Master of Social Work

• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements for the MSW Regular Track Program (Full-time)
• Program Requirements for the MSW Regular Track Program (Part-time online):
• Program Requirements for the MSW Advanced Standing Program (Full-time)
• Program Requirements for the MSW Advanced Standing Program (Part-time online)
• Program Requirements for the Combined MDiv/MSW Program
• Program Requirements for the MSW Advanced Standing Program (Indigenous field) (Full-time)
• Program Requirements for the MSW Advanced Standing Program (Indigenous field) (Part-time)
• Field Education
• Thesis Option

For the MSW Regular Track program and MSW-MDiv program, normally, a four year bachelor's degree, or equivalent, from a university or college of recognized standing is required. Applicants with a three year degree and significant relevant work experience will be considered. To be eligible for the advanced standing programs, applicants must hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an accredited program in a university of recognized standing.

Academic background must include at least four full social science courses and a half-credit course in research methodology.

For applicants who have already completed a bachelor's degree, at least a B (73-76 percent) standing in the final academic year is required. For students completing their final year of undergraduate study, the academic eligibility standard is the same but is determined on the basis of the last completed academic year.

Evidence of paid and/or voluntary experience in human service organizations, awareness of contemporary social issues and social work values, demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, and motivation for a career as a professional social worker is assessed on the basis of application material.

Although the Indigenous field of study is open to students of all cultural backgrounds, candidates for this field must also have some familiarity with the traditional holistic healing approach and/or have used it in their practice. This will be demonstrated through a personal statement, references and an admissions interview.

Additional courses required for admission to the MSW program that are completed after the requirements for the bachelor's degree have been met will be calculated into the final year GPA. To be considered for admission, the re-calculated GPA must be at least a B average.

Applicants who do not meet the above academic requirements and standards for admission may inquire about establishing academic eligibility. If applicants do not have a B standing in the final academic year, additional undergraduate coursework must be completed to raise the final year GPA to the minimum B requirement. Additional coursework must be completed in social sciences beyond the introductory level. Please contact the admissions coordinator for further details.

Exemptions

Course exemptions may be granted based on prior graduate level university courses up to a maximum of two half-credit core courses for the MSW Regular Track programs, and a maximum of one half-credit core courses for the Advanced Standing full-time and part-time programs. Additional requirements include:

• Consideration for exemptions is only given for similar graduate level courses completed within the last 5 years with a minimum final grade of B or higher.
• Consideration for exemptions is only given prior to admission to the program. Applicants must make the request  and submit all documentation with their application.
• Applicants must submit a full course syllabus for each course they would like considered with their application. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translated version.
• Initial recommendations regarding exemptions are made by the Associate Dean, MSW Programs and approved by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Substitutions

Course substitutions may be offered based on prior undergraduate level university courses up to a maximum of two courses for the MSW Regular Track programs. Additional requirements include:

• Substitution is only given for similar courses completed with a minimum final grade of B or higher. Courses may include undergraduate level courses or may include graduate level courses taken more than 5 years ago.
• Students must provide a course syllabus for each course they would like considered for a substitution. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translated version.
• Initial recommendations regarding substitutions are made by the Associate Dean, MSW Programs and approved by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

This MSW program consists of five terms taken over two academic years (fall, winter and spring terms in the first year and fall and winter terms in the second year). Students normally begin and complete the program with their cohort and must be registered in consecutive terms until completion of the degree. Within the two years, non-thesis students ordinarily will take a minimum of 14 courses and complete 1008 hours of field education in two different settings.  Thesis students ordinarily will take a minimum of 11 courses and complete 882 hours of field education.

Students admitted to the full-time on-campus program normally are expected to complete the program as full-time students taking on-campus courses. Students are permitted to change their registration status from full-time to part-time if their circumstances change, however, students completing a field placement more than two days per week must remain registered as a full-time student.

MSW Regular Track Program

Foundational Year 

Students are required to take the 4 foundational integrative courses:

SK507 - Social Justice and Transformative Social Work Practices
SK545 - Introduction to Ethical Thought and Reflexive Practice
SK536 - Integrating Theory and Practice
SK665 - Relational Accountability: Transforming Social Work with Indigenous Peoples

Students are required to complete each of the following courses:

SK522 - Social Work Practice with Individuals
SK501 - Approaches to Community Organizing and Group Practices
SK504 - Research 1 

Students are required to complete one of the following courses: 

SK641 - Critical Social Policy and Activism
SK681 - The Political and Organizational Contexts of Social Work Practice

Students will choose 1 of the following foundational electives in their first year (not all courses will be offered each year):

SK509 - Social Work Practice with Groups
SK552 - Social Work Practice with Families
SK591 - Social Innovation
SK592 - Transnational Social Work Practice
SK593 - Indigenous Child Welfare Policy and Practice
SK594 - Critical Collective Social Work Practice
SK595 - Feminism, Gender and Policy

Students are required to take SK541 - Foundational Field Education starting in January and ending in May.

