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Liberal Arts and Professional Studies – Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW)

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School of Social Work

There are two points of admission to the bachelor of social work (BSW) degree: 1) direct entry and 2) post degree. 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, AP/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AP/SOWK 4001 6.00 consists of a field work component in an approved social work setting arranged by the school. Successful completion of the practicum includes the integrative seminar component. The practicum courses are graded as “credit/no credit.”

Note: AP/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AP/SOWK 4001 6.00 are exempt from the Senate Policy on Repeating Courses for Academic Credit. Students may only repeat AP/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AP/SOWK 4001 6.00 with permission of the school. Please refer to Senate policy for repeating of passed and failed courses at http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/policies/.

York University BSW Student Professional Behaviour Policy

The bachelor of social work (BSW) degree is an important determinant of eligibility for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Given the professional trajectory of the BSW degree, a professional standard of behaviour is expected from social work students. At issue in this policy is the protection of the public and the University’s role in graduating competent professionals.

Progression through the BSW program at the School of Social Work at York University is contingent on students’ behaviour meeting the ethical and behavioural standards set forth in the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (CASW), the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers Standards of Practice the York University Student Code of Conduct, and other relevant York University policies including but not limited to the Sexual Harassment Policy and the Policy Concerning Racism.

This policy recognizes the general responsibility of the faculty members of the School of Social Work to foster acceptable standards of professional behaviour and of the student to be mindful of and abide by such standards.

Behaviour that may Result in Withdrawal from the BSW Program

A student may be withdrawn from the BSW program if the student:

  1. Commits any breach of the CASW Code of Ethics, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers Standards of Practice, and/or any York University Policy that relates to student behaviour, such as the York University Student Code of Conduct or the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty that would engage the behavioural and ethical standards of the profession;
  2. Engages in any proscribed behaviour in a practicum agency as detailed in the School of Social Work’s Practicum Manual;
  3. Acquires a criminal conviction after being admitted to the program (or which was acquired prior to admission but became known only after having been admitted to the program) which jeopardizes the student’s ability to gain registration as a social worker; or
  4. Engages in behaviour that impairs the performance of professional responsibilities.

Jurisdiction

Allegations of a breach of professional behavioural or ethical standards by a student enrolled in the BSW degree program offered by the School of Social Work, York University shall be dealt with by the School of Social Work, York University in accordance with approved procedures.

Note: behavioural policy procedure information is available on the Senate website under archived Senate agendas-June 26, 2008, Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee report 6.2.2 at http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/.

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 field education manager, following a meeting with the student.

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

BSW Honours (Direct Entry): 120 Credits

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

Notes:

  1. Students are required to attain a minimum grade of C in all courses used in the major. Students who fail to meet this standard must repeat the course(s) in the next available session and are strongly advised to make an advising appointment with the School of Social Work.
  2. Of the 120 credits required for the degree at least 60 credits must be outside social work including the 24 general education credits and an additional 36 credits required outside the major.
  3. Students contemplating future graduate level studies should consider taking the majority of the courses required outside social work at the 3000 and 4000 level.
  4. For purposes of meeting program requirements, all nine-credit general education (foundation) courses will count as six credits towards the minor.

Residency requirement: a minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

Graduation requirement: students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.00 and a minimum grade of 4.00 in all major credits.

General education: a minimum of 21 general education credits as follows:

  • 6.00 credits in natural science (NATS)
  • a 9.00 credit approved general education course in the social science or humanities categories
  • a 6.00 credit approved general education course in the opposite category to the 9.00 credit course in social science or humanities already taken

Major credits: 60 credits in social work including:

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

Credits outside the major: at least 36 credits.

Practicum: successful completion of AP/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AP/SOWK 4001 6.00 including the integrative seminar component is a requirement in the BSW program.

BSW Honours Major/Minor (Direct Entry)

The Direct Entry Honours program in Social Work (BSW) may be pursued jointly with any Honours minor bachelor program that offers a major/minor option. Refer to programs of study.

Note: in a major/minor program, a course may count only once toward major credit or minor credit.

Student must complete at least 60 credits in the social work major and at least 30 credits in the minor in conformity with the requirements of the program minor. At least 12 credits in the major and at least six credits in the minor must be at the 4000 level. Refer to the BSW Honours (Direct Entry) program for social work major requirements.

Students are reminded that, in conformity with the requirements for the BSW Direct Entry degree program, they must complete a total of at least 36 credits outside the major. These credits include the requirements of the minor.

BSW Honours (Post-Degree): 120 Credits

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

Note: students who have completed the Certificate in Anti-Racist Research and Practice in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies 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: AP/MIST 3562 6.00, AP/MIST 3604 6.00, AP/MIST 3605 6.00, AP/MIST 3620 6.00 (cross-listed to: AP/POLS 3565 6.00), AP/MIST 3645 6.00, AP/MIST 3680 6.00. These courses must be passed at minimum grades of B.

Residency requirement: a minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

Graduation requirement: students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.00 and a minimum grade of 4.00 in all major credits.

General education: students who enter this program are deemed to have fulfilled this requirement.

Major credits: 54 credits

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

Practica: successful completion of AP/SOWK 4000 6.00 and AP/SOWK 4001 6.00 including the integrative seminar component is a requirement in the BSW program.

Credits outside the major: students who enter this program are deemed to have fulfilled this requirement.

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