University of Calgary : Graduate Certificates in Social Work

Graduate Certificates in Social Work

1. Certificates Offered

Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Social Work Practice
Graduate Certificate in Leadership in the Human Services
Graduate Certificate in International and Community Development

Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Mental Health and Addictions
Applications are not currently being accepted.

Graduate Certificates in Social Work serve as stand-alone credentials for practicing social workers who seek formal professional development opportunities in their field, or provide practicing social workers a flexible option to pursue the MSW degree.

Laddering from Graduate Certificates to MSW

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice and one of the Certificates in a Specialization area (e.g., Clinical Social Work Practice, International and Community Development, or Leadership in the Human Services) may apply to the Master of Social Work (course-based) program. Upon admission to the MSW, students receive credit for the 24 units of coursework completed in the two certificate programs at the University of Calgary and complete 12 units of Field Practicum, Integrative Seminar, Research Applications and Exit Requirement. Students must apply to the MSW degree within five years from the beginning of their first graduate certificate in Social Work.

Program Delivery

The certificate courses are offered through a blended delivery model, which includes synchronous online and face-to-face) and asynchronous learning activities. Please consult the website fsw.ucalgary.ca for specific program delivery information.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ admission requirements, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

a) A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited/recognized* institution. The degree must be conferred prior to the start of the Graduate Certificate.

*The Faculty of Social Work recognizes BSW degrees accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), and international credentials deemed equivalent to a Canadian BSW degree by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW).

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.

c) The equivalent of two years of full-time paid work or a minimum of 3000 hours of paid and/or volunteer work in the human services field.

d) A program proposal 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 97 (Internet-based test); or IELTS score of 7.0; or MELAB score of 83; or Tier III of the International Foundations Program 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.

3. Application Deadlines

Deadlines are available on the Future Students webpage at ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs.

Students who wish to use the certificates as a pathway to "ladder" into the MSW (course-based) degree must apply to each certificate and the MSW (three times in all) and receive a credential upon successful completion of each program.

4. Advanced Credit

Advanced credit is not awarded toward a graduate certificate.

5. Course Requirements

Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice

The Certificate requires 12 units of coursework:

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Social Work Practice

The Certificate requires 12 units of coursework:

Graduate Certificate in International and Community Development

The Certificate requires 12 units of coursework:

Graduate Certificate in Leadership in the Human Services

The Certificate requires 12 units of coursework:

6. Time Limit

The expected completion time is eight months for any of the graduate certificates. Maximum completion time is two years.

Students taking graduate certificates as part of the laddered pathway to the MSW (course-based) degree program must apply to ladder into the MSW within five years from the start of their first graduate certificate in the laddering sequence.

7. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

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