School of Social Work
(Faculty of Public Affairs)
613-520-5601
http://carleton.ca/ssw
This section presents the requirements for programs in:
Senate Policy on Social Work Professional Suitability
Students in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) are expected to conform to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Students who violate these codes of ethics may be required, in accordance with the Senate Policy on Social Work Professional Suitability, to withdraw from the program with either the status Continue in Alternate (CA) or the status Dismissed from Program (DP).
Program Requirements
Bachelor of Social Work
B.S.W. Honours (20.0 credits)
A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (10.5 credits) | ||
1. 4.5 credits in: | 4.5 | |
SOWK 1001 [0.5] | Introduction to Social Welfare | |
SOWK 1002 [0.5] | Introduction to Social Work | |
SOWK 2001 [0.5] | Structural Analysis and Social Work | |
SOWK 2005 [0.5] | Values and Ethics for Social Work | |
SOWK 2100 [0.5] | The Political Economy of the Social Welfare State | |
SOWK 2202 [0.5] | Introduction to Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | |
SOWK 2203 [0.5] | Introduction to Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities | |
SOWK 3100 [0.5] | Social Policy and Administration | |
SOWK 4000 [0.5] | Social Work and Indigenous Peoples | |
2. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
SOWK 3001 [0.5] | Introduction to Research Methods in Social Work | |
SOWK 3002 [0.5] | Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Social Work | |
3. 2.0 credits from: | 2.0 | |
SOWK 3600 [2.0] | Practicum I (Fall and Winter) | |
SOWK 3601 [2.0] | Practicum I (Winter Term) | |
SOWK 3602 [2.0] | Practicum I (Fall term) | |
4. 0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
SOWK 4001 [0.5] | Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | |
SOWK 4002 [0.5] | Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups | |
SOWK 4003 [0.5] | Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities | |
SOWK 4004 [0.5] | Social Policy Development and Practice | |
5. 0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
SOWK 4103 [0.5] | Practice and Policy in Immigration | |
SOWK 4204 [0.5] | Social Work and Aging | |
SOWK 4300 [0.5] | Social Work and Persons with Disabilities | |
SOWK 4301 [0.5] | Racialization and Social Work | |
SOWK 4302 [0.5] | Poverty and Social Welfare Policy | |
SOWK 4303 [0.5] | Gender and Sexuality | |
6. 2.0 credits from: | 2.0 | |
SOWK 4600 [2.0] | Practicum II (Fall or Summer Terms) | |
Practicum IIA Practicum IIB | ||
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (9.5 credits) | ||
7. 2.0 credits in ANTH, CRCJ, ECON, HIST, HRSJ, INDG, LAWS, PAPM, PSCI, PSYC, SOCI, or WGST | 2.0 | |
8. 6.0 credits not in SOWK | 6.0 | |
9. 1.5 credits in: | 1.5 | |
Free electives, or | ||
or | ||
SOWK 4908 [1.0] | Honours Essay | |
and 0.5 credit in free electives. | ||
Total Credits | 20.0 |
Work Experience and Credit for Practicum I (SOWK 3600, SOWK 3601, SOWK 3602)
On admission to the B.S.W. (Honours) program, students who have four or more years of human service work experience may apply to the B.S.W. Field Coordinator for waiver of the 2.0 credit requirement for SOWK 3600 [2.0], SOWK 3601 [2.0]or SOWK 3602 [2.0].
If successful, they will be granted 1.0 elective credit in Social Work and will be required to take 1.0 additional elective credit in Social Work in lieu of SOWK 3600 [2.0], SOWK 3601 [2.0] or SOWK 3602 [2.0]. Full documentation of work experience and references are required. Applications must be received by September 1 of each year.
Social Work (SOWK) Courses
Introduction to Social Welfare
Explores definitions of social welfare and the structure of the Canadian welfare state; evolution and devolution of the welfare state in Canada; social welfare and its relationship to social work, social change, and social justice.
