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

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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 in level 1. 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

Admission Notes

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 have successfully completed this diploma with a cumulative average of 3.4 - 4.0 (85%-100%) are not required to complete six additional units of introductory level courses from the Course List above to be eligible for admission.
An applicant is required to complete the prerequisite undergraduate degree work by April of the year in which application is made.
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.
Enrolment in the B.S.W. program is limited. Students who intend to apply to the B.S.W. program must follow the application instructions as found on the School of Social Work website: http://www.socialwork.mcmaster.ca. Applicants must also apply to the University.
All applications for admission to the School of Social Work are considered annually and must be made directly to the School well before February 1 for the Fall/Winter term.
Applications that are submitted after the February 1 deadline will not be considered. 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.

Mandatory Applications

McMaster Applicants

Supplementary Application

Applicants must complete the mandatory School of Social Work Supplementary Application by February 1 in the year of application.

Non-McMaster Applicants

Supplementary Application

Applicants must complete the mandatory School of Social Work Supplementary Application by February 1 in the year of application.

AND:

OUAC Application

Applicants must also complete the mandatory Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) 105 form on-line application form (with payment). Visit the OUAC website to confirm the January deadline date each year.

Program Notes

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 3-9 units from the Social and Political Context of Social Work group of courses, depending on if INDIGST 1A03 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies , and Social Research methods were completed in the first degree. All Social and Political Contextof Social Work courses except SOCWORK 4SA3 are available for credit by undergraduates in the Labour Studies program and as elective credit for undergraduates in Level III or above of a non-Social Work/Labour Studies program who have completed SOCWORK 1AA3 or SOCWORK 1BB3 . Registration in SOCWORK 4SA3 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

Social and Political Context of Social Work

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.
Students who were admitted to this program in 2017-2018 or later must complete INDIGST 1A03 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies . If this requirement was not completed prior to admission to the B.S.W. program, students must replace three units from the Social and Political Context of Social Work courses with INDIGST 1A03 .
Students must complete three units of Social Sciences Research Methods (e.g. SOCIOL 2Z03 , SOCPSY 2K03 or HLTHAGE 2A03 , INDIGST 2M03 , etc.). If this requirement was not completed prior to admission to the B.S.W. program, students must replace three units from the Social and Political Context of Social Work courses with a research methods course. A statistics course may not substitute for a research methods course.
Graduation: To qualify for the B.S.W. students must complete a total of 60 units. 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 Grade Point Average of at least 6.0.
Students are expected to assume the cost of travelling to and from field practice agencies and for any related expenses.
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 provide information on areas of interest. 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

60 units total

12 units

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 2A06 A/B , SOCWORK 2BB3 and SOCWORK 2CC3 must be completed prior to enrolling in SOCWORK 3D06 A/B S and SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S )

12 units

SOCWORK 3D06 A/B S - General Social Work I
SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S - Field Practicum I
(SOCWORK 3D06 A/B S and SOCWORK 3DD6 A/B S must be completed prior to enrolling in SOCWORK 4D06 A/B S and SOCWORK 4DD6 A/B S )

12 units

15 units

3-9 units

from the Social and Political Context of Social Work courses (See Program Notes 3 and 4 above)

3 units

INDIGST 1A03 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies
Note: If this requirement was completed prior to admission, these units must be chosen from the Social and Political Context of Social Work courses. (See Program Note 3 above)

3 units

Social Sciences Research Methods. If requirement was completed prior to admission, these units must be chosen from the Social and Political Context of Social Work courses. (See Program Note 4 above)