Advanced Study Year

Students are required to take:  

SK615 - Research 2
SK649 - Advanced Field Education, starting in September and ending in April

Choose 1 of the following:
SK651 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
SK690 - Inequality, Poverty and Income Support

Plus 2 advanced electives**

**The advanced electives can be chosen from the foundational or advanced elective courses. 

Thesis option students are exempt from three courses: the foundational elective and two advanced electives, and 126 hours from the Advanced Field Education course.

The International Social Work Program (ISWP) leads to the Type 2 Graduate Diploma in International Social Work. This program combines courses and a research paper with an advanced international placement. Students interested in ISWP apply during the first term of their MSW program. A total of six courses are required for successful completion of the program, taken during terms 3, 4 and 5.

SK630° - International Placement Orientation: Introduction to the Culture, History and Traditions of Your Host Country is taken in spring term. 
SK596 - International Social Work Research is also taken in spring term as an equivalent to SK615 - Research 2.
SK622 - Personal and Professional Identity: Reflexivity and Growth in International Context is taken over two terms (fall and winter) instead of SK621 - Reflexive Practices or SK508 - Reflexive Group and Community Practice.

During fall term, students complete an international placement and must take SK650* - Advanced International Field Education instead of SK649 - Advanced Field Education. During the international placement, students also complete SK597°.
In the winter term, students will take SK592 - Transnational Social Work Practice as their foundational elective. 

The curricular requirements and course content are similar to those in the Regular Track full-time program. The difference is that students complete degree requirements over 8 academic terms.  Students normally begin and complete the program with their cohort and must be registered in consecutive terms until completion of the degree. Students complete a minimum of 14 courses and complete 1008 hours of field education, normally starting in term 4..

Students complete a maximum of two courses, or 1.0 credits, as scheduled in each of the eight terms. An exception may be made in terms 6, 7 and 8 if students are still required to register in field placement. 

Students are required to take the 5 foundational integrative courses prior to their field education course (SK600 - Field Education): 

SK501 - Approaches to Community Organizing and Group Practices
SK504 - Research 1
SK507 - Social Justice and Transformative Social Work Practices
SK522 - Social Work Practice with Individuals
SK545 - Introduction to Ethical Thought and Reflexive Practice

Students are required to take SK600 - Field Education typically starting in term 4 of the program. They must have completed SK501, SK504, SK507, SK522 and SK545 before starting SK600. 

Students are required to complete each of the following courses:

SK536 - Integrating Theory and Practice, which is taken with SK600
SK641 - Critical Social Policy and Activism
SK665 - Relational Accountability: Transforming Social Work with Indigenous Peoples

Foundational Elective:
One of SK509 - Social Work Practice with Groups or SK552 - Social Work Practice with Families

Advanced Study Year

SK615 - Research 2
SK621 - Reflexive Practices
SK651 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
2 advanced electives

Required Courses

SK504 - Research 1
SK615 - Research 2 
SK649 - Advanced Field Education

Choose 1 of the following: (depending on micro/macro nature of placement)
SK508 - Reflexive Group and Community Practice 
SK621 - Reflexive Practices

Choose 1 of the following:
SK651 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
SK690 - Inequality, Poverty and Income Support

Plus 4 advanced electives**

**The advanced electives can be chosen from the foundational or advanced elective courses.

Students complete a maximum of two courses, or 1.0 credits, per term in each of the five terms.

Required Courses 

The MDiv - MSW program is offered jointly by Martin Luther University College (Luther) and the Faculty of Social Work. It integrates the curricula of both degrees into four years of study. This program is particularly valuable for those who are interested in positions of leadership in the social services of the church and the community at large.

Such positions would include special ministries in a hospital, prison, leisure or counselling centre setting, placements in social work agencies that work closely with the church, and occupations in groups that are involved in broad-based programs of leadership development and community renewal. Because the completion of the joint program results in the receipt of both the MDiv and the MSW degrees, persons graduating from the joint program are also qualified to apply for other positions within the fields of social work and church ministry.

