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

Admission

Enrolment in this program is limited. Eligibility is dependent upon completion of any Level I program including a total of six units of introductory Social Work or introductory Sociology and six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List below (or equivalent). Students who are interested in the Honours B.S.W. are strongly encouraged to take both SOCWORK 1AA3  and SOCWORK 1BB3 . Students are also encouraged to take INDIGST 1A03 : Introduction to Indigenous Studies, in level I as this course will be required for completion of the B.S.W. Admission requires, as a minimum, completion of any level I program with a grade point average of at least 6.0 and evidence of personal suitability which may be evaluated by one or a combination of written statements, tests or interviews.

Course List

• ANTHROP 1AA3 - Introduction to Anthropology: Sex, Food and Death
• ANTHROP 1AB3 - Introduction to Anthropology: Race, Religion, and Conflict
• CAYUGA 1Z03 - Introduction to Cayuga Language and Culture
• CMST 1A03 - Introduction to Communication
• ECON 1B03 - Introductory Microeconomics
• ECON 1BB3 - Introductory Macroeconomics
• ENVSOCTY 1HA3 - Society, Culture and Environment
• ENVSOCTY 1HB3 - Population, Cities and Development
• GEOG 1HA3
• GEOG 1HB3
• GLOBALZN 1A03 - Global Citizenship
• HLTHAGE 1AA3 - Introduction to Health and Society
• HLTHAGE 1BB3 - Introduction to Aging and Society
• HLTHAGE 1CC3 - Introduction to Mental Health and Illness
• INDIGST 1A03 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies
• INDIGST 1AA3 - Introduction to Contemporary Indigenous Studies
• LABRST 1A03
• LABRST 1C03
• LABRST 1D03 - Will Robots Take All Our Jobs?
• LABRST 1E03 - Navigating the World of Work
• MOHAWK 1Z03 - Introduction to Mohawk Language and Culture
• OJIBWE 1Z03 - Introduction to Ojibwe Language and Culture
• PEACEST 1A03 - Introduction to Peace Studies
• POLSCI 1AA3 - Government, Politics, and Power
• POLSCI 1AB3 - Politics and Power in a Globalizing World
• PSYCH 1F03 - Survey of Psychology
• PSYCH 1FF3 - Survey of Biological Basis of Psychology
• PSYCH 1X03 - Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• PSYCH 1XX3 - Foundations of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• RELIGST 1AB3
• RELIGST 1B03
• RELIGST 1I03
• RELIGST 1J03
• RELIGST 1L03
• RELIGST 1R03
• SCAR 1B03 - What on Earth is Religion?
• SCAR 1R03 - Introduction to Anthropology: Race, Religion and Conflict
• SCAR 1SC3 - The Big Questions: Introduction to Society, Culture & Religion
• SOCPSY 1Z03 - An Introduction to Social Psychology
• SOCSCI 1SS3 - Inquiry in the Social Sciences
• SOCSCI 1T03 - Life, the University, and Everything
• SOCWORK 1AA3 - So You Think You Can Help? Introduction to Social Work I
• SOCWORK 1BB3 - Re-Imagining Help: Introduction to Social Work II
• SOCIOL 1C03 - Canadian Society: Social Problems, Social Policy, and the Law
• SOCIOL 1Z03 - An Introduction to Sociology
• WOMENST 1A03 - Women, Culture, Power
• WOMENST 1AA3 - Women Transforming the World

Admission Notes

1. Students who have successfully completed the two-year College of Applied Arts and Technology Social Services Diploma with a minimum cumulative average Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (75%) are considered to have completed the equivalent of SOCWORK 1AA3  and SOCWORK 1BB3 . Students who completed this diploma with a cumulative average of 3.4 - 4.0 (85%-100%) will receive 24 units of unspecified transfer credit upon admission to the program and are not required to complete six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List above to be eligible for admission.
2. An applicant must complete Level I 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:www.socialwork.mcmaster.ca. 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 February 1 for the Fall/Winter term.
5. Indigenous 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 normally complete a total of six units of Introductory Sociology or introductory Social Work and six additional units from the Course List. (See Admission above.)

Two-Tier Applications - Deadline for both is February 1

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

Program Notes

1. Course Groupings: There are two groups of courses in the Social Work program:

   • Foundation of Social Work. This category includes core courses which are required by social work students, most of which and are available to social work students only. Exceptions to this include SOCWORK 2BB3  and SOCWORK 2CC3  which have a limited number of seats for undergraduates in a Labour Studies program and SOCWORK 4J03  which has a limited number of seats for undergraduates in a Labour Studies program and undergraduates in Level III or above of a non-Social Work/Labour Studies program who have completed SOCWORK 1AA3  or SOCWORK 1BB3 .

