UBC Okanagan

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 with preference given to social science and behavioural science courses 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. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis. Completion of the full-time program normally requires 18 to 24 months of study while completion of the part-time program normally requires a minimum of three years. Eligibility for part-time tuition fee structure is determined by the College of Graduate Studies.

First Year

All Foundational Track first-year students are required to complete the following 30 credits:

Second Year

Year 2 students are required to complete the following 30 credits:

Approved Electives

Note: Additional electives are possible with the approval of the Director of the School of Social Work.