SOCIAL SERVICES/SOCIAL WORK
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Department website: www.ufv.ca/sssw/

UCFV offers a number of options for people interested in careers in the social services field. These include: 

Community Support Worker certificate. This program prepares people to work in a variety of roles with children and adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. Not offered in 2002/03. 

Social Services diploma. A 62-credit program that prepares students to work at the para-professional level in the social services field. 

Social Services diploma — First Nations option. (Subject to funding.) A 62-credit program that prepares aboriginal students, or those with strong ties to aboriginal communities, to work at the para-professional level with First Nations
people. 

Substance Abuse Counselling. A 64-credit diploma, or 23-credit certificate program for people who want to work with clients with chemical dependencies. 

Bachelor of Social Work degree. A 120-credit program that prepares students for generalist social work practice in a cross-cultural environment. 

Bachelor of Social Work degree — Child Welfare Specialization. A 120-credit program, similar to the BSW above, which includes coursework that prepares graduates to work specifically in the area of child welfare. 

Social Services diploma 

The Social Services diploma program is a two-year, 62-credit program (combining practical skill-development and university-transfer courses) which prepares you to work at the para-professional level in social service occupations. Typical jobs include financial assistance worker, community service worker, teacher aide, residential service worker, special education
assistant, case aide, activity worker, seniors supervisor, home support coordinator, social work assistant, mental health worker, and family support worker. 

The program also provides an opportunity for students preparing for professional degrees, to acquire practical job-related skills while earning university-transfer credits. 

Transfer 

More than half the courses in the Social Services program are transferable to university and are clearly marked in the course descriptions. The amount of transferability depends on your choice of courses and the institution you wish to transfer to. For example, with proper choice of electives, you may be able to ladder into the BSW program at UCFV or UVic. 

Students wishing to challenge a Social Services course must have their application for challenge approved by the department. Students wishing to transfer credit from another institution should contact the Admissions and Records office for more information. 

Entrance requirements 

Note: Students with a post-secondary CGPA of less than 2.0 will not normally be admitted to the program. A GPA of 2.0 is required for practicum placement. Practicums are scheduled for the second semester. 

How to apply 

1. Submit the application fee ($45) along with your UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You are advised to mail in your application as it will receive priority over hand-delivered applications, based on the postmarked date. See the Admission chart for a complete list of application dates and general information. 

Additional documents required for a complete application: 

2. Only those who submit complete applications and score the minimum required points will be called for a group interview. Should you not receive notification by April 1, contact Admissions and Records. 

3. Upon admission to the program you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when your register (see Fees and Other Costs in the Introduction and General Information section). This money will be applied to the tuition fees and is not refundable. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes. 

If the program is full, qualified students will be placed on a temporary wait list. If you meet the entrance requirements and a space becomes available before September 1, you will be contacted. After September 1 the waitlist is void. 

In cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August. 

Continuance in program 

Students are required to complete a minimum of 62 credits, and at least 50 percent of these must be completed at UCFV. 

A GPA of 2.0 (C average) is required for practicum placement and graduation. Please note that entrance requirements for the Social Work degree program stipulate a minimum GPA of 2.75. 

All core courses (SSSW 110, 120, 200, 210, and CMNS 155) must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students who are not making satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw from the program. Unsatisfactory progress includes: 

Academic regulations 

Students may elect to take this program on either a part- or full-time basis; however, students are expected to do a practicum in the second semester of their first year. In order to fill that requirement, students must have completed SSSW 110, 120, 129, and CMNS 155. Students who are unable to complete these courses in the first semester in the program, should postpone their
application to the program until they have taken some of the above courses as general studies students. Taking these courses does not guarantee you will be accepted into the program. Students have a maximum of four years to complete the program requirements that were in place when they entered the program. 

Students wishing to work with children or the mentally or physically challenged are encouraged to acquire a Class IV driver’s licence and a Standard First Aid certificate. In addition, keyboarding and computer skills are considered useful skills by most employers and practicum agencies. 

Fees and additional costs 

Fees stated are in effect for 2002/03 and are subject to change for 2003/04. 

The fees for a full-time student (five courses or 15 credits) would be about $1,000 per semester. Textbooks and additional supplies will cost extra. See Fees and Other Costs in the Introduction and General Information section for more information. 

