with a BSW complete the Clinical Specialization program in 2 years. Students with an undergraduate degree in other disciplines complete a Foundation program followed by the Clinical Specialization program, requiring a total of 4 years of study. Admission occurs in odd-numbered years (i.e., 2011, 2013, etc.).

In Lethbridge, the Faculty of Social Work offers the Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization to students with a BSW. Program delivery blends web-based and on-site formats, allowing students from Lethbridge and southern Alberta to continue working while pursuing graduate education. Students complete the program in 2 years. Admission occurs in odd-numbered years (i.e., 2011, 2013, etc.).

The MSW course-based Specialization in Leadership in the Human Services is administered through Calgary as a distance program and is accessible to students regardless of home location. Please consult the Faculty of Social Work website: http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/. One course is offered on campus for one week in July in both the first and second years of the program. Other courses are offered via distance delivery. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study. For information, consult the website or contact the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work.

2. Admission Requirements

Students are responsible for meeting the admission requirements as established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Social Work requires the following:

For PhD:
a) A Master of Social Work or equivalent graduate degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a four-point scale;
b)A study plan outlining the applicant’s educational goals, career expectations, and research interests;
c) Substantial professional experience;
d) Samples of written work including, for example, published and/or unpublished scholarly papers and/or professional reports; and
e)Two reference letters.

For MSW course-based

In Calgary and Edmonton:
a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree, or a four-year Bachelor’s degree from another discipline;
b) The equivalent of two years of full-time paid or volunteer work in the human services field;
c) A study plan outlining the applicant’s educational goals and career expectations. (If applying to the Calgary program, the study plan must indicate the applicant’s intended area of Specialization: Clinical Social Work Practice, Leadership in the Human Services, or International and Community Development.); and
d)Two reference letters

In Lethbridge:
a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree;
b) A study plan outlining the applicant’s educational goals and career expectations; and
c) Two reference letters

For MSW thesis-based

In Calgary and Edmonton:
a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree, or a four-year Bachelor’s degree from another discipline;
b) The equivalent of two years of full-time paid or volunteer work in the human services field;
c) A study plan outlining the applicant's educational goals and career expectations. (If applying to the Calgary program, the study plan must indicate the applicant’s intended area of Specialization: Clinical Social Work Practice, Leadership in the Human Services, or International and Community Development);
d) An additional statement providing a rationale for selecting the thesis route and describing the applicant’s area of research interest. Students considering applying to the thesis route are strongly encouraged to discuss this option with a Faculty member prior to completing the application process; and
e) Two reference letters.

In Lethbridge:
a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree
b) A study plan outlining the applicant’s educational goals and career expectations;
c) An additional statement providing a rationale for selecting the thesis route and describing the applicant’s area of research interest. Students considering applying to the thesis route are strongly encouraged to discuss this option with a Faculty member prior to completing the application process; and
d) Two reference letters.

For MSW/MBA (in Calgary only):
a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree or completion of the MSW Foundation courses (described in Section 5 below). Applicants demonstrating academic excellence and prior human services experience may be considered for admission to the Foundation year;
b) A study plan outlining the applicant’s educational goals and career expectations;
c) Admission into the Haskayne School of Business; and
d) Two reference letters

For Mental Health & Addictions (MHA) Program
Certificate – Students must have completed an undergraduate degree.
Diploma – Students must have completed the MHA Certificate.

3. Application Deadline

Final submission deadlines are as follows:

PhD Program: 31 January for September admission (in exceptional cases, applicants may be accepted for alternative admission dates).

Calgary MSW Programs: 1 December for September admission to the Clinical Social Work Practice and International and Community Development Specializations, July admission to the Leadership in Human Services Specialization (distance delivery), and/or July or September admission to MSW/MBA (depending upon Specialization).

The Calgary MSW Program uses a rolling admission policy; that is, qualified applicants may be offered a space in a program prior to final application submission deadlines.

Edmonton and Lethbridge MSW Programs:
31 January for September admission in odd-numbered years (2011, 2013, etc.).

