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Undergraduate Program (BSW)

The UBC Okanagan School of Social Work offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree that is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work. While all students receive a generalist professional foundation, some will choose the Child Welfare Concentration, or the Aging Concentration.

Prospective students, please click here.

The BSW curriculum emphasizes generalist social work practice. Common elements of generalist social work practice include: 

• A holistic, client-centered approach which focuses on the person in interaction with the environment
• A multi-theoretical assessment of the interrelatedness of individual, community and social problems
• A range of intervention strategies aimed at multiple levels of systems to enhance client well-being
• A knowledge and skill base which can be applied across a variety of client situations in diverse contexts and locations.1

(1 B.S. Sheafor, C.R. Horejsi, & G.A. Horejsi (1994) Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice.)

BSW Program Requirements

Third Year

• SOCW 301 Research & Evaluation
• SOCW 304 Social Work Field Practice
• SOCW 308 Law and Social Policy
• SOCW 310 Social Work Theory & Practice I
• SOCW 311 Social Work Theory & Practice II
• SOCW 340 Social Work Practice with Individuals
• SOCW 360 Social Work Practice with Groups
• Six credits of Electives*

Fourth Year

• SOCW 402 Social Work Field Practice
• SOCW 403 Generalist Social Work
• SOCW 450 Understanding Human Service Organizations
• SOCW 451 Social Work Practice in Communities
• SOCW 477 Family Practice
• SOCW 454 or SOCW 456
• Six Credits of Electives*

* Electives will be selected in consultation with a course advisor. A completed statistics course is required for the BSW degree.The statistics course cannot be counted towards an upper level social work credit.

Program Concentrations

For students looking for a more focused approach to social work, UBC Okanagan offers two programs designed to give graduates additional expertise in key areas of the Social Work profession: Child Welfare and Aging.    

Child Welfare Concentration

The Child Welfare Concentration prepares students for work in the area of child protection and child welfare. The Concentration requires completion of the courses listed below:

Required Courses

• SOCW 301 Research and Evaluation
• SOCW 302 Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Workers*
• SOCW 304 Social Work Field Practice
• SOCW 308 Law and Social Policy
• SOCW 310 Social Work Theory and Practice
• SOCW 311 Social Work Theory and Practice II
• SOCW 340 Social Work Practice with Individuals
• SOCW 360 Social Work Practice with Groups
• SOCW 402 Social Work Field Practice
• SOCW 403 Generalist Social Work Practice
• SOCW 408 Legal Skills for Social Workers
• SOCW 451 Social Work Practice in Communities
• SOCW 454 Human Service and Native People
• SOCW 476 Family and Child Welfare Policy
• SOCW 477 Family Practice
• SOCW 478 Family and Child Welfare Practice

*It is recommended that the statistics requirement be completed prior to admission.

Plus two of the following four courses:

• SOCW 357 Social Work Practice and Disability Issues
• SOCW 362 Mental Health and Social Work Practice
• SOCW 468 Substance Misuse and Dependency
• SOCW 469 Family Violence and Social Work Practice

Aging Concentration 

The Aging Concentration prepares students for the growing field of gerontological social work. The Aging Concentration requires completion of the courses listed below including a fourth year practicum in aging, as approved by the School of Social Work.

Required Courses

• SOCW 301 Research and Evaluation
• SOCW 302 Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Workers *
• SOCW 304 Social Work Field Practice
• SOCW 308 Law and Social Policy
• SOCW 310 Social Work Theory and Practice
• SOCW 311 Social Work Theory and Practice II
• SOCW 340 Social Work Practice with Individuals
• SOCW 360 Social Work Practice with Groups
• SOCW 402 Social Work Field Practice (in Aging)
• SOCW 403 Generalist Social Work Practice
• SOCW 450 Understanding Human Service Organizations
• SOCW 451 Social Work Practice in Communities
• SOCW 454 or SOCW 456
• SOCW 465 Direct Practice with Older Persons and their Families
• SOCW 466 Indirect Practice with Older Persons and their Families
• SOCW 477 Family Practice

*It is recommended that the statistics requirement be completed prior to admission.

Plus two of the following four courses:

• SOCW 357 Social Work Practice and Disability Issues
• SOCW 362 Mental Health and Social Work Practice
• SOCW 468 Substance Misuse and Dependency
• SOCW 469 Family Violence and Social Work Practice

General Requirements

Criminal Record Checks

Prior to the start of classes, all admitted students must present a criminal record check completed by the Solicitor General of BC no more than three months prior to the start of term.

Applicants and students who have a criminal record may have their offer of admission withdrawn or be required to withdraw from the program. Failure to submit the required documentation by the specified deadline may result in the withdrawal of an offer of admission.

Prior to participation in any community-based programming, all students must present either 1) a current criminal record check completed by the Solicitor General of BC no more than three months prior to the date of course initiation, or 2) a ‘Criminal Record Check Statutory Declaration’ confirming that no changes have occurred relative to the criminal record check on file with the School.

Information on the application process for criminal record checks can be found here.

Practicums

Practicums are an essential part of the professional education of our Social Work students. Students are expected to complete practicum placements in both years of the program.  The practicum is based on a partnership model in which the student, the agency and the school work collaboratively in the interests of the student's field learning. Participatory and cooperative learning with fellow students is encouraged in order to broaden exposure to the range of placement experiences and practice issues.

Students in their third year practicum are required to accumulate 315 hours, typically in 45 seven hour work days (not including lunch). In early January, students are in placement three days a week, normally Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Most third year students complete their placements in mid-April.

Students in their fourth year practicum are required to accumulate 420 hours, typically in 60 seven hour work days (not including lunch). Students are in placement four days a week, normally Mondays through Thursdays starting the beginning of January. Most fourth year students complete their placements by mid-April.

Part Time Study

Part time study is an option for all students attending the Social Work Program and is encouraged for any student hoping to continue working while taking the program.  

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Last reviewed 9/21/2011 10:03:55 PM

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