There will also be other expenses such as travelling to practicum sites and field trips. 

Workload and classroom expectations 

Full-time students should be prepared to spend about 20 hours per week in class, and about 20 to 35 hours outside of class in independent learning. Full-time students take five or six courses each semester. During the winter semester, full-time students take three courses, plus a six-credit practicum. The practicum requires two full days in the field and students must make themselves available during this time. In addition to the field work, practicum students must attend a weekly 80-minute practicum seminar. 

Practicum regulations 

Acceptance into the program does not guarantee practicum placement. Placement into a practicum will be at the discretion of the instructor. A GPA of 2.0 is required for practicum placement. You will be individually assessed during the first semester as to your readiness for the practicum, in terms of skills, attitudes, and knowledge. The ability to pass a criminal records check is a
prerequisite for most placements and suitable appearance is necessary. A valid driver’s licence and access to an automobile is required for most practica. 

Students must register for seminars and practica on their assigned campus as practica will be done in that region; students are not guaranteed the practicum of their choice. 

Students currently working in the field, or with significant work experience, may be able to challenge one of the two practica. Regulations concerning challenge opportunities are covered in the first-term courses SSSW 129/229. Challenge options are to be discussed with the instructor. 

Dates and locations 

Admission to the program is for the September semester only. The program year is from September through April. Part-time Social Service diploma students may enroll in any available social services course provided they meet the stated prerequisite and there is space. Part-time students may not be able to access courses in sequence. General Studies students and students in other programs may be able to enroll in some social service courses if they meet the stated pre-requisite and there is space. 

The diploma program is offered at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses. You must indicate on your application form which campus you wish to attend. Acceptance into the program on a specified campus does not guarantee that all your non-SSSW courses will be available on that campus. Students are expected to complete required SSSW courses and practica
at the campus to which they are admitted to (i.e., Chilliwack students will complete required SSSW courses and practica in Chilliwack; Abbotsford students will complete required SSSW courses and practica in either Abbotsford or Mission). While efforts are made to ensure adequate reserved seats, students are not guaranteed seats in courses (including core courses) and
may not be able to access courses in sequence. It may not be possible to complete the program in two years or as planned. 

Program outline 

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section. 

Social Services diploma 

First Year 

Semester I 

Course

Title

Credits 

CMNS 155

Communications for Human Services

SSSW 110

Intro to Social Services

SSSW 120

Intro to Interpersonal Communications

SSSW 129

Seminar

PHIL 110

Morality and Politics

PSYC 101

Intro to Psychology I

Total

16 

Semester II 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 130

Practicum I (2 days/week)

SSSW 150

Approaches to Helping: A Theoretical Overview

SOC 101

Introductory Sociology

Elective

(See Note 1)

Total

15 

Second Year 

Semester III 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 125

Human Development

SSSW 200

Counselling Skills

SSSW 229

Seminar

SSSW 283*

Family Dynamics (or Semester IV)

Elective

(See Note1)

Elective

(See Note1)

Total

16 

Semester IV 

Course

Title

Credits 

CMNS 250

Report Writing for Business, Information Technologies, Social and Human Services 
(formerly CMNS 225 and 255)

SSSW 210

Intro to Social Welfare

SSSW 230

Practicum II (2 days /week)

Elective*

(See Note1) (or Semester III)

Total

15 

Program total 

62

* Students must complete SSSW 283, which is offered on alternating campuses. 

Note 1: Electives 

Students will take four electives in their diploma program. 

The electives are divided into two groups: 

Group A: Data manipulation requirement (choose one): 

Group B: Other electives (choose three): 

The remaining electives can be chosen from the following university transfer disciplines, but no more than two electives can be from the same discipline: adult education, anthropology, art history, biology, chemistry, child and youth care, computing science, criminology, economics, English, geography, history, kinesiology, languages, Latin American studies, media and communications, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, theatre. Students may also choose one of their elective courses from the following social service electives for the diploma: 

Note 2: Students intending to apply to the BSW program need to include the following electives: PSYC 110 or MATH 104 (or equivalent introductory statistics), plus three qualifying university- transfer arts and sciences electives. 

Please contact the Social Services and Social Work department regarding appropriate arts and sciences electives. 

