Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Calendar 2016-2017 
    
Undergraduate Calendar 2016-2017 [-ARCHIVED CALENDAR-]

Honours Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Program Listings (by Degree)

Admission


Enrolment in this program is limited. Eligibility is dependent upon completion of any Level I program (a minimum of 30 units), including six units from SOCWORK 1A06 A/B  or SOCIOL 1A06 A/B  and six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List below (or equivalent), normally with a minimum average of 6.0 on the most recent 30 units (five full credits) of university-level courses completed and evidence of personal suitability which may be evaluated by one or a combination of written statements, tests or interviews.

Course List


Admission Notes


  1. Students who have successfully completed the two-year College of Applied Arts and Technology Social Services Diploma with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (75%) are considered to have completed the equivalent of SOCWORK 1A06 A/B  and, therefore, are required to complete six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List. (See Admission above.)
  2. An applicant must complete Level I (a minimum of 30 units) by April of the year in which application is made.
  3. Students who intend to apply for this program must follow the application instructions as found on the School of Social Work web site: http://www.socialwork.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate-program/application-instructions Students who are unable to access this web site must consult the School of Social Work prior to the application deadline.
  4. All applications for admission to the School of Social Work are considered annually and must be made directly to the School by March 1 for the Fall/Winter term.
  5. Aboriginal students (includes First Nations, Métis & Inuit) may select an alternate application process. Those who wish to do so should consult the School of Social Work for details.
  6. Applicants transferring from other universities (See Two-Tier Applications below) must also apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and must complete Introductory Sociology or Social Work and six additional units from the Course List. (See Admission above.)

Two-Tier Applications


If you are transferring from a university other than McMaster, or a college, you must complete two application forms as follows:

General Application (December 1)


  1. If you wish to study full-time, complete the OUAC 105D on-line application at http://www.ouac.on.ca/ showing your interest in the Honours B.S.W. program.
  2. If you wish to study part-time, complete a Part-time Degree Studies application online at http://www.mcmaster.ca/parttime/application-procedure/index.html
  3. To allow adequate time for the processing of the General Application, applicants are advised to submit their applications by December 1.

Supplementary Application (March 1)


  1. Students must follow the application instructions as found on the School of Social Work web site: http://www.socialwork.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate-program/application-instructions/. Students who are unable to access this web site must contact the School of Social Work prior to March 1.
  2. It is impossible to consider applicants whose Supplementary Application arrives after the March 1 deadline. Questions or concerns may be directed to the School of Social Work.

Offers of acceptance cannot be deferred; students must complete a required social work course in the year of admission.

Program Notes


  1. Course Groupings:There are two groups of courses in the Social Work program:
  2. Progression Within Program: Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in each of SOCWORK 2A06 A/B , 2B03 , 2BB3 , 3D06 A/B , 3E03 , 3F03 , 4D06 A/B S , 4J03 , 4O03  and 4X03 , a Pass in their field placements SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B  and 4DD6 A/B S , and a GPA of at least 6.0. If a student fails to meet the minimum grade requirements in these required social work courses or a Pass designation in either field placement (SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B  and 4DD6 A/B S ), the student may not proceed in the program; however, the student may make a request in writing to the Director of the School of Social Work to be allowed to repeat the course in which the minimum grade or Pass requirement has not been met. Such requests will be reviewed by the Director of the School of Social Work in consultation with the Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee and/or the Chair of the Field Education Program and the course instructor. These courses and/or placements may only be repeated when approval is given by the Director of the School of Social Work following consultation as described above. Students who subsequently fail to meet the minimum grade or Pass requirement after repeating the course or placement may not continue in the program.
  3. Students who have completed SOC WORK 2E03 but not 3A03 must take both SOCWORK 3E03  and 3F03  and reduce their selections from the Social and Political Context Group to 9 units (selection must still include SOCWORK 4J03 ). Those students who have taken SOC WORK 3A03 but not 2E03 must contact the School of Social Work for guidance on completion of program requirements.
  4. Students must complete three units of Social Sciences research Methods (e.g. SOCIOL 2Z03 , SOCPSY 2K03  or HLTHAGE 2A03 ). A statistics course may not substitute for a research methods course.
  5. Graduation: The B.S.W will be granted only if the student has achieved a grade of at least C+ in each of SOCWORK 2A06 A/B , 2B03 , 2BB3 , 3D06 A/B , 3E03 , 3F03 , 4D06 A/B S , 4J03 , 4O03  and 4X03 , a Pass in SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B  and 4DD6 A/B S , and a GPA of at least 6.0.
  6. Students are expected to assume the cost of travelling to and from field practice agencies and for any related expenses.
  7. Students in the social work program must apply for third and fourth year field placements (SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B  and 4DD6 A/B S ), and are able to rank their placements in terms of preference. While efforts are made to match placements with student preferences, the final assignment of placement settings is constrained by many factors, including the availability of settings and field and faculty resources. Students may therefore be required to complete a field placement in an agency that is not among their preferred options.

Requirements


120 units total (Levels I to IV), of which 48 units may be Level I

30 units


from

  • the Level I program completed prior to admission to the program. (See Admission above.)

12 units


3 units


  • Social Sciences Research Methods (See Program Note 4 above).

27 units


  • Electives * A maximum of 12 additional units of Social and Political Context of Social Work courses can be taken as electives.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Program Listings (by Degree)