Bachelor of Social Work

Program Description Transformative, collaborative and supportive education: it’s at the heart of what we do. The same qualities are at the heart of what social workers do when they work with families, provide support and transform lives in the communities where they live and work.

The Bachelor of Social Work—the first Edmonton-based social work degree, and only the second in Alberta—will enable our Social Work diploma students to continue their studies in their home institution. And they’ll learn from faculty who are engaged in research, blended learning and all areas of social work practice.

Focus on sustainability Unique to this degree is the focus on sustainability—how social, environmental and economic issues interrelate—and how we all fit in to the larger community. In addition, students enrolled in the program will be able to focus their study around one of five themes: sustainability, working with children and families, working with indigenous people (urban indigenous focus), health and mental health, and community social work practice.

CASWE Accreditation The Bachelor of Social Work has received accreditation status with the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) and the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) in the USA.

Field placement Providing students with practicum experience is an important component of the MacEwan University BSW. Practicum experiences provide students with the opportunity to learn the competencies associated with the social work profession. Practicum experiences take place in a wide variety of social work settings and students will be supervised by social work practitioners who have the capacity to provide a strong mentorship role. Through their practicum experience, students will integrate theory into practice and will be supported in developing a professional social work identity. During the practicum experience, students will be evaluated on a regular basis on their potential to be reliable and effective social work practitioners.