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Summary of Changes for the 2021/22 Calendar
University of Calgary Calendar 2021-2022 Faculty of Social Work 3. Faculty Regulations 3.1 Admissions
3.1 Admissions

Applicants must meet the basic University admission requirements outlined in A.5 Undergraduate Admission Requirements section of this Calendar. 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 30 units of University of Calgary courses and/or transfer courses taken at other institutions. All grades within a term will be included except where the number of courses taken within a term exceeds 30 units, in which case, the highest grades will be used.

Students are admitted to the Fall Term only.

Admission quotas limit enrolment in each of the routes. Therefore, not all qualified applicants may be admitted.

All applicants, including current University of Calgary students, must submit the University of Calgary online Application for Admission and upload the required supporting documents by the deadline dates specified below. All applicants must also provide two reference letters (one of which must be academic). Detailed application instructions can be obtained from the Faculty of Social Work website at: fsw.ucalgary.ca. Admission requirements for part-time students are the same as those listed for full-time students.

Applicants can only apply to one location. Applicants who wish to switch their location choice (e.g. from Calgary to Edmonton or Lethbridge) must contact the Student Services Office prior to March 1. Requests for change will be considered at the discretion of the Faculty.

Application Deadlines

Application and documentation deadline for the Bachelor of Social Work program: March 1.

Transcript deadline: March 15.

Also refer to ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/apply.

University Transfer Route (including After Degree)

The University Transfer route is available in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge and through the Community-Based Learning Circles and Virtual Learning Circle programs.

Applicants to the University Transfer (UT) route must meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum of 57 units non-social work university transferable courses, OR an undergraduate degree in another discipline from a recognized institution
  • Successful completion of Social Work 201 or equivalent
  • Admissibility to the University of Calgary
  • English 30-1 or an acceptable equivalent
  • Minimum admission grade point average of 2.30 on a 4.00 scale
  • Proficiency in English language

All courses must have been completed by the end of the Winter Term (except Social Work 201) preceding the Fall Term for which entry is sought. Winter, Spring and Summer courses taken in the terms immediately preceding admission will not be used in the calculation of the admission GPA. However, applicants must successfully complete their Winter courses and must maintain a GPA sufficient to satisfy the University admission requirements.

Social Work 201 is a prerequisite for admission into the University Transfer route, must be completed prior to admission, and is not eligible for a CG grade.

The Faculty of Social Work evaluates applications on the following criteria:

1. Admission Grade Point Average. The grade point average is calculated on the most recently completed 30 units, starting with courses completed prior to the application deadline.

2. Relevant work/volunteer experience.

3. Admission essay.

4. Two letters of reference. One of these should be from an academic source (e.g. previous instructor). The other should be from a professional (e.g. a former employer or supervisor) who is qualified to comment on the applicant's suitability for undergraduate studies in social work.

Applicants wishing to take the BSW degree program at the University of Calgary may complete their 57 non-social work units from the required 60 units for admission, via the Faculty of Arts.

Notes:

  • Applicants who have graduated with a social work diploma from a college that does not have an agreement with the Faculty of Social Work are considered University Transfer applicants. They will normally receive credit for 30 unspecified units of transfer credit, including the equivalent of Social Work 201 from their diploma program. These applicants will be required to take up to 30 additional units of non-social work university transferable courses, to meet the minimum admission requirements for the University Transfer route. Please contact one of the undergraduate student advisors in the Faculty of Social Work for further information.
  • Applicants with a complete non-Social Work four-year degree and with the equivalent of two years of full-time paid or a minimum of 3000 hours of paid and/or volunteer work in the human services field, may consider applying to the MSW program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with Student Services in the Faculty of Social Work prior to submitting an application to the MSW program.
Alberta Social Work Diploma Route

The Alberta Social Work Diploma route is available in Calgary, Edmonton, Community-Based Learning Circles and Virtual Learning Circle. The Lethbridge location may be available subject to faculty approval.

Applicants to the diploma route must meet the following requirements:

  • Completed a Social Work Diploma at an Alberta Community College or University that has a transfer agreement with the Faculty of Social Work, and
  • Completed a minimum of 24 units of university transfer non-Social Work courses (normally as part of the Social Work Diploma program).
  • Minimum admission grade point average of 2.30 on a 4.00 scale.

Note: Applicants 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 transfer credit for 30 unspecified units including the equivalent of Social Work 201 from their diploma program. These applicants will be required to take an additional 30 units of non-social work university transferable courses, to meet the minimum admission requirements for the University Transfer route. Please contact one of the undergraduate student advisors in the Faculty of Social Work for further information.

The Faculty of Social Work evaluates applications on the following criteria:

1. Admission Grade Point Average. The cumulative grade point average achieved on the Social Work Diploma will be used to calculate the admission average. For students still working on their diploma the cumulative GPA will be calculated on the most recently completed courses, starting with the Fall Term prior to the application deadline.

2. Admission essay.

3. Relevant volunteer/work experience.

4. Two letters of reference. One of these should be from an academic source (e.g. previous instructor). The other should be from a professional (e.g. a former employer or supervisor) who is qualified to comment on the applicant's suitability for undergraduate studies in social work.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students who have received one or more approved undergraduate degrees (BA, BSc, BEd, etc.) may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program (University Transfer/After-Degree route).

Students must apply using the University of Calgary online application system and submit all required supplementary documents by the application deadline. For more information regarding admission to a second undergraduate degree, refer to A.5.5 in Undergraduate Admissions.