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for coursework taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to raise the grade point average for admission purposes. For all Faculty of Social Work graduate programs, advanced credit may be granted for not more than the equivalent of three half courses.

Approval of advanced credit will be based on an evaluation of the student applicant’s particular circumstances and the fit between the prior coursework and the applicant’s program of study in the MSW. Students exploring the possibility of Advanced Credit should contact the Student Advisor in the program location to which they are applying (Calgary, Edmonton, or Lethbridge).

5. Program/Course Requirements

Please note that not all programs/courses are offered every semester. Students should consult the timetables and program curriculum plans located on the web for sequences and availability of courses.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Social Work requires:

MSW for students with a BSW:

Course-based students complete ten Specialization half-course equivalents as follows:

a) 5 core courses (see specific courses listed by Specialization, below);
b) 3 option courses (option course requirements and offerings vary by year, program and location); and
c) Social Work 696: Advanced Practicum (525 hours; one full-course).

Thesis-based students complete nine Specialization half-course equivalents as follows:

a) 5 core courses (see specific courses listed by Specialization, below);
b) Social Work 655 Thesis Research;
c) 1 option course (option course requirements and offerings vary by year, program and location);
d) Social Work 696 Advanced Practicum (one full-course; in order to accommodate thesis requirements, students in the thesis route complete a minimum of 300 hours).

MSW for students with a Bachelor's degree in a discipline other than social work:

Nine Foundation half-course equivalents, as follows: (note that Foundation courses must be completed before students progress to Specialization courses)

and

Ten Specialization half-course equivalents for Course-based students as follows:

a) 5 core courses (see specific courses listed by Specialization, below);
b) 3 option courses (option course requirements and offerings vary by year, program and location); and
c) Social Work 696: Advanced Practicum (525 hours; one full-course ).

or

Nine Specialization half-course equivalents for Thesis-based students as follows:

a) 5 core courses (see specific courses listed by Specialization, below);
b) Social Work 655 Thesis Research;
c) 1 option course (option course requirements and offerings vary by year, program and location);
d) Social Work 696 Advanced Practicum (one full-course; in order to accommodate thesis requirements, students in the thesis route may complete a minimum of 300 hours).

Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization (offered in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge)
Required core courses:


Leadership in the Human Services (LHS) Specialization (distance delivery; offered in Calgary only)
Required core courses:

In the LHS Specialization, option courses are predetermined, as follows:

International & Community Development (offered in Calgary only)
Required core courses:

  • Social Work 671: Social Policy
  • Social Work 673: International Social Development or Social Work 699.21: Advanced Community Development Theory and Practice I
  • Social Work 675: Advanced International Social Work Modules or Social Work 699.22: Advanced Community Development Theory and Practice II
  • Social Work 677: Social Work Research for International and Community Methods
  • Social Work 697: Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice
  • Social Work 696: Advanced Practicum (525 hours, usually completed outside of Canada in the Spring/Summer semester following completion of core courses; one full-course).

MSW/MBA
A minimum of eight half-course equivalents in the MSW Specialization year required (5 core specialization courses, 1 option, and Social Work 696 for 525 hours--one full-course), and a minimum of sixteen half-course equivalents in the MBA program
Required MBA include:


PhD
A minimum of nine half-course equivalents;
Required core courses include:

Note: Social Work 721 can only be taken once all other required courses have been completed.

Equivalent courses may be taken outside the Faculty with the approval of the Faculty of Social Work.

Four half-course options relevant to the student's area of specialization. Option courses may be taken outside of the Faculty of Social Work, depending on the student's needs and course availability. All courses taken external to the Faculty of Social Work must have prior approval from the Faculty of Social Work.

A thesis research proposal.

MHA Certificate
Total of four courses: Three core courses (IPHE601, IPHE603, IPHE605) plus one option

MHA Diploma
Total of eight courses: Completion of the Certificate, plus one core (IPHE607), two additional options, and a practicum (130 hours)

6. Additional Requirements

Participation in Orientation Sessions held prior to the start of the Fall semester is strongly recommended for incoming students.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Credit for undergraduate courses will not be awarded.