Note 3: UCFV cannot guarantee that all courses can be scheduled as outlined. Students may take courses in any order as long as individual course prerequisites are met; however, students should note that taking courses out of the recommended sequence may result in delay of program completion. 

Social Services diploma — First Nations option 

This 62-credit program is designed to prepare aboriginal students, or those with strong ties to aboriginal communities, to work with First Nations people to enhance self-reliance of First Nations people and communities, both on and off reserves. Working from a Stó:lo perspective, graduates of the First Nations option will work with individuals and groups on issues of concern to aboriginal communities, including child and sexual abuse, substance abuse, family violence, wellness issues, and economic development. As First Nations people assume more responsibility for their child welfare, health care, and education services,
the demand will grow for First Nations social service workers to provide services to the community in a culturally appropriate fashion. 

This program will provide students with direct employment-related skills while at the same time allowing them to earn up to one and a half years of credit towards a BSW at UCFV. Thus a student who is interested in becoming a professional social worker will be able to develop skills and seek employment as a First Nations social service worker before going on to a professional
degree. 

Emphasis in the program will be on providing specific skills and knowledge for working with First Nations communities on issues of concern to First Nations people and at the same time providing a working knowledge of the larger social scene since many of the First ations option courses are also offered in the Social Services diploma program, students will be taking these courses together. 

Given the nature of employment in this field, it is expected that the program will be of interest to mature students who bring with them a wealth of life experience. Prior learning assessment will be available to facilitate turning learning derived from experience into academic credit. 

See Social Services diploma for information on Entrance Requirements, How to Apply, and program regulations. Students interested in this option should apply to the Chilliwack campus. 

Program outline 

The following courses are required, although the order and timing may vary. 

First Year 

Semester I 

Course

Title

Credits 

CMNS 155

Communications for Human Services

SSSW 110

Intro to Social Services

PSYC 101

Intro to Psychology I

Total

9

Semester II 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 120

Intro to Interpersonal Communications

     

ANTH 111

B.C. First Nations, or

3

ANTH 112

B.C. First Nations

     

FNST 101

Stó:lo Nation Development

Total

Second year 

Semester III 

Course

Title

Credits 

SOC 101

Intro to Sociology

SSSW 129

Practicum Seminar

SSSW 210

Intro to Social Welfare

FNST 102

Stó:lo Traditional Ways of Healing and Helping

Total

10 

Semester IV 

Course

Title

Credits 

FNST 201

Aboriginal Communications: Stó:lo World View (under development)

SSSW 130

Practicum I

SSSW 150

Approaches to Helping

Total

12 

Third year 

Semester V 

Course

Title

Credits 

FNST 202

Stó:lo Social Structure (under development)

SSSW 229

Seminar

Elective

Group A (see Social Services diploma above,
Note 1: Electives
)

Elective

(see Social Services diploma above, Note 1: Electives)

Total

10

Semester VI 

Course

Title

Credits 

CMNS 250

Report Writing for Business, Information Technologies, Social and Human Services

SSSW 200

Counselling Skills

SSSW 230

Practicum II

Total

12 

Program total 

 62

Substance Abuse Counselling diploma/certificate 

Alcohol and drug abuse is a growing problem in our society and an increasing number of individuals are seeking help in treating their addiction problems. Similarly there is an increasing number of people working in the social services and related fields who are seeking additional training in order to become more effective with their client groups. 

The Substance Abuse Counselling programs are designed to produce beginning professionals who recognize their own limitations and strengths and are prepared to undertake professional development on an ongoing basis. Intervention skills will be developed on individual, group, and family levels. Emphasis in the programs will be on providing knowledge of alcohol and drug
dependencies, techniques of working with clients with dependencies, and knowledge and skills relating to specific client groups. Substance abuse counsellors may or may not be recovering people, but undertaking this training is not part of the recovery process. Prospective students are expected to lead a life free from substance abuse or risk being removed from the program. 

The certificate program is offered as a post-graduate certificate to those holding diplomas, certificates, or degrees in allied fields (such as education, health care, criminal justice, social services, etc.) and is geared towards a post-basic level of educational achievement 

The diploma program is available for those with little or no post-secondary education. 

Entrance requirements 

Substance Abuse Counselling diploma program 

See Entrance Requirements for the Social Services diploma. 

