Social Work and Human Services
ufv.ca/swhsThe UFV Bachelor of Social Work program prepares social workers for professional practice, reflecting principles of social justice, equality, and respect for diversity. The BSW program is fully accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (2012-2020). BSW graduates meet UFV institutional learning outcomes and are eligible to apply for registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (RSW).
In response to Truth and Reconciliation recommendations, the School’s goals include respect for self-determination for Indigenous peoples and a commitment to working in partnership with local Indigenous communities.
Social work education is a critical process that respects diverse sources and forms of knowledge while encouraging dissent. UFV Social Work faculty are committed to scholarship, including debate on social work and social welfare, with particular attention to how social problems come to be defined and addressed. Program content addresses the structural barriers that prevent people from reaching their full potential. With a commitment to lifelong learning and a critical analysis of oppression, graduates will have the knowledge, skills, and professional social work values necessary to work collaboratively with individuals, families, groups, and communities in diverse and cross-cultural environments. The program contributes to the knowledge base of social work through partnerships with professional and local communities.
All individuals, families, groups, and communities are entitled to be treated with respect, justice, and without discrimination. Faculty seek to provide equitable educational opportunities and participation of those groups experiencing systemic oppression. Valuing our community base, we seek to promote social change.
Graduates will be prepared to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities in a variety of settings, funded by both government and non-government sources, including, but not limited to: child welfare, programs and services for women, immigration and cross-cultural services, family and community services, health care, mental health, corrections, addictions, services for the elderly, unemployment and income security programs, Indigenous settings, and services and programs for people with disabilities and special needs.
Note: Interviews may not be required for students applying to enter in Fall 2018; please check with the School of Social Work and Human Services to confirm.
Students who have completed the Community Support Worker certificate or Social Services diploma at UFV can apply specific courses toward the 60 credits required for the BSW application.
Note 1: A current list of Arts and Science courses is available at ufv.ca/swhs/how-to-apply in the BSW Program Planning section.
Note 2: SOWK 483 is a requirement of the BSW Child Welfare specialization and is an elective in the BSW Generalist option. SOWK 283 or SOC 331 is a prerequisite for SOWK 483.
Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies.
Application deadline is January 31. Admission to the BSW program is in the Fall semester. All completed applications submitted by January 31 will be reviewed. See specific intake application process for more information.
Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/apply.
All additional documents must be completed and submitted to OReg by January 31. These documents are available at ufv.ca/swhs.
Admission to the BSW is on a competitive basis. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Complete applications will be evaluated in the following areas:
Note: As part of the application process, candidates will be interviewed to confirm their potential to practice within the Social Work Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice This is an expectation of all Bachelor of Social Work students enrolled in accredited schools of social work.
Note: The School of Social Work and Human Services is commited to increasing the number of social work graduates from diverse populations
Under the Criminal Records Review Act, students in a professional post-secondary program with a practicum component involving work with children and/or vulnerable adults must undergo a criminal records check. This is a requirement before students can participate in any practicum placements. Once admitted to the program, it is the student's responsibility to apply for a Criminal Record Review through the Ministry of Justice. Information on this process is provided by the School of Social Work & Human Services.
Upon admission to the BSW program, students will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required upon registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section) and will be applied toward tuition fees.
In completing the BSW program, students are required to have:
Minimum of 60 credits of Social Work (SOWK) courses and a minimum of 60 credits of general university-level credits (42 credits of which are Arts and Science electives).
Minimum of 30 upper-level Social Work credits completed at UFV.
Minimum BSW program GPA of 2.67 to register for the field placement and graduation.
C (2.0) or better in each HSER and SOWK course to continue in the program, including the field placement.
HSER and SOWK courses that are over 10 years old may not be considered for credit towards the BSW program.
Acceptance into the program does not guarantee a field placement.
A criminal record check clearance letter issued through the Ministry of Justice is required prior to registering for the field placement.
The BSW program is a full time academic program that is completed over two years. Students who are not able to complete the program over the two years must notify the school.
Taking HSER and SOWK courses through other program areas does not guarantee eligibility for admission to the BSW program.
Students in other degree programs may be granted permission to register in a maximum of five Social Work courses without admission into the BSW program. Students must meet the prerequisites for these courses.
Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Academic standing and undergraduate continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).
All students are required to complete two field placements in the BSW program. Acceptance into the BSW program does not guarantee the student a field placement. Under the Criminal Records Review Act, a record check completed through the Ministry of Justice is required for post-secondary students working with children and vulnerable people as part of a practicum. The student is responsible for completing this process; the School of Social Work and Human Services will provide details.
