Social Work and Human Services

Bachelor of Social Work degree

The 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 has full accreditation with the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (2012-2020). Students graduating with a BSW degree meet UFV institutional learning outcomes and the requirements of the British Columbia College of Social Workers for registration (RSW).

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, Aboriginal settings, and services and programs for people with disabilities and special needs.

Entrance requirements

Entry into the program is at the third-year level.

1. Applicants must have 60 general university-level qualifying Arts and Science credits by May 1st of the year of application.

• Pending available space, applicants who do not have 60 credits by May 1st may be considered as ‘conditional admits’ to the program if the credits are completed by August 31st.
• Students who are conditionally admitted and who have not completed the 60 credits by the end of the late summer semester will have to re-apply for the next intake.

2. Students must have an overall GPA of 2.67 for courses applicable to the BSW.

3. These 60 credits must consist of the following:

• 6 credits of SOWK 110 and SOWK 210; and
• 54 credits of university-level credits (at least 42 credits of qualifying Arts and Science electives).

4. The 54 university-level credits must include at least 42 credits of qualifying Arts and Science electives (see Note 1), which must include the following:

• three credits in English composition (i.e. CMNS 155 or ENGL 105);
• three credits of English literature (i.e. ENGL 108-170);
• three credits of Human Development (i.e. SOWK 225 or PSYC 250); and
• three credits of Introductory Statistics (i.e. STAT 104 or PSYC 110).
  
  Recommended:
• three credits of Sociology of Families (i.e. SOC 331 or SOWK 283) (see Note 2).
• One of SOC 331 or SOWK 283 is a prerequisite for SOWK 483. SOWK 483 is a requirement of the BSW Child Welfare Specialization and is an elective in the BSW Generalist option.
  

Students who have completed a UFV Community Support Worker certificate or UFV Social Services diploma program may be eligible to receive a six credit block for the completed certificate and a 12 credit block for the completed diploma. Students who have completed practica within these programs may receive extra points on their application. These 12 credits otherwise can come from any university-level UFV course or UFV assigned transfer credit (100-level or higher).

Note 1: A current list of qualifying Arts and Science courses is available at ufv.ca/swhs.

Note 2: Credit is provided for only one of SOWK 225 or PSYC 250 and one of SOWK 283 or SOC 331.

5. Applicants must have 400 hours of recent (see Note), supervised work in human services, either paid or voluntary, which may include hours in practica.

Note: The experience must be within three years of application. It is recommended that students be engaged in volunteer or paid supervised work in human services at the time of application.

6. Readiness for and interest in social work/personal suitability.

7. All applicants must be aware of, willing, and able to uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics.

Note: Please see the Field Placement/Practica regulations and details section below.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only, with an application deadline of January 31. All completed applications submitted by this date will be reviewed. Applications received after this date will be considered only if space permits. See specific intake application process for more information.

How to apply

1. To be considered for Fall semester entrance (September), completed applications must be received by January 31 of the year of application.

2. 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). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due at the end of the second week of classes.

3. In cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditionally upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due at the end of the first week in May for Fall admissions.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
UFV Application: apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply.
• Official, sealed transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all previous post-secondary institutions showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements.
SWHS Additional Application Information Form detailing your past experience and education (available at ufv.ca/admissions/forms).
A personal statement (typed, double-spaced, between 800 to 1,000 words in length) that addresses the following questions:
i. Why do you want to become a social worker?
ii. What kinds of life/work experiences have you had that contributed to this decision?
iii. What experiences have you had that prepare you for social work in a culturally diverse environment?
iv. What do you see as the most pressing social problem or issue facing Canadian society? Why?
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 School of Social Work & Human Services or they can be original, signed letters on letterhead, addressing the criteria on the reference forms.