The combined MDiv - MSW program normally involves two years of registration in Luther and two years of registration in the Faculty of Social Work. Students pay fees and are only eligible for scholarships, bursaries and awards applicable to the program in which they are registered.

There are a limited number of positions in the joint MDiv - MSW program. Normally no more than six students are admitted to the program in any particular year. Therefore, it is desirable to apply for admission to this joint program at the earliest possible date.

At the beginning of each academic year, students in the combined degree programs must meet with both the MSW Coordinator and the dean of Luther to plan their course schedule for the coming year.

For further information, refer to Program Requirements-The MDiv - MSW Program or write to the dean of Luther or the admissions coordinator in the Faculty of Social Work.

Students register and complete their eight courses and 29 weeks of practicum in three academic terms (fall, winter and spring terms, September to June).

Courses

SK507 - Social Justice and Transformative Social Work Practices
SK628 - Cultural Camp
SK635 - Indigenous Knowledges and Theory
SK644 - Indigenous Kinship Structures and Social Work Practice
SK645 - Indigenous Research Methods
SK646 - Wholistic Healing Practices
SK647 - Elders' Teaching and Indigenous Identity
SK648 - Elders' Teaching and Self-Reflection 

Course Schedule

Term 1	SK628 - Cultural Camp SK644 - Indigenous Kinship Structures and Social Work Practice SK645 - Indigenous Research Methods SK646 - Wholistic Healing Practices
Term 2	SK507 - Social Justice and Transformative Social Work Practices SK647 - Elders' Teaching and Indigenous Identity SK649 - Advanced Field Education
Term 3	SK635 - Indigenous Knowledges and Theory SK648 - Elders' Teaching and Self-Reflection SK649 - Advanced Field Education

The curricular requirements and course content are identical to those in the Indigenous field full-time MSW program. Students who complete the MSW degree requirements on a part-time basis register and complete their eight courses and 29 weeks of practicum in six academic terms (fall, winter, and spring terms, September to June, in two consecutive years).

Course Schedule

Term 1	SK628 - Cultural Camp SK647 - Elders' Teaching and Indigenous Identity
Term 2	SK646 - Wholistic Healing Practices SK649 - Advanced Field Education
Term 3	SK635 - Indigenous Knowledges and Theory SK649 - Advanced Field Education
Term 4	SK507 - Social Justice and Transformative Social Work Practices SK644 - Indigenous Kinship Structures and Social Work Practice
Term 5	SK645 - Indigenous Research Methods
Term 6	SK648 - Elders' Teaching and Self-Reflection

As a significant portion of their training, all MSW students complete field placements in social work agencies and receive practice instruction and supervision from a Social Work practitioner.

Students completing the full-time MSW Regular Track on-campus program complete two field courses: a foundational course (462 placement hours) and an advanced field education course (546 hours). Placement hours are normally completed at two different agencies; however, in some circumstances all placement hours may be completed at one agency.

Students in the online part-time MSW Regular Track program complete one field course (1008 hours). Students in the advanced standing full-time on-campus or part-time online program complete an Advanced placement only.

Foundational placements for full-time on-campus students take place over the winter and spring academic terms. All advanced placements for full-time on-campus students begin in the fall and are completed in two or three academic terms.

From time to time, the Field Education Office may offer additional placement timeframes.

Students completing a thesis in the MSW Regular Track full-time program are exempt from some placement hours during their advanced placement (see Program Requirements), although they may choose to complete the full placement. Students in the advanced standing full-time program completing a thesis are exempt from their advanced placement although they may choose to complete a full placement.

Most field education settings have requirements for vulnerable sector police record checks. Other settings may require immunization or other medical tests, advanced levels of police screening, training, etc. Agency requirements must be met prior to commencing the placement. Any cost associated with placement is the responsibility of the student.

Students completing the full-time MSW Regular Track on-campus program may pursue the International Social Work Program which offers a Diploma in International Social Work, and includes five courses as well as an advanced international field placement of 720 hours (see Program Requirements for details).

Further information can be found on the field education pages of the FSW website. 

The thesis option is open to all on-campus students except those in the Indigenous field of study; however, enrolment in the thesis option is contingent upon the student finding a faculty member who is willing to act as his/her thesis advisor. The Associate Dean may assist students in identifying potential thesis advisors. On-campus Regular Track program and advanced standing students must register in the thesis option by mid-way through their first term (see Program Requirements for course and practicum exemptions for the thesis option).

Guidelines for the preparation and submission of master's theses, as well as information regarding the oral examination of theses, are found under General Regulations in the Graduate Calendar.