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Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.
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With an overarching framework of social justice, equity, inclusivity and reflexivity, our curriculum is designed to provide a wholly integrated foundation that grounds all regular track students in essential and interconnected social work practice areas.
The advanced portion of the program provides optimal flexibility and choice for you to focus your preferences toward micro and/or macro practices. Advanced standing students, while not participating in the foundational portion, will have increased flexibility in choosing the direction of their learning in micro and/or macro practices. All of our MSW programs continue and strengthen our commitment to practice.
Professional Development
In the Faculty of Social Work, we believe that you never stop learning. Our professional development program offers 13 non-credit continuing education certificates and more than 300 workshops a year. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your skills, complement your Master of Social Work studies, or explore new areas of interest, the professional development programs can help you achieve your goals.
Our curriculum is designed to provide a wholly integrated foundational year that grounds all regular track full-time students in essential and interconnected social work practice areas. The second year of the program provides optimal flexibility and choice for you to focus your preferences toward micro and/or macro practices.
Entry points: Fall (September) only
Program Length: 5 academic terms (20 months)
Thesis Option: Yes
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are normally held at our Kitchener location between Monday and Friday in Term 1 and on Thursdays and Fridays over the remaining four terms. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Our part-time online program follows the same curriculum as our on-campus program but provides more flexibility for professionals already working in the field.
Entry points: Fall (September); Winter (January); Spring (May)
Program Length: 8 academic terms (32 months)
Thesis Option: No
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are fully online, asynchronous and self-directed, but students must meet weekly deadlines and assignments. Each course requires a minimum of 15 hours of study per week. Most courses are 6 weeks in length. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. Specific course sequencing for each cohort will be provided after admission to the program. For more information see course descriptions.
Advanced standing one-year full-time students, will have flexibility in choosing the direction of their learning in micro and/or macro practices while building on the skills learned in the BSW program.
Entry points: Fall (September) only
Program Length: 3 academic terms (September to August)
Thesis Option: Yes
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are normally held on Thursdays and Fridays at our Kitchener location over the three terms. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Our part-time online program follows the same curriculum as our on-campus program but provides more flexibility for professionals already working in the field.
Entry points: Fall (September); Winter (January); Spring (May)
Program Length: 5 academic terms (20 months)
Thesis Option: No
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are fully online, asynchronous and self-directed, but students must meet weekly deadlines and assignments. Each course requires a minimum of 15 hours of study per week. Most are 6 weeks in length. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. Specific course sequencing provided to each cohort after admission to the program. For more information see course descriptions.
The Indigenous Field of Study is the first MSW program in Canada rooted in a wholistic Indigenous worldview and contemporary social work practice. The goal is to develop social work practitioners who demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the history, traditions and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This unique program includes the use of Indigenous elders, a traditional circle process, and Indigenous ceremonies.
The needs most commonly identified by Indigenous people, as seen often in their public statements and political processes, include self-determination, cultural preservation, and respect for the wholistic healing worldview. The MSW Indigenous field of study, therefore, will fully and dramatically root itself within the Indigenous worldview and have as its goal the development of social work practitioners who can seek empowerment for Indigenous populations so that they can meet the needs that they have identified for themselves.
Students in the Indigenous field of study are expected to respect and seek to practice within the Indigenous worldview. This means that along with intellectual development you will also engage in the development of your spiritual, emotional, and physical selves. You will learn from a diversity of teachers including academic instructors, Elders, Indigenous ceremonies, and the Indigenous community. You will be expected to involve yourself in all aspects of the specialized program, which include cultural camps, classroom work, presentation of yourself to Elders, and in practice settings. You will be evaluated on your academic knowledge and your ability to practice from the Indigenous worldview.
Learn additonal information about the program's suitability.
Entry points: Fall (September) only
Program Length: 3 academic terms (September to August)
Thesis Option: No
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are normally held on Mondays and Tuesdays at our Kitchener location over the three terms with a few courses being 5-day intensives and/or land based. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
The Indigenous Field of Study is the first MSW program in Canada rooted in a wholistic Indigenous worldview and contemporary social work practice. The goal is to develop social work practitioners who demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the history, traditions and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This unique program includes the use of Indigenous elders, a traditional circle process, and Indigenous ceremonies.
The needs most commonly identified by Indigenous people, as seen often in their public statements and political processes, include self-determination, cultural preservation, and respect for the wholistic healing worldview. The MSW Indigenous field of study, therefore, will fully and dramatically root itself within the Indigenous worldview and have as its goal the development of social work practitioners who can seek empowerment for Indigenous populations so that they can meet the needs that they have identified for themselves.
Students in the Indigenous field of study are expected to respect and seek to practice within the Indigenous worldview. This means that along with intellectual development you will also engage in the development of your spiritual, emotional, and physical selves. You will learn from a diversity of teachers including academic instructors, Elders, Indigenous ceremonies, and the Indigenous community. You will be expected to involve yourself in all aspects of the specialized program, which include cultural camps, classroom work, presentation of yourself to Elders, and in practice settings. You will be evaluated on your academic knowledge and your ability to practice from the Indigenous worldview.
Learn additonal information about the program's suitability.
Entry points: Fall (September) only
Program Length: 6 academic terms (two years)
Thesis Option: No
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Classes are normally held as 5 days intensives either at our Kitchener location, on location with our partner institutions or on the land. Typically, there are no more than two 5-day intensive courses per term. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Here are some other items you may want to consider whe applying to our MSW programs.
Requests for exemptions or substitutions must be made at the time of application and is part of the Statement of Interest form that is a required document in the application process.
With the exception of field courses, course exemptions may be granted based on prior graduate level university courses up to a maximum of two half-credit core courses for the MSW Regular Track programs, and a maximum of one half-credit core courses for the Advanced Standing full-time and part-time programs. Additional requirements include:
With the exception of field courses, course substitutions may be offered based on prior undergraduate level university courses up to a maximum of two courses for the MSW Regular Track programs. Additional requirements include:
Exemptions and/or substitutions for field placement hours/courses may be considered for students who can demonstrate successful completion of an MSW field course from a social work program accredited by Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE).
The process for requesting a field exemption/substitution includes the following requirements: submitting a transcript that indicates successful completion of the MSW field course, submission of all placement evaluations, and confirmation of hours from the assigned MSW field instructor and/or field coordinator.
Exemptions and/or substitutions for field placement hours/courses completed within any other graduate program, or undergraduate program (including undergraduate programs accredited by CASWE) cannot be considered. Exemptions and/or substitutions that cannot be considered include: prior service, professional experience, volunteer experience, and hours completed within qualifying years of accredited programs.
Although most students complete the coursework option, a limited number of students can choose the thesis option. Please note, the thesis option is only available to full-time on-campus students as noted in the individual program information.
Students who choose the thesis option may choose to take advantage of the following exemptions:
Regular Track, full-time:
Advanced standing, full-time
Process
Students who wish to complete a thesis must discuss this with the MSW associate dean early as possible but no later than the first term of the program. The MSW associate dean will assist students in identifying potential thesis advisors; however, enrolment in the thesis option is contingent upon the student finding a faculty member who is willing to act as his/her thesis advisor.
Should a student start the thesis option but, in the end, choose not to finish the thesis, they are no longer eligible for the exemptions noted and therefore must fulfill all program coursework requirements to be eligible to graduate.
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