Introduction to Social Work
Introduction to the profession of social work; evolution of the social work profession in Canada; social work knowledge, values and skills. Explores professional and regulatory social work bodies and international linkages.
Structural Analysis and Social Work
Evolution of structural social work, theories and critiques of structural social work and contemporary issues and challenges.
Lecture three hours a week.
Values and Ethics for Social Work
Focuses on knowledge and skills for ethical decision-making in social work; understanding social work values and ethics, accountability and the professional use of self.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 1001 and SOWK 1002. For Bachelor of Social Work students only.
Lecture three hours a week.
The Political Economy of the Social Welfare State
Political economic theories as lenses for structural analysis of social problems and policies affecting social work practice in Canada.
Lecture three hours a week.
Introduction to Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
Understand and develop skills required for working with individuals and families; active listening; use of self; engagement; rapport-building; interviewing and interventions; empathy; interpersonal and professional collaboration; supervision.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 1001 and SOWK 1002. For Bachelor of Social Work students only.
Lecture three hours a week.
Introduction to Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities
Introduces students to theory and practice skills for group work and community work; structural social work with groups and communities.
Lecture three hours a week.
Drugs in Society: Theory, Policy , Practice
Examines extent and nature of alcohol, prescription and illicit drug use, theories of drug dependence, history of drug policy; contemporary drug strategies and treatment in Canada.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 1001 and SOWK 1002.
Lecture three hours a week.
Working with Children and Youth
Preventative and protective social work intervention with children and youth. Issues addressed include child neglect, abuse and violence in the context of family; organizational mandate and social political contexts. Programs and services for children and youth.
Introduction to Research Methods in Social Work
Research methods used in social work; research paradigms; quantitative and qualitative analysis in social work and social welfare; stages in conducting research.
Lecture three hours a week.
Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Social Work
Fundamentals of statistical analysis; descriptive and inferential statistics and their use in social work research. Statistical tests including Chi-Square, t-tests, correlations and simple linear regressions.
Lecture three hours a week.
Social Policy and Administration
Understanding the welfare state and social policy in Canada; exploring issues in administration including program design and implementation; understanding and developing skills in policy-making and policy analysis. Canadian focus; recognition of the distinctiveness of social policy in Quebec.
Lecture three hours a week.
Community Development and Social Change in an International Context
Introduction to theories, models and methods of community organizing as a strategy for social change in an international context.
Lecture three hours a week.
Human Rights Practice in Civil Society
Examines the advocacy role and capacity of organizations in civil society to increase popular participation in promoting and protecting human rights; includes transnational and national non-governmental organizations, grassroots movements, community organizations, and virtual or Internet-based organizations.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Social Work
Theory, policy or direct practice topics not covered in the regular course program. Choice of topics varies from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Practicum I (Fall and Winter)
Focus on integrating theory and practice in an approved community setting supervised by a field supervisor. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 3601, SOWK 3602.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
352 hours of field work over two terms and concurrent practicum seminars.
Practicum I (Winter Term)
Focus on integrating theory and practice in an approved community setting supervised by a field supervisor; 352 field hours and compulsory field seminars. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 3600, SOWK 3602.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
352 hours of field work over one term and concurrent practicum seminars.
Practicum I (Fall term)
Focus on integrating theory and practice in an approved community setting supervised by a field supervisor; 352 field hours and compulsory field seminars. Limited enrolment in this course subject to discretion of Field coordinator. Graded as Sat/Uns.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 3601, SOWK 3600.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
352 hours of field work over one term and concurrent practicum seminars.
Law of the Family
Legal framework surrounding the family and family relationships in Canadian society. Topics include marriage and cohabitation, matrimonial support, custody and access, and dissolution of marriage. State interventions through law; law and change in family structures; equality issues; dispute resolution processes.
Social Work and Indigenous Peoples
Social work in partnership with Indigenous peoples in Canada; impact of the past on current relationships; rebuilding through dialogue and respect; understanding Indigenous social work.