Students who are on Academic Warning or Academic Probation or subject to academic or non-academic student conduct proceedings will not ordinarily be permitted to register in the field placement.
To register for the field placement, the following criteria and requirements must be met:
Completion of prerequisites/corequisites with a grade of C or better as per Academic regulations
Registration in co-requisites
Submission of the BSW Field Application Request form
Submission of a resume and cover letter in the required format
Interview with the Field Education Coordinator
Completion of the Practice Guideline Acknowledgment Form
Criminal record check clearance letter issued by the Ministry of Justice (please do not submit until requested)
BSW program GPA of 2.67
Students must be available weekdays, during regular office hours:
SOWK 330 is three days a week for a total of 21 hours per week
SOWK 430 is four days a week for a total of 28 hours per week
Note: The School is not ordinarily able to facilitate evening or weekend placements. Students need to plan accordingly.
Any decisions about offering students the opportunity to challenge the third year field placement
(SOWK 330) will be at the sole discretion of the School of Social Work & Human Services.
Students cannot challenge SOWK 330 with the same experience used to challenge a diploma-level field placement. The fourth year field placement SOWK 430 is not open to challenge.
Certain placement sites may require the submission of an up-to-date immunization record and other documentation. It is the responsibility of the student to provide these records and to obtain any required boosters or additional immunizations. Agencies may not provide placements to students who do not submit proof of immunization records and other documentation.
Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/admissions, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by the Winter semester grade deadline (see Important Registration Dates) of each year.
Graduation requirements:
60 credits of 100- and 200-level courses:
6 credits of SOWK 110 and 210
54 credits of University-level credits (at least 42 credits must be Arts and Science electives)
60 credits of 300- and 400-level courses:
6 credits of 300- and 400-level Arts and Science electives
54 credits of 300- and 400-level SOWK courses
SOWK 430 must be taken in the final semester of the program.
(Subject to change as per CASWE Accreditation Standards.)
Semester V (Fall)
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 300 | Social Work Practice with Individuals | 3 |
SOWK 311 | Social Work Theory and Ethics | 3 |
SOWK 312 | Legal Knowledge for Social Work Practice | 3 |
SOWK 320 | Anti-Racist and Cross-Cultural Social Work | 3 |
Elective | Upper-level Arts and Science elective | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Semester VI (Winter)
Course | Title | Credits |
Elective | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
SOWK 330 | BSW Practicum I (3 days per week, plus bi-weekly seminar classes) | 6 |
SOWK 392 | Aboriginal Social Work | 3 |
Elective | Upper-level Arts and Science elective | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Semester VII (Fall)
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 404 | Research Methods and Evaluation | 3 |
SOWK 410 | Social Policy Analysis | 3 |
Electives | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
Elective | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
Elective | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Semester VIII (Winter)
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 430 | BSW Practicum II (4 days per week, plus online seminar) | 9 |
Elective | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
Elective | SOWK Group A or B | 3 |
Total | 15 | |
Program Total | 60 |
BSW students are required to complete a total of six SOWK electives (see below) and two upper-level Arts and Science electives.
SOWK Group A electives
Students must complete a minimum of two SOWK Group A electives:
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 301 | Social Work Practice with Groups |
3 |
SOWK 380 | Social Work and Community Development | 3 |
SOWK 483 | Family Centred Social Work | 3 |
SOWK Group B electives
Students must complete four SOWK Group B electives, unless they choose to complete all three Group A electives. If a student chooses to complete all three Group A electives, the student only needs to complete three Group B electives:
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 394 | Substance Misuse Issues | 3 |
SOWK 412 | Legal Skills for Social Work Practice | 3 |
SOWK 450 | Social Work in Health Care | 3 |
SOWK 490 | Gerontological Social Work | 3 |
SOWK 491 | Child Welfare | 3 |
SOWK 493 | Feminist Social Work | 3 |
SOWK 496 | Social Work and Critical Approaches to Disability |
3 |
SOWK 497 | Social Work in Mental Health | 3 |
For program information on the Bachelor of Social Work — Child Welfare specialization, please see this section.
The Child Welfare Specialization requires students to complete a practicum with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency; however, the School cannot guarantee a placement with either of these agencies as placements are based on agency capacity. Obtaining a placement with MCFD or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency is a competitive process and requires students to complete several steps.
Students who have completed the Bachelor of Social Work degree may be eligible to complete the requirements for the Child Welfare specialization. Please see this section for more details.
For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.