How to apply 

Diploma program 

See How to Apply in the Social Services diploma section. 

See the Admission chart for a complete list of application dates and general information. 

Entrance requirements 

Substance Abuse Counselling certificate program 

As this program is structured as a post-secondary program for those already holding professional or para-professional credentials, all applications will be assessed on an individual basis by the program head. The admissions requirements are as follows: 

Interview with the Substance Abuse program coordinator, during which time your personal suitability for working with people with addiction problems will be assessed. 

How to apply 

Certificate program 

1. Submit the UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You are advised to mail in your application as it will receive priority over hand-delivered applications, based on the postmarked date. See the Admission chart for a complete list of application dates and general information. 

Additional documents required for a complete application: 

2. You must attend an interview. Out-of-province applicants may be able to make special arrangements with the program head.

3. Applicants for the certificate program will be accepted until the program is full. 

Academic and practicum regulations 

A GPA of 2.0 (C average) is required for graduation and practicum placement. Students who do not complete a prerequisite course may be allowed to register for a subsequent course at the discretion of the program head. UCFV reserves the right to cancel any course for which there is insufficient registration. Continuation of the program will be dependent upon adequate enrolment. 

Acceptance into the program does not guarantee practicum placement. Students will be individually assessed as to their readiness, in terms of skills, attitudes and knowledge, for the practicum. Practica are primarily in the Fraser Valley and students are not guaranteed the placement of their choice. Students will generally begin their practica after the completion of the first semester, although the practicum can be started later. Students working in the field may be allowed to do some, but not all, of their practicum hours in their workplace. 

Location 

While the certificate program is offered only in Abbotsford, students may complete the first year of the diploma program in either Abbotsford or Chilliwack. They should indicate the preferred campus on their application. 

Fees and additional costs 

Fees stated are in effect for 2002/03 and are subject to change for 2003/04. 

The fees for a full-time student in the diploma program (five courses or 15 credits) would be about $1,000 per semester. Textbooks and additional supplies will cost extra. See Fees and Other Costs in the Introduction and General Information section for more information. However, a tuition fee of $360 (2001/02 fees) will be charged for each of the following courses: SSSW 600, 601, 602, 610, 611, 612, and 630. 

The certificate program is offered part-time only, and does not qualify for financial aid. Some bursaries are available. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information. 

Some employers may be willing to sponsor their employees; prospective students are urged to approach their employers about this possibility. 

Workload and classroom expectations 

In addition to the classroom modules, you will be required to read, study, and prepare assignments outside of class and you can expect to spend an additional three to six hours per week outside of class. In addition you will be required to make videotapes in our lab. 

Program outline 

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section. 

Substance Abuse Counselling diploma 

Semester I 

Course

Title

Credits 

CMNS 155

Communications for Human Services

SSSW 110

Introduction to Social Services

SSSW 120

Introduction to Interpersonal Communications

SSSW 129

Seminar

PHIL 110

Morality and Politics

PSYC 101

Introduction to Psychology

Total

16

Semester II 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 130

Practicum I

SSSW 210

Introduction to Social Welfare

SOC 101

Introductory Sociology I

Elective

(Data Manipulation) (Group A) (See Note1)

Total

15 

Semester III 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 125

Human Development

SSSW 200

Counselling Skills

SSSW 600

Counselling Skills for Addictions Work

SSSW 601A

Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions

SSSW 610

The Nature of Substance Abuse

SSSW 611A

Psychobiology and Pharmacology of Addictions

SSSW 627

Integrative and Self-care Seminar

1.5 

CMNS 250

Report Writing for Business, Information Technologies, Social and Human Services 
(formerly CMNS 225 and CMNS 255)

Total

16.5 

Semester IV 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 601B

Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions

SSSW 602

Family Work in Addictions

SSSW 611B

Psychobiology and Pharmacology of Addictions

SSSW 612

Community Treatment: Assessment and Referral

SSSW 628

Integrative and Self-care Seminar

1.5 

SSSW 630

Substance Abuse Practicum

SSSW 150

Approaches to Helping: A Theoretical Overview*

Total

16.5 

Total program credits

64 

Substance Abuse Counselling certificate 

Semester I (Sept–Dec) 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 600

Counselling Skills for Addictions Work

SSSW 601A

Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions

SSSW 610

The Nature of Substance Abuse

SSSW 611A

Psychobiology and Pharmacology of Addictions

SSSW 627

Integrative and Self-care Seminar

1.5 

Total

8.5 

Semester II (Jan–April) 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 601B

Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions

SSSW 602

Family Work in Addictions

SSSW 611B

Pharmacology and Psychobiology of Addictions

SSSW 612

Community Treatment: Assessment and Referral

SSSW 628

Integrative and Self-care Seminar

1.5 

Total

8.5 

Semester III (May–June or later) 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 630

Practicum

Total

Total program credits

23

Bachelor of Social Work degree 

The Bachelor of Social Work degree program prepares students for generalist social work practice in a cross- cultural environment. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work with individuals, groups, and communities to enhance
personal, family, and community life and to promote social change. 

The UCFV BSW program emphasizes the identification of barriers such as gender, race, and class which are the basis of inequality and of inequitable treatment, and which prevent people from living to their full potential in a democratic society. Based on egalitarian ideals, social work is dedicated to the promotion of individual, family, and community development and seeks to
ensure people have access to the economic, political, and social resources necessary to enhance participation and self-determination. To achieve these goals, social workers advocate for social change and social justice based on the
understanding that the continued improvement of social conditions is fundamental to individual and family growth and development. 

Graduates will be prepared to work with individuals and groups in a variety of social and community settings provided by both government and non-government sectors including: child welfare and protection, programs and services for women, immigration and cross-cultural services, family and community services and programs, health care, correctional justice, addictions, services for the elderly, unemployment and income security programs, First Nations settings, and services and programs for people with disabilities and special needs. 

The BSW program provides flexible and accessible programming for those who are either returning to academic studies after a period of absence, or are graduates of the Social Services diploma program (or equivalent). Part-time or full-time studies are possible. Entry into the program will be at the third-year level after the completion of the Social Services diploma (or equivalent) or two years of arts and sciences, which must include the coursework listed under Entrance Requirements. 

The BSW program is currently undergoing the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work accreditation process. Changes may be made to the curriculum as a result of accreditation requirements. 

Entrance requirements 

1. Students are required to meet the minimum entrance requirements described in one of the following three streams, with a GPA of not less than 2.75 for all courses taken towards the BSW: 

a) Completion of UCFV Social Services diploma, including three qualifying university-transferable electives, SSSW 283, and an introductory statistics course. 

b) 60 qualifying university-transferable credits in Arts and Sciences which must include: six credits of English or Written Communications, three credits of Human Development, three credits of Introductory Statistics; three credits of Introduction to Social Services, three credits of Introduction to Social Welfare, and three credits of family dynamics or equivalent (SSSW 120 and 200 strongly recommended). 

c) Completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, including introductory courses in Statistics, Human Development, Social Services, Social Welfare, and family dynamics or equivalent. 

Note: Contact the SSSW department for a current list of qualifying Arts & Science electives, or visit the SSSW website at www.ufv.ca/sssw/ 

2. 400 hours of recent, supervised work experience in human services, either paid or voluntary, which may include completed practicum hours. 

3. Willingness to undergo a criminal records check. 

4. A satisfactory group interview during which your readiness for and interest in social work will be assessed. 

5. A personal statement (typed, double-spaced, about 800 to 1,000 words in length) that addresses the following questions: 

a) Why do you want to become a social worker? 

b) What kinds of life/work experiences have you had that contributed to this decision? 

c) What experiences have you had that prepare you for social work in a multicultural environment? 

d) What do you see as the most pressing social problem or issue facing Canadian society? Why? 

6. Two recent satisfactory letters of reference from social workers or related work, practicum, or volunteer supervisors should be submitted with your application package. These must be on reference forms available from the SSSW department or original, signed letters on letterhead addressing the criteria on the reference forms. 

7. All applicants must be willing and able to uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics. This will be demonstrated through applicants’ letters of reference, personal statements, and the group interview. 

How to apply 

1. Submit the application fee ($45) along with your UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You are advised to mail in your application as it will receive priority over hand-delivered applications, based on the postmarked date. See the Admission chart for a complete list of application dates and general information. 

