Honours Bachelor of Social Work: Advanced Standing Programs
At least two groups of community college graduates have been identified as having significant preparation allowing them to be considered for advanced standing into the BSW program. One group is composed of the Social Service Workers and the other is the Child and Youth Care. Each group has a unique background and will fulfill specific courses for completion of the BSW degree. Other college transfers such as Early Childhood Education majors, may be assessed for advanced standing at a later time.
- Social Service Worker Graduates: BSW Pathway
- Child and Youth Care Graduates: BSW Pathway
- Academic Progression in the BSW
- SK399
- Probation
- Alternate Graduation Option
The Honours Bachelor of Social Work program consists of 20.0 credits, of which not more than 7.0 credits may be at the 100 level.
Social Service Workers:
Social Service Work College graduates meeting admission requirements are granted 7.0 advanced standing credits.
Social Service Workers must complete 13.0 credits, including:
Required Social Work program courses:
Social Work (8.0 credits which include):
6.0 credits:
SK212, SK221, SK223, SK311, SK312, SK313, SK314, SK315, SK322,
SK499‡ (1.5 credits)
Additional 400 level SK Courses (2.0 credits or 4 courses) chosen from the available offerings.
Note: Not all 400 level SK courses will be offered every year or every term.
ID courses: (1.5 credits)
ID120, ID302, 0.5 senior ID credit
Additional requirements:
Required Foundation courses:
(1.0 credit or two 0.5-credit courses) chosen from: BF190, BF199, BF290, BF299
2.5 credits of electives not listed in course exemptions or transfer credits.
Child and Youth Care College Graduates meeting admission requirements
are granted 7.5 advanced standing credits.
Child and Youth Care Graduates: BSW Pathway
The Honours Bachelor of Social Work program consists of 20.0 credits, of
which not more than 7.0 credits may be at the 100 level.
Child and Youth Care must complete 12.5 credits, including:
Required Social Work courses: (10.5 SK credits) which include:
8.5 required SK credits:
SK211, SK212, SK221, SK223, SK311, SK312, SK313, SK314, SK315, SK321,
SK322,
SK399‡ (1.5 credit),
SK499‡ (1.5 credit)
Additional 400 level SK Courses (2.0 credits or 4 courses) chosen from the
available offerings.
Note: Not all 400 level SK courses will be offered every year or every term.
Required ID courses: (1.0 credit):
ID302, 0.5 senior ID credit
Required Foundations Courses (1.0 credit or two 0.5-credit courses) chosen
from:
BF190, BF199, BF290, BF299
Progression to Year 2 requires completion
of five 100 level credits with a minimum cumulative GPA
of 7.00 in all Social Work courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 in all
non-Social Work courses. All credits taken during Year 1 will be included in
the GPA requirements for progression into Year 2. These course and GPA
requirements must be achieved by August 31.
Progression to Year 3 requires completion of all required and elective credits
of Year 2 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in all Social Work courses and
a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 in all non-Social Work courses. These course
and GPA requirements must be achieved by August 31.
Before progression to Field Placement (SK399‡), all required pre-field placement Year 3 Social Work courses: SK313, SK314, SK315 must be completed with a minimum grade of 7.0 in each course.
Progression to Year 4 requires the completion of all course credits of Year 3 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in all SK courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 in all non-Social Work courses. These course and GPA requirements must be achieved by August 31.
Students must successfully pass SK399‡ - Field 1 (360 hrs in 12 wks) in order to progress to SK499‡.
Course repeats may not exceed a maximum of 2.0 credits for the duration of the program, including repeats from Year 1.
Normally, graduation requires completion of all required and elective courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in all SK courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 in all non-Social Work courses. Students who have not met the course and GPA requirements to graduate must meet the requirements within one calendar year. If they do not do so, they must re-apply to enter the Honours Social Work program. Refer to Alternate Graduation Option below.
The Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) permits advanced standing students to challenge-for-credit up to half of the 700 hours of field work requirement. Normally, only students who have completed a year of paid, supervised work experience in a social agency and completed SK315 "Practice with Individuals" at a 10 (alpha level) mark, may petition for SK399‡ credit. The assessment of a student's request will focus on the SK315 taped interview performance and on the SK315 instructor's written letter of support. The letter should comment on the student's insight into presenting problems, interpersonal skills of interviewing, abilities to utilize theory in practice.
A student must also provide in the application 1) a reference from a social agency supervisor of paid work and 2) previous supervised field practicum evaluations or reviews. The field data should include hours in the field, the supervisor's qualifications and evaluative comments, and the student's major tasks and learning accomplishments in the field. The BSW program administrator and field co-ordinator shall review all suitable requests and determine an outcome.
BSW students who fail to achieve the standing necessary for admission to the subsequent year of their program may proceed on academic probation upon recommendation of the Associate Dean and/or the Dean.
BSW students who do not meet Bachelor of Social Work GPA graduation requirements would be eligible to graduate from a Laurier Brantford faculty with a General BA without designation.