   • Social and Political Context of Social Work. Social Work students must take 9 units from the Social and Political Context of Social Work group of courses. Social and Political Context of Social Work courses except SOCWORK 4SA3  and SOCWORK 4SB3  are also available for elective credit by undergraduates in the Labour Studies program and undergraduates in Level III or above of a non-Social Work program who have completed SOCWORK 1AA3  or SOCWORK 1BB3 . Registration in SOCWORK 4SA3  and SOCWORK 4SB3  is restricted to Social Work students who have received permission of the School of Social Work. All Social and Political Context of Social Work courses have limited enrolment.

   • Foundations of Social Work

     • SOCWORK 2A06 A/B - Theory, Process and Communication Skills for Social Work  
     • SOCWORK 2BB3 - Anti-Oppressive Social Work  
     • SOCWORK 2CC3 - Introduction to Community Practice  
     • SOCWORK 3D06 A/B S - General Social Work I  
     • SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S - Field Practicum I  
     • SOCWORK 3E03 - Individual Practice Across the Lifespan  
     • SOCWORK 3F03 - Social Work with Groups  
     • SOCWORK 4D06 A/B S - General Social Work II  
     • SOCWORK 4DD6 A/B S - Field Practicum II  
     • SOCWORK 4J03 - Social Change: Social Movements and Advocacy  
     • SOCWORK 4X03 - Social Work with Families  
     • SOCWORK 4ZZ3 - Social Welfare: Practice Implications and Advocacy   

   • Social and Political Context of Social Work

     • SOCWORK 3B03 - Transnational Lives in a Globalizing World  
     • SOCWORK 3C03 - Social Aspects of Health and Illness  
     • SOCWORK 3I03 - Social Work and Indigenous Peoples  
     • SOCWORK 3L03 - Violence: Social Justice Perspectives and Responses  
     • SOCWORK 3O03 - Social Work and Sexualities   
     • SOCWORK 3S03 - Social Work, Disability and Dis/Ableism  
     • SOCWORK 3T03 - Poverty and Homelessness  
     • SOCWORK 4C03 - Critical Perspectives on Race, Racialization, Racism and Colonialism in Canadian Society  
     • SOCWORK 4G03 - Selected Topics  
     • SOCWORK 4QQ3 - Indigenizing Social Work Practice Approaches  
     • SOCWORK 4R03 - Feminist Approaches to Social Work and Social Justice  
     • SOCWORK 4SA3 - Critical Child Welfare: From Theory to Practice Part I  
     • SOCWORK 4SB3 - Critical Child Welfare: From Theory to Practice Part II  
     • SOCWORK 4U03 - Immigration, Settlement and Social Work  
     • SOCWORK 4W03 - Child Welfare  
     • SOCWORK 4Y03 - Critical Issues in Mental Health & Addiction: Mad & Critical Disability Studies Perspectives for SW  
2. Progression Within Program: Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in each of SOCWORK 2A06 A/B , 2BB3 , 2CC3 , 3D06 A/B S , 3E03 , 3F03 , 4D06 A/B S , 4J03 , 4X03  and 4ZZ3 , a Pass in their field placements SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S  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 S  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 SOCWORK 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 SOCWORK 3A03 but not 2E03 must contact the School of Social Work for guidance on completion of program requirements.
4. Students who were admitted to this program in 2017-2018 or later must complete INDIGST 1A03 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies . If this course was taken in level I then students will be required to take an additional 3 units of electives.
5. Students must complete three units of Social Sciences Research Methods (e.g. SOCIOL 2Z03 , SOCPSY 2K03  or HLTHAGE 2A03 , INDIGST 2M03 , etc.). A statistics course may not substitute for a research methods course.
6. 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 , 2BB3 , 2CC3 , 3D06 A/B S , 3E03 , 3F03 , 4D06 A/B S , 4J03 , 4X03  and 4ZZ3 , a Pass in SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S  and 4DD6 A/B S , and a GPA of at least 6.0.
7. Students are expected to assume the cost of travelling to and from field practice agencies and for any related expenses.
8. Students in the social work program must apply for third and fourth year field placements (SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S  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