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. 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. UFV values its community base and seeks 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: Current lists of accepted General and Discretionary courses are available at ufv.ca/swhs/how-to-apply in the BSW Program planning section.
Note: An interview to determine program and personal suitability may be required.
Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies.
Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only. The application deadline is January 31. Only completed applications will be reviewed. See Specific intake application process for more information.
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:
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 record check. This is a requirement before students can participate in any practicum placements. Once admitted to the program, it is students' 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.
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.
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 |
SOWK 330 | BSW Practicum I | 6 |
SOWK 380 | Social Work and Community Development | 3 |
SOWK 392 | Indigenous Social Work | 3 |
SOWK 404 | Research Methods and Evaluation | 3 |
SOWK 410 | Social Policy Analysis | 3 |
SOWK 430 | BSW Practicum II | 9 |
One of: | 3 | |
SOWK 301 | Social Work Practice with Groups | |
SOWK 483 | Social Work Practice with Families (see Note) | |
Four of: | 12 | |
SOWK 302 | Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice | |
SOWK 394 | Substance Misuse Issues | |
SOWK 412 | Legal Skills for Social Work Practice | |
SOWK 450 | Social Work in Health Care | |
SOWK 460 | Special Topics in Social Work | |
SOWK 490 | Gerontological Social Work | |
SOWK 491 | Indigenous Perspectives on Child and Family Welfare | |
SOWK 493 | Feminist Social Work | |
SOWK 496 | Social Work and Critical Approaches to Disability | |
SOWK 497 | Social Work in Mental Health | |
Plus: | 6 | |
Two upper-level General electives |
Note: SOWK 483 is a requirement of the BSW Child Welfare specialization.
All students are required to complete two field placements in the BSW program. Acceptance into the BSW program does not guarantee students a field placement. 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.
Under the Criminal Records Review Act, a record check completed through the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) is required for post-secondary students working with children and vulnerable people as part of a practicum. Students are responsible for completing and paying for this process; the School of Social Work and Human Services will provide details.
To register for the field placement, the following criteria and requirements must be met:
Note: The School is not ordinarily able to facilitate evening or weekend placements. Students need to plan accordingly.
Note: It may be necessary for students to delay practicum to a later semester if they want to be placed in a specific area such as health care.
Certain placement sites may require the submission of an up-to-date immunization record and other documentation. It is the responsibility of students 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.
Eligible students admitted to the BSW may apply to challenge the third-year placement (SOWK 330) only. Students will complete and submit a challenge request application to the Field Education Assistant. Students cannot challenge SOWK 330 with the same experience used to challenge a diploma-level placement in a related program. Any decisions about offering students the opportunity to challenge will be at the sole discretion of the School of Social Work and Human Services. Contact the Field Education Assistant for details regarding this process. The challenge request application will be provided to interested students after they have been admitted to the BSW.
Note: Note: The fourth-year placement (SOWK 430) is not open to the challenge process.
In completing the BSW program, students are required to have:
HSER and SOWK courses that are over 10 years old may not be considered for credit towards the BSW program.
Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or higher) 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).
Students in the Bachelor of Social Work degree must maintain a program GPA of 2.67 throughout their program and achieve a grade of C (2.00) or better in all HSER and SOWK courses to continue in the program, including the field placement.
Students must apply for graduation in the first month of their final semester. Visit the Graduation webpage for more information. 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 April 30.
Note: SOWK 430 must be taken in the final semester of the program.
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. The Field Education Coordinator and the Field Education Assistant will work through this process with each student completing the child welfare specialization and will provide the necessary details at the appropriate point in the program. Contact the Field Education Assistant for details.
For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.