Basis for admission decision

Applications will be reviewed using a point rating system. Complete applications will be evaluated according to the following categories:

1. Academic experience, including GPA and number of credits (scored out of 40). The higher the applicant GPA on required academic prerequisites, the more points awarded. GPA will be calculated using the UFV grading scale;

2. Work and/or volunteer experience in the human services field (scored out of 25);

3. Letters of reference (scored out of 10); and

4. Applicant statement (scored out of 25).

Academic regulations

In completing the BSW program, students are required to have:
a minimum of 60 credits of Social Work (SOWK) courses and a minimum of 60 credits of qualifying Arts and Science courses. (A minimum of 30 upper-level Social Work credits must be completed at UFV.)
maintain a minimum BSW program GPA of 2.67 for practicum placements and 2.67 for graduation. Students with a GPA of less than 2.67 will be required to withdraw.
obtain a C or 2.0 or better in each SWHS course. Credits that are over 10 years old may be stale-dated; students should check with the Program Advisor regarding transferability.

Acceptance into the program does not guarantee field placement. A criminal record check completed through the Ministry of Justice is required prior to field placement.

Part-time students may be required to complete additional requirements if it takes them more than five years to finish the third and fourth year courses. In planning their programs, part-time students should make particular note of course prerequisites, corequisites, and sequencing. Consulting with the Program Advisor before registering into specific courses is recommended. Enrolment to field education courses is particularly dependent on the student successfully completing the appropriate course corequisites and prerequisites.

Students in other degree programs may be granted permission to register in a maximum of two Social Work courses without being in the BSW program. Students must meet the prerequisites for these courses.

Undergraduate continuance

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 Undergraduate Continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).

Field placement/Practicum regulations and details

All students are required to complete two field placements in the BSW program. Complete policies and procedures are outlined in the BSW Field Education Manual, available on the SWHS website.

To be eligible to apply for the field placement, the following criteria and requirements apply:
• completion of prerequisites
• BSW program GPA of 2.67
• acceptance into the program does not guarantee the student a field placement. A criminal record check completed through the Ministry of Justice is required prior to field placement.

The Field Education Coordinator will work collaboratively with each student to identify field placement sites which respond to individual learning interests of students and meet the program criteria.

Field placement sites are located in the Fraser Valley and across the Lower Mainland. The School strives to place students in their home communities if possible. Students are responsible for transportation to field placement sites. Most field placements will require students to have a valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle. Students are responsible for maintaining professionalism in the field placement.

Field placements in the BSW program are set up as block placements during the winter term from January to April. Part-time students do have the option of completing their field placement in the fall term from September to December. Students are expected make themselves to be available to be in the field placement. Third-year field placements require students to be available for three days (21 hours) per week. Fourth-year field placements require students to be available for four days (28 hours) per week. Students are required to attend a mandatory bi-weekly seminar for both third- and fourth-year field placements.

All field placements and field instructors are approved through the Field Education Coordinator. For complete details, please refer to the BSW Field Education Manual.

Students who have extensive social work experience supervised by a Social Worker prior to admission may be eligible to challenge the third-year field placement. Please refer to the BSW Field Education Manual for application criteria and approved process.

Note: Admission to the program does not guarantee a field placement. The field placement requires a separate application process and all criteria must be met including a criminal record check through the Ministry of Justice.

Graduation

It is the student's responsibility to ensure all program requirements are met. This should be done in consultation with the Program Advisor.

Graduation requirements:

1. 60 credits of 100- and 200-level courses:
   • 6 credits of SOWK 100 and 210
   • 54 credits of University-level credits (at least 42 credits must be qualifying Arts and Science electives)
   
2. 60 credits of 300- and 400-level courses:
   • 6 credits of 300- and 400-level qualifying Arts and Science electives
   • 54 credits of 300- and 400-level SOWK courses
   

SOWK 430 should be taken in the final semester of the program.

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

Program outline

(Subject to change as per CASWE Accreditation Standards.)

Third year

Semester V (Fall)

Semester VI (Winter)

Fourth year

Semester VII (Fall)

Semester VIII (Winter)

Electives

BSW students are required to complete a total of six SOWK electives (see below) and two upper-level electives. University-level Arts electives which contribute to the breadth of the student's knowledge should be chosen in consultation with the Program Advisor.

SOWK Group A electives

Students must complete a minimum of two SOWK Group A electives:

SOWK Group B electives

Students must complete four SOWK Group B electives unless they choose to complete all three Group A electives, in which case they are required to complete three Group B electives:

Child Welfare specialization

For program information on the Bachelor of Social Work - Child Welfare specialization, please see this section.

Certificate in Extended Studies in Social Work: Child Welfare specialization

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.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.