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
- 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 10.0 advanced standing credits.
Social Service Workers must complete 10.0 credits, including:
Required Social Work program courses:
Social Work (7.0 credits which include):
5.5 credits:
SK210, SK212, SK221, SK223, SK311, SK314, SK315, SK320,
SK499‡ (1.5 credits)
Additional 400 level SK Courses (1.5 credits or 3 courses) chosen from the available offerings.
Note: Not all 400 level SK courses will be offered every year or every term.
ID courses: (1.0 credits)
ID120, and any senior ID course
2.0 credits of electives not listed in course exemptions or transfer credits.
Progression and Graduation Requirements:
Progression is assessed at every 4.0 credit attempts. To progress, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.0 in all Social Work (SK) courses, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 in all non-Social Work courses. Graduation requires a minimum GPA of 7.0 in all Social Work (SK) courses, and a minimum GPA of 5.0 in all non-Social Work courses.
Before progression to Field Placement (SK499‡), all required pre-field placement Year 3 Social Work courses (SK314, SK315) must be completed with a minimum grade of 7.0 (B-) in each course.
Course repeats may not exceed a maximum of 2.0 credits for the duration of the program (including Year 1).
Child and Youth Care College Graduates meeting admission requirements
are granted 9.5 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 10.5 credits, including:
Required Social Work courses: (9.5 SK credits) which include:
8.0 required SK credits:
SK210, SK211, SK212, SK221, SK223, SK311, SK313, SK315, SK320,
SK321
SK399‡ (1.5 credit),
SK499‡ (1.5 credit)
Additional 400 level SK Courses (1.5 credits or 3 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):
ID120, and any senior ID course
Progression and Graduation Requirements:
Progression is assessed at every 4.0 credit attempts. To progress, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.0 in all Social Work (SK) courses, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.0 in all non-Social Work courses. Graduation requires a minimum GPA of 7.0 in all Social Work (SK) courses, and a minimum GPA of 5.0 in all non-Social Work courses.
Before progression to Field Placement (SK399‡), all required pre-field placement Year 3 Social Work courses (SK313, SK315) must be completed with a minimum grade of 7.0 (B-) in each course (including SK314, granted as transfer credit upon admission).
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 Year 1).
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.
Refer to the Academic Regulations section of the Undergraduate University Regulations chapter.
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.
