Master of Social Work
Program Benefits
During the Master of Social Work program, students will have the opportunity to strengthen and deepen their knowledge and skills in their chosen area of practice so that they may respond more effectively to social issues at the personal, family, cultural, community, and socio-political levels.
Course objectives are congruent with the overall objectives of the program, and practice experience and applied elements form an integral part of each course. Specific skill development in each student’s area of interest will take place in assignments and the field practicum and thesis options.
The MSW courses and field education aim to:
- foster the development of professional social workers who are knowledgeable, skilled, and committed to social justice
- prepare graduates to make ethical decisions and perform professional tasks informed by research evidence and an understanding of socio-political contexts
- develop student leadership skills in facilitating organizational, community, and policy change
- promote critical inquiry and consider diverse perspectives
- develop student knowledge and skills to integrate an intersectional analysis and approach to social work practice
- strengthen existing partnerships with community social service and health-related agencies through collaboration on field practicums, curriculum, and student placement opportunities
Program Entry
Students may enter the program from a Bachelor of Social Work or from a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) degree.
- The Bachelor of Social Work entry is a full-time, one-year professional graduate degree program offered to students with a first level social work degree from a university program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
- The Bachelor of Arts entry is a full-time, two-year professional graduate degree program offered to students with a complete undergraduate degree program (120 credit hours) from a recognized university and in the social sciences.
The application for the Master of Social Work Program opens on September 1. The deadline to apply is January 30.
Program Structure
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK ENTRY
The Master of Social Work program is a full-time, one-year, professional-based graduate degree program offered to students with a first level Social Work degree from a university program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
CASWE Standards for Accreditation recognizes a Bachelor of Social Work as providing students with knowledge and skills for generalist practice. CASWE distinguishes curriculum at the Master's level as providing provides knowledge and skills in research and scholarship, professional leadership, social work supervision, advanced practice and/or areas of specialization. The learning objectives for the MSW reflect an advanced level of knowledge and skills in selected major areas of social work practice.
The MSW at St. Thomas University focuses on advanced clinical practice with a structural lens providing students with:
- advanced theory and practice skills in professional leadership and social work supervision
- advanced direct practice skills development
The program’s objectives are consistent with the mission and social justice statements of St. Thomas University and its School of Social Work. Courses are based on the application of structural social work theory which places major emphasis on understanding the structural roots of personal and social problems. The program prepares social workers to analyze and challenge sites of privilege, as well as to assist individuals and groups experiencing the effects of marginalization and oppression.
The program consists of thirty-three credit hours:
- eight three-credit hour courses
- option of completing either a thesis or an advanced field practicum for an additional nine credit hours.
Thesis Option - 9 credit hours
The Master thesis must demonstrate mastery of advanced clinical social work practice located within the relevant literature. The thesis will be based on independent study and research which is of theoretical, historical, or empirical focus.
Advanced Practicum Option – 9 credit hours
The advanced field practicum requires the student to complete 450 hours of field practice experience where the focus is on specialized skills and knowledge in social work practice, as arranged by the School of Social Work.
Program Regulations
Students are accepted into the MSW on a full-time basis. There is a three-year limit (9 academic terms) to complete the degree requirements of 33 credit hours.
Fall Semester
SCWK 6013 Advanced Theory for Direct Practice I (3 cr)
SCWK 6053 Research and Evaluation in Social Work I (3 cr)
SCWK 6043 Advanced Theory for Social Policy (3 cr)
Elective Course (3 cr) Course may be taken within Social Work or in another unit.
Winter Semester
SCWK 6023 Advanced Theory for Direct Practice II (3 cr)
SCWK 6063 Research and Evaluation in Social Work II (3 cr)
SCWK 6033 Advanced Theory for Social Administration (3 cr)
SCWK 6093 Seminar for Research Proposal (Thesis Option) (3 cr)
Spring Semester
SCWK 6119 Field Education Seminar (Advanced Field Placement Option) (3 cr)
SCWK 6129 Advanced Field Placement (9 cr/450 hours)
SCWK 6129 Thesis (9 cr)
BACHELOR OF ARTS (SOCIAL SCIENCES) ENTRY
The Bachelor of Arts entry is a full-time, two-year professional graduate degree program offered to students with a complete undergraduate degree program (120 credit hours) from a recognized university and in the social sciences.
CASWE distinguishes curriculum at the Master's level as providing provides knowledge and skills in research and scholarship, professional leadership, social work supervision, advanced practice and/or areas of specialization. The learning objectives for the MSW reflect an advanced level of knowledge and skills in selected major areas of social work practice.
The MSW at St. Thomas University focuses on advanced clinical practice with a structural lens providing students with:
- advanced theory and practice skills in professional leadership and social work supervision
- advanced direct practice skills development
The program’s objectives are consistent with the mission and social justice statements of St. Thomas University and its School of Social Work. Courses are based on the application of structural social work theory which places major emphasis on understanding the structural roots of personal and social problems. The program prepares social workers to analyze and challenge sites of privilege, as well as to assist individuals and groups experiencing the effects of marginalization and oppression.
Program Structure – Foundational Classroom and Field Instruction
The two-year MSW program is comprised of a foundational year of studies in social work (30 credit hours), followed by one year of advanced social work course work in the Master of Social Work program.
The 30-credit hours foundation year of studies includes the following curriculum:
Semester 1 – Fall Term
SCWK 5116 Generalist Social Work Practice Skills (6 cr)
SCWK 5036 Theory for Social Work Practice (6 cr)
Semester 2 – Winter Term
SCWK 5313 Social Policy in the Canadian Context (3 cr)
SCWK 5943 Social Work Values and Ethics (3 cr)
SCWK 5013 Group Work in Action: A Structural Framework for Social Workers (3 cr)
Semester 3 – Spring Semester
SCWK 5059 Field Instruction (9 cr/450 hours)
Students in the first year of the program must successfully complete all course work with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be able to progress to the second year.
The program structure for the second year is the same as the one-year Master of Social Work.
Financial Aid
The MSW Program has been approved by the Canada Student Loans Program and full-time students may be eligible to access financial aid to support their studies. For further information, please see the loans section of the STU page.
The application for the Master of Social Work Program opens September 1. The deadline to apply is January 30.