Additional documents required for a complete application: 

2. Applications submitted after March 15 will be considered only if seats are still available in the program. All admissions to the program are for September only. Part-time students must apply and be accepted into the program in order to enroll in social work courses. 

3. You will be notified of the date and time for a group interview. Only those with complete and satisfactory applications will be interviewed. 

4. Upon admission to a program you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see Fees and Other Costs in the Introduction and General Information section). This money will be applied to the tuition fees and is not refundable. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes. 

If the program is full, you may register as a general studies student. It is not necessary to submit a separate application form. If you meet the entrance requirements and a space becomes available later, you will be contacted. 

5. In cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August. 

A detailed program plan outlining the required course work will be generated by UCFV for students admitted to the BSW program. Additional course work may be required by the department for graduation. 

Academic regulations 

During the course of their BSW studies, students are required to: 

Students with certain kinds of criminal records should be aware that these records will preclude a practicum placement (and thus completion of the degree). 

Part-time students need to be aware that if it takes them more than five years to finish Years 3 and 4, they may be required to complete additional requirements. In planning their programs, part-time students should make particular note of course prerequisites and course corequisites. Consulting with the program head before registering into specific courses is recommended. Admission to field-work courses is particularly dependent on the student choosing the appropriate course corequisites and prerequisites. 

Students in other degree programs may be able to obtain permission for some courses. Please look in the course descriptions under prerequisites to find which courses this applies to. Students will be allowed to take a maximum of two Social Work core courses without being in the program. 

Practicum regulations 

Acceptance into the BSW degree program does not guarantee practicum placement. The ability to pass a criminal records check is a prerequisite for most placements. As well, in order to continue in the practicum, a minimum 2.5 GPA is required. 

The field education coordinator will work collaboratively with each student to identify practicum sites which respond to individual learning interests and which provide generalist social work learning opportunities. 

Most of the fieldwork agencies will be in the Fraser Valley region (Surrey to Hope), although other placement sites may be considered. Students are responsible for transportation to practicum sites and most practica will require students to have a valid driver’s licence and access to an insured automobile. Students are responsible for maintaining suitable personal appearance. 

Students must be available for practicum work three full days per week from January through April in the third year, and four full days per week from January through April in the fourth year. There is also a mandatory three-hour weekly class included in each fieldwork course. 

The BSW degree program reserves the right to approve any agency or institution that provides placements for student practica, and to change any placement assigned to a student. The student, however, has the right to be informed in writing of the reasons for any change in placement. While the program accepts a responsibility to provide a sufficient number of practicum
opportunities to serve the needs of all registered students, a student may be required to withdraw from a practicum course if none of the available practicum agencies will accept that particular student. Complete policy and procedures are outlined in the practicum package which students receive in the first semester of each year. Practica are mandatory; however, students with exceptional backgrounds may be able to challenge the third-year practicum (SSSW 330). The fourth-year practicum (SSSW 430) is not open to challenge. Further information is available from the Prior Learning Assessment coordinator. 

Graduation 

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all program requirements are met. This should be done by regular program review with the department. 

Students must apply for graduation by completing a request to graduate form available at the Admissions and Records office. This must be done no later than April 1, with program requirements completed by April 30. 

Program outline 

(Subject to change as the program is undergoing the CASSW Accreditation process.) 

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section. 

Bachelor of Social Work degree 

Third Year 

Semester V — Degree 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 300

Methods I — Interviewing and Assessment

SSSW 311

Generalist Social Work

SSSW 312

Law and Social Services

SSSW 394 
(see Note 1)

Substance Misuse Issues

Elective (see Note 2)

Lower- or upper-level Arts or SSSW*

Total

15 

Semester VI — Degree 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 301

Methods II — Group Work, or

SSSW 380

Community Development

     

SSSW 320

Cross-Cultural Social Work

SSSW 330

Practicum I (3 day/week, plus weekly seminar class)

SSSW 392

First Nations Social Work

Total

15 

Fourth Year 

Semester VII — Degree 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 404

Research Methods and Evaluation

SSSW 410

Social Welfare Policy and Practice

SSSW 483

Family-Centred Social Work

SSSW 491

Child Welfare

Elective (see Note 2)

Lower- or upper-level Arts or SSSW*

Total 

15

Semester VIII — Degree 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 430

Practicum II (4 days/week, plus seminar)

Elective

Lower- or upper-level Arts or SSSW*

Elective (see Note 2)

Lower- or upper-level Arts or SSSW*

Total

15 

Program total

60 

* BSW students are required to complete two university transfer electives and two SSSW electives (SSSW 301, 380, 412, 450, 490, 493, 496, 497, 498) 

Note 1: Students who have completed SSSW 394 prior to the degree must substitute an appropriate Arts elective. 

