Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW) - Atkinson

School of Social Work
Contact: Hugh Shewell

There are two points of admission to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree: 1) full-time, direct entry and 2) part-time, post degree. Admissions and program required are noted below. If further information is required, students should contact the School of Social Work.

The bachelor of social work program prepares students for professional social work. Successful practice experience is an essential requirement in the social work degree program. The 700-hour practicum, AK/SOWK 4000 6.00, and AK/SOWK 4001 6.00 consists of a field work component in an approved social work setting arranged by the school.

School of Social Work Regulation on Involuntary Withdrawal

A student may be required to withdraw from a course if:

1. The student fails to meet the requirements of the course, either through unsatisfactory seminar and/or practicum attendance/participation, or through unprofessional behaviour in fulfilling course requirements; or

2. the student's performance is judged to disrupt the functioning of the practicum site and/or jeopardize the well-being of clients of the practicum site, and/or demonstrates unprofessional behaviour at the practicum site.

The decision to require the student to withdraw will be taken by the Director of the School of Social Work on the recommendation of the course director and/or the Practicum coordinator, following a meeting with the student.

Students will have access to the usual appeal procedures in such instances.

BSW (Honours) (Direct Entry):

Students who wish to complete their degree (Direct Entry) in four years are required to complete 30 credits per year.

Admission Requirements:

(i) a minimum of six OAC credits or equivalent,

(ii) must meet the Atkinson minimum grade requirement for admission (set yearly),

(iii) transfer students must satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to Atkinson, and

(iv) successful completion of the School of Social Work Supplementary Application.

Degree Requirements

1. At least 120 credits including:

(a) General Education: 24 general education requirements. See general education requirements in the Degree Requirements section.

(b) Major: 60 credits including:

• AK/SOWK 1010 6.00
• AK/SOWK 2030 6.00
• AK/SOWK 2050 6.00
• AK/SOWK 3041 3.00
• AK/SOWK 3060 6.00
• AK/SOWK 3070 3.00
• AK/SOWK 3110 3.00
• 12 credits at the 3000 level or above including three credits at the 4000 level chosen from AK/SOWK non-core courses
• AK/SOWK 4020 3.00
• AK/SOWK 4000 6.00 (Practicum course)
• AK/SOWK 4001 6.00 (Practicum course)

At least 18 credits in the major must be at the 4000 level.

(c) Electives:

• 36 credits electives outside social work, of which 18 credits must be at the 3000 level or above.

2. Residency Requirement: At least 30 credits not used toward another academic program are to be taken at York University. Half the major credits must be taken through Atkinson.

3. Graduation: A cumulative grade point average of 5.0 (C+) and a major grade point average of 6.0 (B) including a minimum grade of C+ (5.0) in all courses used in the major.

Practica: AK/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AK/SOWK 4001 6.00 are graded as: "pass/fail". Successful completion of the practica, as indicated by achieving a "pass" grade is a requirement in the BSW program.

BSW (Honours) (Post Degree):

Students admitted to the BSW (Post Degree) are automatically granted 66 transfer credits.

Normally students have a maximum of five years to complete the BSW (Post Degree).

Admission Requirements:

(i) a university degree or equivalent,

(ii) successful completion of the School of Social Work Supplementary Application.

Degree Requirements

1. Major Requirements: 54 credits including:

• AK/SOWK 2030 6.00
• AK/SOWK 2050 6.00
• AK/SOWK 3041 3.00
• AK/SOWK 3060 6.00
• AK/SOWK 3070 3.00
• AK/SOWK 3110 3.00
• AK/SOWK 4020 3.00
• AK/SOWK 4000 6.00 (Practicum course)
• AK/SOWK 4001 6.00 (Practicum course)
• 12 credits at the 2000 level or above including three credits at the 4000 level chosen from social work non-core courses.

2. Residency Requirement: At least 30 credits not used toward another academic program are to be taken at York University. Half the major credits must be taken through Atkinson.

3. Graduation: A cumulative grade point average of 5.0 (C+) and a major grade point average of 6.0 (B) including a minimum grade of C+ (5.0) in all courses used in the major.

Practica: AK/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AK/SOWK 4001 6.00 are graded as: "pass/fail". Successful completion of the practica, as indicated by achieving a "pass" grade is a requirement in the BSW program.

Note 1: Students in the final year of an undergraduate degree program can apply to the School of Social Work; however, the bachelor of social work program cannot be commenced until the first degree has been completed.

Note 2: Students in a BA degree program can take up to 24 social work credits to fulfill their BA degree requirements. The courses available to BA degree students are: AK/SOWK 2000 6.00, AK/SOWK 2030 6.00, AK/SOWK 2050 6.00, AK/SOWK 3060 6.00, AK/SOWK 3070 3.00 and AK/SOWK 3110 3.00. BA degree students cannot take AK/SOWK 3041 3.00 or any 4000 level social work courses.

Note 3: The attention of students is drawn to the BA in sociology with a Stream in the sociology of gender and families.

Students who have completed the sociology major in Atkinson with a Stream in the sociology of gender and families and who are subsequently accepted into the social work program will be eligible to count up to 12 credits in sociology towards the social work major. These courses must be passed at minimum grades of B and shall be selected from: AK/SOCI 3880 3.00 (cross-listed to: AK/AS/SC/PSYC 3480 3.00); AK/SOCI 3420 6.00; AK/SOCI 3450 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/SOSC 3601 3.00); AK/SOCI 3550 3.00 (cross-listed to: AK/SOSC 3602 6.00); AK/SOCI 3640C 6.00; AK/SOCI 3820 6.00, AK/SOCI 3830 6.00, AK/SOCI 3850 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/POLS 3562 6.00, AK/SOSC 3620 6.00), AK/SOCI 3860 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/SOSC 3730 6.00).

Note 4: Students who have completed the Certificate in Anti-Racist Research and Practice in Atkinson and who are subsequently accepted into the Social Work Program will be eligible to count up to two of the following courses (12 credits) towards the social work major: AK/SOCI 3620 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/POLS 3620 6.00), AK/SOCI 3640C 6.00, AK/SOCI 3604 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/SOSC 3604 6.00), AK/SOCI 3640G 6.00, AK/SOCI 3640H 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/SOSC 3605 6.00), AK/SOCI 3680 6.00 (cross-listed to: AK/POLS 3680 6.00 and AK/SOSC 3680 6.00). These courses must be passed at minimum grades of B.

• Rules and Regulations in the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies
• Courses offered in Social Work