8. Time Limit

As established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, maximum completion time is four years for a thesis-based master’s program, six years for a doctoral program or a course-based master’s, and seven years for the MSW/MBA Program.

Expected completion times in the Calgary programs are:

  • one 12-month year for full-time course-based MSW students with a BSW
  • two 12-month years for full-time course-based MSW students without a BSW
  • 26 months for the MSW/MBA (minimum)
  • two 12-month years for a thesis-based MSW
  • six 12-month years for a PhD
  • two 12-month years for a part-time MSW with a BSW
  • four 12-month years for a part-time MSW without a BSW

In the Edmonton and Lethbridge MSW programs, students are admitted as cohorts and are therefore required to complete courses as they are scheduled.

In Edmonton, course-based students admitted without a BSW complete the Foundation program component in the initial 2 years and the Clinical Specialization component in the subsequent 2 years.

In Edmonton and Lethbridge, course-based students admitted with a BSW complete the MSW Clinical Specialization in 2 years. Typically, thesis students require one additional 12-month year to complete their programs. Courses are scheduled on weekends, in week-long intensives and/or in on-line format for accessibility by rural and employed students. For the purposes of government grants and loans, students are classified as full-time.

Maximum completion time for the MHA Certificate and Diploma is four (4) Years.

9. Supervisory Assignments

Course-based MSW and MSW/MBA students are assigned a faculty advisor upon entry into the program. A change of advisor, initiated by the student or the faculty member, can occur at any time during the student’s enrolment in the program.

PhD, PMD and thesis-based MSW students are initially assigned an interim faculty advisor. Before the end of the first year, each student must designate a faculty member as permanent supervisor. In the doctoral program, the supervisor and student must then select a supervisory committee within three months of the appointment of the permanent supervisor. Supervisory committees typically consist of the supervisor and two other members, one of whom may be external to the Faculty of Social Work.

10. Required Examinations

PhD
The doctoral candidacy examinations are taken within 28 months of the student’s admission to the program and after all required course work has been completed. The examinations include a written and an oral component, both of which the student must complete to the satisfaction of his or her examining committee. Students must similarly defend their dissertation to the satisfaction of the examining committee. Students should consult the FSW candidacy examination guidelines for further detail.

MSW (thesis)
The final examination for the thesis-based MSW involves an oral defence of the thesis. The thesis examination is conducted by the student’s examining committee, which must be designated at least one month before the oral examination.

MSW (course-based)
Course based students are required to complete a capstone experience at the end of their coursework and practicum. Each student will meet this requirement according to the structure within his/her location (Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge).

11. Research Proposal Requirements

MSW (thesis) and PhD students whose research involves human subjects must receive approval from the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board before beginning data collection. A copy of the proposal becomes part of the student’s record within the Faculty of Social Work.

12. Special Registration Information

None.

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar (http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/Gradstudentfunding), and consult with the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work.

14. Other Information

All students in the Faculty of Social Work are expected to be proficient in and have access to email, Internet searching, and word processing computer programs. Students may be expected to use technology in courses; video-conferencing, web-based tools, discussion boards, and chat rooms may be used in addition to or in lieu of class time.
The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Work Education. Information on the Faculty of Social Work and its programs is available on-line at http://www.fsw.ucalgary.ca.

Requests for information should be directed as follows:
Calgary:  1-877-220-6945
Edmonton: 1-888-492-2083
Lethbridge: 1-866-329-2794

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

Current faculty members and their research interests can be found at http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/.

16. Interprofessional Practice in Health Care

The Faculties and Departments of Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, Psychology and Education, along with Alberta Health Services, jointly sponsor courses in Interprofessional Practice in Health Care (IPHE).  The courses provide the foundation for sound and evidence-informed interprofessional practice in the fields of health and mental health and addictions where co-morbidity is common.  IPHE 601 and 603 can be credited as 600-level Social Work options.