Note 2: University-transferable Arts elective chosen with the advice of faculty which contributes to the breadth of the student’s knowledge. 

BSW Child Welfare Specialization program 

Third Year 

Fall semester 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 300

Methods I — Interviewing and Assessment

SSSW 311

Generalist Social Work

SSSW 312

Law and Social Services

SSSW 394

Substance Misuse Issues

Elective

Lower- or upper-level Arts

Total

15 

Winter semester 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 320

Cross-Cultural Social Work

SSSW 330

Practicum I

SSSW 380

Community Development

SSSW 392

First Nations Social Work

Total

15 

Fourth Year 

Fall semester 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 412

Legal Skills for Social Service Professionals

SSSW 404

Research Methods

SSSW 410

Social Welfare Policy

SSSW 483

Family-Centered Social Work

SSSW 491

Child Welfare

Total

15 

Winter semester 

Course

Title

Credits 

SSSW 430

Practicum II

SSSW 496

Disabilities

Elective

Lower- or upper-level Arts

Total

15 

Program total

60

Social Services/Social Work Faculty 

Gloria Wolfson, BA (CUNY), MA (Western Reserve), RSW, EdD (Nova Southeastern), ICADC, Department Chair
Lise Beauchesne, BSW (Laurentian), MSW, PhD (Wilfrid Laurier), RSW
Doyle Clifton, BA (Carleton), MSW (UBC)
Robert Harding, BA (Hons), BSW (Manitoba), MSW (McGill), RSW
Ian Hunt, BA, MA, EdD (UBC)
Curtis Magnuson, BA (Carleton), BSW (Lakehead), MSW (Carleton), RSW
Georgina Marsom, BSW, MSW (UBC), RSW
Lisa Moy, BA (UBC), BSW (UVic) (Hons), MSW (McGill) (Hons)
Pieter Steyn, BA (SW), MA (SW) (Pretoria), DPhil (South Africa), RSW 

Staff 

Debi Block, AD Arts (UCFV), Program Advisor
Carole Harlow, BSW (UCFV), RSW, Program Assistant/Instructor
Carol Oddy, Dip. Social Services (FVC), Program Assistant 

Social Service programs advisory committee 

Satwinder Bains, Consultant
Rick Chappell, School District #33
Carole Clarke, School District #34
Margaret Clifton, Women’s Resource Society
Anne Dalton, Abbotsford Community Services
Colleen Ewen, School District #75
Donna Gannon, Chilliwack Community Services
Carolyn Janousek, Mission Community Services
Robert Keys, Mission Association for Community Living
Cheryl Unger, Big Brothers
Social Services student representatives 

Substance Abuse Counselling program advisory committee 

Larry Akerstrom, Miracle Valley
Lynn Anderson, Lower Mainland Assessment and Referral Services
Charlaine Avery, Abbotsford Community Services
Martin Bartel, Jackson Murray Consultants
John Eno, Regional Corrections
Currie Low, Maple Cottage Detox
Sherry Mumford, Alcohol and Drug Programs
Harry O’Connor, Fraser House
Chris Palmer, Langley Family Services
Dan Reist, Kaiser Foundation
Student Representative
Milt Walker, Peardonville House 

BSW Advisory committee 

Alan Roche (Chair), Chilliwack General Hospital
BSW Student Representatives
Shona Brown, Big Sisters
Marianne Cardiff, MSA Hospital
Maureen Fedores, Fraser Canyon Hospital
Manpreet Grewal, Abbotsford Community Services Multicultural & Immigrant Services
Bobbi Jacob, Upper Fraser Valley Transition Society
Esther Krahn, Langley Hospital
Bruce McNeill, Ministry for Children & Families
Christine Mohr, Abbotsford Community Services
Roger Sasaki, BCASW 


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