Lecture three hours each week.
Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
Advanced theory, methods, techniques, and skills for direct social work practice with individuals and families; individual and family assessments, treatment planning, intervention skills, and evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): SOWK 2202 and fourth-year standing in the Bachelor of Social Work.
Seminar three hours a week.
Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups
Advanced theory, methods, techniques, and skills for social work with groups; knowledge of group work and various group formats; and social work interventions in group process.
Seminar three hours a week.
Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities
Advanced theory, methods, techniques and skills for engaging in community-based practice. Politics and challenges of social work community organizing and strategies and skills for community work.
Seminar three hours a week.
Social Policy Development and Practice
Social policy development processes in government and non-governmental agencies; refining skills in evaluating and critiquing processes of policy formation; role of lobbying and social activism.
Seminar three hours a week.
Indigenous Peoples and Social Policy
History of colonization, legacy of colonialism, Royal Proclamation, BNA Act, treaties, impact of residential schools; implications of government social policy for Indigenous peoples in Canada; importance of self-determination and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Lecture three hours a week.
Practice and Policy in Immigration
History of immigration policies in Canada; direct practice with immigrants and refugees; diaspora, settlement and integration issues; immigrants and refugee women; intergenerational family relations; resources and community organizing.
Lecture three hours a week.
Management of Non-Profit Organizations
Introduction to theories, models and methods of managing non-profit organizations; role, nature and values of the non-profit sector in a market society; practical knowledge of management in different types of non-profit organizations (e.g. cooperatives, voluntary associations, public advocacy and community service organizations).
Lecture three hours a week.
Social Work and Aging
Social perspectives on aging with focus on models of practice that contribute to the independence of elderly people. Social programs and policies, such as social insurance, social services, housing, public health and health care. Social, psychological and political issues related to independence in later life.
Lecture three hours a week.
Feminist Counselling
Examines theory and practice of feminist counselling, feminist counselling skills development.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Direct Social Work Practice
Theory and knowledge development of direct practice topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Direct Social Work Practice
Theory and knowledge development of direct practice topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Social Policy
Theory and knowledge development of social policy topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Social Policy
Theory and knowledge development of social policy topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Social Work
Theory and knowledge development of a combination of practice and policy topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Special Topics in Social Work
Theory and knowledge development of a combination of practice and policy topics not in the regular course program. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture three hours a week.
Social Work and Persons with Disabilities
Social work theory and practice with persons with disabilities. Structural analysis of theory, models, policies and practices; disability rights; critical analysis of medical model and ableism.
Lecture three hours a week.
Racialization and Social Work
Social work and racialization; racism and consequences; critical analysis of cultural formations, difference, and identities; critical examination of whiteness and privilege.
Lecture three hours a week.
Poverty and Social Welfare Policy
Social work analysis of theories of poverty and economic inequality; labour force participation; poverty and wealth and income distribution in Canada and international comparisons; Canadian social policies and poverty.
Lecture three hours a week.
Gender and Sexuality
Social work and social, political, institutional and economic relations shaping everyday experiences of gender and sexuality and implications for contemporary social work.
Lecture three hours a week.
Practicum II (Fall or Summer Terms)
Development, application, testing and integration of knowledge, theory and skills in practice with individuals, families, groups and communities, in research or in social administration and policy. Graded Sat/Uns.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 4601, SOWK 4602.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing in the BSW program; SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, SOWK 3100; SOWK 3600 or 3601 or 3602, and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
352 hours of fieldwork and concurrent practicum seminars.
Practicum IIA
Development, application, testing,integration of knowledge, theory and skills in practice with individuals, families, groups and communities, in research or social administration and policy. Graded Sat/Uns. Part one of two part practicum taken consecutively with SOWK 4602.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 4600.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing in the BSW program; SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, SOWK 3100; SOWK 3600 or 3601 or 3602, and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
176 hours of fieldwork and concurrent practicum seminars.
