Master of Social Work – Foundational Two-Year Track
Admission Requirements
The M.S.W. program is governed by the policies of the College of Graduate Studies and the School of Social Work. Students applying to the Foundational Two-Year Track will hold an undergraduate degree and have:
- In 300-level courses and above, a minimum overall grade average equivalent to a UBC B+ (76-79%) or higher;
- completed an approved course in statistics (see list of approved courses on the School of Social Work website);
- completed an approved course in research methods (see list of approved courses on the School of Social Work website);
- completed a Statement of Purpose;
- submitted a resume or curriculum vitae;
- provided three letters of reference; and
- immediately upon acceptance of an admission offer, submitted an acceptable criminal record check for relevant and specified offenses as defined under the Criminal Records Review Act of British Columbia (see the School of Social Work website regarding the criminal record check submission process).
Preference will be given to applicants who meet the above criteria and have employment or volunteer social work- related experience.
If applicable, applicants from a university at which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. The Master of Social Work program is a professional program which requires language proficiency test scores that are beyond the College of Graduate Studies’ required minimum overall scores. Acceptable English language proficiency tests, and minimum test scores, for applicants to the Master of Social Work program are:
- a minimum overall score of 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) with no individual section score lower than 22, beyond the College of Graduate Studies required minimum overall score of 90;
or - a minimum overall score of 7 on the ACADEMIC IELTS with no individual section score lower than 6.5, beyond the College of Graduate Studies required minimum overall score of 6.5;
or - a minimum final score of 90 with a minimum of 3+ in the speaking test on MELAB, beyond the College of Graduate Studies required minimum overall score of 85.
The College of Graduate Studies administers the entire application process and applications are forwarded to the School of Social Work once they are complete. Admission procedures can be found at College of Graduate Studies.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) on the School of Social Work and the College of Graduate Studies websites.
Degree Requirements
The M.S.W. Foundational Two-Year Track requires the completion of 60 credits including two 6-credit field education placements. Completion of the full-time program normally requires up to 24 months of study. Students are expected to be continuously enrolled in a maximum of 12 credits (and a minimum of 3 credits), unless otherwise permitted by the Director of the School of Social Work.
First Year
All Foundational Track first-year students are required to complete the following 30 credits:
| Year 1 (30 credits) | |
|---|---|
| SOCW 511 | Introduction to Social Work Theory and Practice (3 credits); |
| SOCW 512 | Theories and Interventions for Clinical Social Work (3 credits); |
| SOCW 513 | Assessment Skills for Clinical Social Work (3 credits); |
| SOCW 514 | Diversity and Critical Reflexive Practice (3 credits); |
| SOCW 515 | Social Welfare Policy in Canada (3 credits) |
| SOCW 516 | Foundations of Ethical Practice (3 credits) |
| SOCW 517 | Social Work and Indigenous Peoples in Canada (3 credits) |
| SOCW 518 | Integrative Seminar for Field Education (3 credits); |
| SOCW 519 | Social Work Field Education I (6 credits); and |
Second Year
Year 2 students are required to complete the following 30 credits:
| Year 2 Course-based option (30 credits) | |
|---|---|
| SOCW 551 | Advanced Clinical Social Work Theory and Practice (3 credits); |
| SOCW 552 | Community, Place, and Policy in Clinical Practice (3 credits); |
| SOCW 553 | Research Methods and Evidence in Clinical Social Work (3 credits); |
| SOCW 554 | Mental Health and Mental Illness (3 credits); |
| SOCW 558 | Advanced Integrative Seminar for Field Education (3 credits) |
| SOCW 559 | Social Work Field Education II (6 credits); |
| and | |
| SOCW 598 Graduating Paper (3 credits) and three approved electives (9 credits) | |
| or | |
| Four approved electives (12 credits) | |
| One of: | |
| (1) SOCW 598 Graduating Paper (3 credits) and 2 approved electives (6 credits); or | |
| (2) 3 approved electives (9 credits) | |
| Year 2 Thesis option (30 credits) | |
|---|---|
| SOCW 553 | Research Methods and Evidence in Clinical Social Work (3 credits); |
| One of SOCW 551, SOCW 552, or SOCW 554 (3 credits); | |
| Two approved electives (6 credits); | |
| One approved elective (3 credits); One additional graduate-level research methods course approved by the Director of the School of Social Work (3 credits); | |
| SOCW 559 | Social Work Field Education II (6 credits); |
| SOCW 599 | Thesis (9 credits) |
Approved Electives
Approved electives consist of offerings from the School of Social Work, Okanagan Campus (SOCW) and Health-Interprofessional (HINT) 500-level courses, offered by the Faculty of Health and Social Development. These courses encourage effective interprofessional collaboration and understanding among students of health and human service programs, and between the external community and the University. Note: Additional electives may be possible with the approval of the Director of the School of Social Work.
