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

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

3.5 credits of electives not listed in course exemptions or transfer credits.

 
Child and Youth Care Graduates: BSW Pathway

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 (2.5 credits or 5 courses) chosen from the
available offerings.
Note: Not all 400 level SK courses will be offered every year or every term.

Required ID courses: (1.5 credit):
ID120, ID302, 0.5 senior ID credit

 
Academic Progression in the BSW

Progression to Year 2 requires completion of all required courses and 5.0 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. 

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.

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. 

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.

 
SK399

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.

 
Probation

Refer to the Academic Regulations section of the Undergraduate University Regulations chapter.

 
Alternate Graduation Option

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.