Practicum IIB
Development, application, testing, integration of knowledge, theory and skills in practice with individuals, families, groups and communities, in research or social administration and policy. Graded Sat/Uns. Part two of two part practicum taken consecutively with SOWK 4601.
Precludes additional credit for SOWK 4600.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing in the BSW program; SOWK 2001, SOWK 2005, SOWK 2100, SOWK 2202, SOWK 2203, SOWK 3100; SOWK 3600 or 3601 or 3602, SOWK 4601 and permission of the School of Social Work. Student must be in good academic standing in the BSW program and have a 6.00 CGPA in the Social Work major.
176 hours of fieldwork and concurrent practicum seminars.
Special topic in Criminal Justice and Social Policy
Selected topic in criminal justice and social policy. Topics announced in advance. Part of the Summer School in Criminal Justice and Social Policy and offered by the Department of Sociology.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year Honours standing or permission of the School of Social Work.
Honours Essay
Research essay under supervision of accredited faculty member. Project may be in the form of case study, historical study or other form that meets the approval of faculty advisor.
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in the Bachelor of Social Work and permission of the School of Social Work.
Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca
Regulations
In addition to the program requirements described here, students in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) must satisfy the University regulations, including:
- the graduation requirements for Honours programs, as described in Section 3.4.6 of the Academic Regulations of the University.
Students should consult with the School of Social Work when planning their programs and selecting courses.
Senate Policy on Social Work Professional Suitability
Students in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) are expected to conform to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Students who violate these codes of ethics may be required, in accordance with the Senate Policy on Social Work Professional Suitability, to withdraw from the program with either the status Continue in Alternate (CA) or the status Dismissed from Program (DP).
Academic Continuation Evaluation for Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Students in the B.S.W. (Honours) follow the continuation requirements for Honours programs, as described in Section 3.2.6 of the Academic Regulations of the University, with the following addition:
- Students with 15.5 or more program credits completed, but who have a Major CGPA less than 6.00, will be required to leave the B.S.W. program with the decision Required to Withdraw for Two Terms (WT).
Admissions Information
Admission Requirements are for the 2024-25 year only, and are based on the Ontario High School System. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration. The cut-off averages for admission may be considerably higher than the minimum. See also the General Admission and Procedures section of this Calendar. An overall average of at least 70% is normally required to be considered for admission. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program by program basis. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.
Note: Courses listed as recommended are not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.
Admissions Information
Admission requirements are based on the Ontario High School System. Prospective students can view the admission requirements through the Admissions website at admissions.carleton.ca. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program-by-program basis. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration; higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. All programs have limited enrolment and admission is not guaranteed. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.
Note: If a course is listed as recommended, it is not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.
Degree
- B.S.W. (Honours)
Admission Requirements
First Year
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including a minimum of six 4U or M courses. Although it is not an admission requirement, a 4U course in English is strongly recommended.
Preference will be given to applicants with human service work experience, which may be met by employment and/or volunteer experience. Applicants will be asked to complete a supplementary application that will assist in the evaluation of their suitability for the program. Detailed information about the supplementary application can be found at admissions.carleton.ca.
Advanced Standing
Applications for admission beyond first year will be assessed on their merits. Applicants must normally be Eligible to Continue (EC) in their year level, and will be considered for transfer into the B.S.W. program when spaces are available. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree are normally admitted into the program with third-year standing. Applicants will be asked to complete a supplementary application that will assist in the evaluation of their suitability for the program. Detailed information about the supplementary application can be found at admissions.carleton.ca.
Community College Applicants
Pathway agreements between the School of Social Work at Carleton University and several community colleges have been negotiated to facilitate the application of their graduates in their human or social service worker programs to Carleton's Bachelor of Social Work degree. Detailed information about these agreements can be found on the Admissions website: admissions.carleton.ca.