August 11, 2010   

Media contact: Kim Lawrence
Office: 604-864-4611
Cell: 604-302-6257
kim.lawrence@ufv.ca
 
UFV introduces Master of Social Work degree

Social services professionals in the Fraser Valley can now earn a graduate degree without leaving home…or their jobs.

The University of the Fraser Valley is introducing a new two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, with the first intake of students slated for January 2011. Courses will be offered on weekends and in the evenings, in class and online, over a total of five semesters. Applications for the inaugural class are being accepted now.

The BC Ministry of Advanced Education approved the MSW this summer, the culmination of many years of development. The university conducted extensive consultations with the Fraser Health Authority, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, non-profit services, local First Nations and ethno-cultural communities, and UFV alumni.

“When we spoke with our communities, we found great enthusiasm for the program along with a strong need to make it accessible and flexible for those juggling work and family commitments,” says Dr. Elizabeth Dow, director of the School of Social Work and Human Services at UFV.  “As a result, UFV’s MSW program will be the only one of its kind in BC to use this type of mixed-delivery model.”

Core courses will concentrate on supervision and leadership, the integration of anti-oppressive and cross-cultural practice in social work, social policy, and advanced assessment and intervention. Students will choose a specific area of focus, such as children and families, health, or mental health.

Students will also develop skills in research and conduct projects in collaboration with various community agencies, many of which voiced their support of the program as part of the original proposal:

“Not only would the Fraser Region look to this program for potential recruitment of new staff, but we would also look to it for professional and leadership development for our current staff,” says Bruce McNeill, director of child welfare with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (Fraser Region). “The online and part-time options would allow staff members to pursue their educational goals while remaining in full- or part-time employment, and without having to relocate.”

“Skills and knowledge focusing on cross-cultural and Aboriginal practice would be of particular benefit to our agency,” adds Joy Cox, executive director of Mission Community Services. “The inclusion of a leadership focus would provide opportunities for our program managers to increase their skills and abilities related to the management and training of staff.” Similar comments were submitted from agencies across the valley.

“UFV’s School of Social Work and Human Services must be highly commended for its collaborative process of consulting with other universities in BC and engaging the local community in planning and developing the program,” notes Roopchand Seebaran, professor emeritus with the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. “As a result of this process, the new MSW program will be an invaluable asset to the region, given that its educational focus directly reflects the service needs of residents, the critical staffing requirements of local service agencies, and the professional development of social workers in the Fraser Valley.” Seebaran was deeply involved in the development of the proposal to create the MSW program at UFV.

The MSW program goals at UFV are consistent with the principles of inclusion and social justice, of the BC College of Social Workers, the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, and of the university’s strategic and academic plans.

Additional information, including admission criteria, is available at www.ufv.ca/msw. Early application is encouraged.

Anyone interested in providing financial support to students in the program can contact UFV’s Development Office at 604-854-4595 or giving@ufv.ca .

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