Social Work Programs

Bachelor of Social Work

The School of Social Work offers a program of studies leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) that is fully accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education. Graduates are employed in a wide range of government and voluntary organizations such as family and children's services, residential care facilities, community centres, mental health clinics, home health care, hospitals, women's services, corrections and Indigenous social services.

Blended learning is the dominant approach to learning used at the School, which means that courses are taught through both web based delivery and face-to-face contact with students. Within this approach, students may elect to have most of their learning take place through a more traditional distance model where courses are accessed through web based delivery. Many students choose this model of delivery for the flexibility and cost effectiveness it affords them. Please note that all Distance Education students must attend a five day face-to-face component as part of SOCW 312 and that online/distance courses are available only to students residing in Canada.

Alternatively, students may elect to come to campus for a more traditional campus based approach to learning, comprised of face-to-face sessions with some web based delivery. The School works with students to facilitate completion of field placements in geographic areas of their choice, where feasible.

All students admitted to the BSW program or taking social work courses must have computer and internet access for the duration of their program of studies in order to participate in web based learning, and for program administration purposes. Students require a UVic Netlink ID with a UVic e-mail address. A high speed internet connection is highly recommended for students participating in web-mediated courses.

The School has the same expectation for participation in web based learning activities as they have for participation in face-to-face learning activities. An 80% attendance level is required for a student’s “presence” in web based learning, as it is for a student’s presence in face-to-face based learning.

BSW Specializations

Students may elect to choose one of the Specializations offered in the Social Work program. All students receive BSW degrees, and, for those students who complete a specialization, the specialization will be noted on the student’s transcript only.

Indigenous Social Work Specialization

This specialization is a concentration within the BSW program and provides opportunities for Indigenous BSW students to focus their undergraduate program on preparing for leadership roles as helpers and healers in Indigenous communities and various Indigenous organizations. Students will co-create learning environments with other Indigenous students and faculty in the School.

The intent of this specialization is to provide Indigenous students an opportunity to develop helping and healing practice frameworks that centralize Indigenous knowledges, peoples, nations and communities. All courses are offered on campus and by distance education.

Admission to the specialization is limited to Indigenous students of North America.

Child Welfare Specialization

This specialization is intended to prepare students for child welfare work, with an emphasis on protection work in government and other mandated child welfare settings. A non-child protection option is available for students who do not intend to practise in mandated settings after graduation.

Indigenous (Child Welfare) Specialization

The intent of this specialization is similar to the Indigenous Specialization with an emphasis on the well-being of Indigenous children, families and communities.

Admission to the specialization is limited to Indigenous students of North America.