UofC

Master of Social Work (MSW) - course-based

The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Work Education.

The objective of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is to prepare students for advanced professional practice in social work. The program is available for both BSW graduates and graduates from other disciplines. The course-based program is appropriate for students who intend to provide direct service in the field. The program is available in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge.

Specializations:

• Clinical Social Work Practice (CSWP)
• International and Community Development (ICD)
• Leadership in the Human Services (LHS) 

Program Delivery

For Fall 2018 intake, MSW courses will be offered face-to-face at the University of Calgary campus.

For Spring 2019 intake and onward, the MSW courses will be offered through a blended delivery model, which includes both face-to-face and online learning. The face-to-face components of the blended model may be offered in specific locations either in block format or on evenings and /or weekends.

Combined degree program: Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration (MSW/MBA)

Applications to this program are suspended as of January 1, 2018.

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:

a) A Bachelor of Social Work degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree from another discipline.

b) A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on the University of Calgary four-point system). This is based on the last two-years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units (10 full-course equivalents).

c) The equivalent of two years of full-time paid or volunteer work in the human services field.

d) A study plan outlining the applicant's educational goals and career expectations.

e) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper-based test) or 97 (Internet-based test); or IELTS score of 7.0; or MELAB score of 83; or Tier III of the International Foundations Program (werklund.ucalgary.ca/ifp) with a minimum grade of "B" on Academic Writing & Grammar III, "B" on Reading Comprehension & Proficiency III, and "B" on Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency III.

f) Two references.

For application deadlines, see the Future Students webpage at ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/social-work-master-social-work-course-based.

Advanced credit will not normally be granted for the Master of Social Work degree. Students who wish to explore the possibility of Advanced Credit should contact a Faculty of Social Work Student Advisor.

For students with a bachelor's degree in a discipline other than social work.

Nine foundation courses (27 units or 4.5 full-course equivalents), as follows: 

• Social Work 621
• Social Work 625
• Social Work 627
• Social Work 629
• Social Work 632 
• Social Work 637 
• Social Work 641
• Social Work 645 
• Social Work 633 (426 hours)

Foundation courses must be completed before students advance to Specialization specific courses and Advanced Practicum (SOWK 696).

For students who have a BSW or completed foundation courses.

Ten specialization courses (30 units or 5.0 full-course equivalents) and the MSW Capstone in the following configuration:

Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization (offered in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge)

Seven core courses and three option courses.

Required core courses:

• Social Work 651
• Social Work 653
• Social Work 657
• Social Work 659
• Social Work 697 
• Social Work 696 (525 hours; 6 units or 1.0 full-course equivalent)

International and Community Development Specialization (offered in Calgary only)

Nine core courses and one option course. Required core courses: 

• Social Work 671
• Social Work 673 
• Social Work 675
• Social Work 677
• Social Work 697
• Social Work 699.21
• Social Work 699.22
• Social Work 696 (525 hours, usually completed outside of Canada in the Spring/Summer semester following completion of core courses; 6 units or 1.0 full-course equivalent).

Leadership in the Human Services (LHS) Specialization (blended delivery program; administered from Calgary)

Required core courses: 

• Social Work 665
• Social Work 667
• Social Work 669
• Social Work 693
• Social Work 697
• Social Work 696 (525 hours; 6 units or 1.0 full-course equivalent)

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

• Social Work 695
• Social Work 679.10
• Social Work 679.18

For students who have a BSW or completed foundation courses.

A total of 36 units (6 full-course equivalents) of course-work, as follows:

a) 12 units (2 full-course equivalents) of Advanced Social Work Practice core courses.

b) 12 units (2 full-course equivalents) of Specialization courses (topics may vary from year to year and by location).

c) 12 units (2 full-course equivalents) of integrated Practicum, Seminar, Research and Exit Requirement.

a) Advanced Social Work Practice Core Courses:

• Social Work 600
• Social Work 602
• Social Work 604
• Social Work 606

b) Specialization Course Requirements:

Clinical Social Work Practice (CSWP) Specialization 

• Social Work 610
• Social Work 612
• Social Work 614
• Social Work 616

The four courses in each CSWP Specialization Topic area address a particular subject within the broader field of Clinical Social Work Practice. Students must complete all four courses in the selected topic area.

International and Community Development (ICD) Specialization

• Social Work 620
• Social Work 622
• Social Work 624
• Social Work 626

The four courses in each ICD Specialization Topic area address a particular subject within the broader field of International and Community Development. Students must complete all four courses in the selected topic area.

Leadership in the Human Services Specialization

• Social Work 640
• Social Work 642
• Social Work 644
• Social Work 646

The four courses in each Leadership in the Human Services Specialization Topic area address a particular subject within the broader field of Leadership in Human Services. Students must complete all four courses in the selected topic area.

The four courses within each Specialization are offered in a prescribed sequence and deviation from the curriculum plan is not normally allowed.

Please note that not all Specialization Topic areas are offered every year. Students should consult the timetables and program curriculum plans located on the web for sequence and availability of Specialization topics: fsw.ucalgary.ca.

c) Field Practicum, Integrative Seminar, Research Applications and Exit Requirement (FIRE):

• Social Work 660
• Social Work 662

NOTE: The MSW Laddering Pathway is intended for BSW graduates. It consists of a three stage laddering structure. Students who choose this pathway must apply to and complete the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice (12 units) and apply to and complete one of the Specialization Certificates (12 units) in either order, as well as upon acceptance to the MSW, complete FIRE (12 units). Expected completion time is 36 months by BSW degree holders.

Participation in Orientation Sessions held prior to the start of the program is mandatory for students.

Credit for undergraduate courses will not be awarded.

Expected completion time varies based on the program location and specialization selected by the student at the of application.

• MSW with specialization in Clinical Social Work Practice, Calgary: 12 months for BSW graduates; 24 months for students with a non-BSW degree.
• MSW with specialization in Clinical Social Work Practice, Edmonton: 24 months for BSW graduates; 36 months for students with a non-BSW degree.
• MSW with specialization in Clinical Social Work Practice, Lethbridge: 24 months for BSW graduates.
• MSW with specialization in International and Community Development: 24 months for BSW graduates; 36 months for students with a non-BSW degree.
• MSW with specialization in Leadership in the Human Services: 24 months for BSW graduates; 36 months for students with a non-BSW degree.

Maximum completion time for all students is six years.

Students are assigned a faculty advisor/specialization coordinator 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.

Fall 2018 Intake and Prior

Students are required to complete a capstone at the end of their coursework and practicum.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students, the Graduate Awards Database grad.ucalgary.ca/awards, and consult with the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work.

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. Video-conferencing, web-based tools, discussion boards, and chat rooms may be used in addition to or in lieu of class time.