Social Work (BSW Program)

Dawn Hemingway, Professor Emerita
Glen Schmidt, Professor Emeritus

Tammy Pearson, Associate Professor and Chair
Indrani Margolin, Professor
Bruce Bidgood, Associate Professor
Susan Burke, Associate Professor
Heather Peters, Associate Professor
Si Chava Transken, Associate Professor
Lisa Kyle, Assistant Professor
Nancy Jokinen, Adjunct Professor

Website: www.unbc.ca/social-work

The School of Social Work offers a schedule of studies leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).

The Bachelor of Social Work is designed to prepare students for beginning-level generalized social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. The programs orientation places emphasis on Social Work in northern and remote areas, Indigenous peoples, women and the human services, and community practice and research. Analyses of class, gender and race relations are considered central to the School of Social Work. As mandated by its accrediting body, the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), and the relevant Social Work Codes of Ethics, Social Work at 蹤獲扞⑹ provides a professional program that prepares graduates with the intellectual, analytical, practical and professional skills needed to advocate for justice and equality and to promote beneficial change.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program is limited and is based on academic qualifications and available space. Students will normally complete 60 credit hours of study that includes a minimum of 48 credit hours of liberal arts and science courses. Students will  achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.67 (B-) (calculated on a students most recent 60 credit hours of study) and meet other selection criteria prior to program entry. More information about these criteria can be found in the BSW Supplementary Application for Admission form.

Students who have completed a social service worker program at a community college may be eligible for discretionary transfer credit.

The School of Social Work will permit up to three Social Work elective courses to be taken prior to formal admission to the BSW program. Successful completion of these courses does not guarantee admission into the program.

Students will be required to undergo a criminal records search prior to being admitted (see Academic Regulation on Criminal Records Review).

Students applying to the School of Social Work will have completed the following four BSW course prerequisites:

The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Introduction to Social Work Practice
Introduction to Social Welfare
Introduction to Women's Studies

Students applying to the School of Social Work with a Baccalaureate degree in a related discipline do not have to complete the four BSW course prerequisites.

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work program are required to withdraw from the Bachelor of Social Work program if they register a second fail in Social Work Field Education ( and/or ).

The minimum requirement for a Bachelor of Social Work is 120 credit hours.

Field Placements

Every effort will be made to secure appropriate field placements for students in the School of Social Work. However, the location and type of placement are subject to availability.

Costs Associated with the School of Social Work

Costs associated with study in the School of Social Work are the responsibility of the individual student, including transportation costs and any expenses involved in academic studies, lab, and field placement. In some circumstances, students may complete field experiences at sites other than their campus of registration. Provision for all travel, accommodation, and living expenses associated with field education is the sole responsibility of the student.

Standards of Professional Conduct

All students are expected to abide by professional standards as set forth by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) and the relevant Social Work Codes of Ethics. Violation of professional standards may result in suspension or dismissal from the program or the educational institution.

Academic Performance

Students must adhere to all policies and regulations of the institution(s) where they are registered for courses. This requirement includes but is not limited to matters related to academic appeals and academic dishonesty. Progression through the program is governed by guidelines on academic standing and continuance; however, probation guidelines are governed by 蹤獲扞⑹.

Students must obtain the minimum passing grade for all required Social Work courses as defined under Qualification for Degree. 

Students are required to withdraw from their respective Social Work programs if they have two instances of not meeting the minimum passing grade requirement either in the same Year or in two consecutive Years, in any combination of the following:

SOCW 300, SOCW 301, SOCW 302, SOCW 310, SOCW 320, SOCW 330, SOCW 336, SOCW 401, SOCW 402, SOCW 420 and SOCW 421.

A 'Year' is comprised of all the mandatory SOCW courses in a given Level (e.g. Year 3 includes all 300-level courses listed under the Upper-Division requirements in the Calendar) regardless of how long it takes the student to complete the courses.

Qualification for Degree

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that their degree requirements are met. Graduation requirements are found in the Regulations and Policies section of this Calendar. To fulfill the requirements of graduation, the student must also:

  • attain a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.33 (C+) on courses for credit towards the Social Work degree;
  • obtain a minimum passing grade of 2.00 (C) in every Social Work course for credit towards the degree (note: Students enrolling in any required course must have completed all prerequisites with a grade of C or better); and
  • complete all requirements for the BSW program within eight years of admission into the program or from the first Social Work course used for credit towards the degree.

Transfer Credit

All transfer credit for coursework taken prior to admission to the BSW program is evaluated, and applied at the time of initial registration in the program. After students have been admitted to the School of Social Work, coursework taken in other institutions for transfer credit towards the degree requires a letter of permission prior to the registration in the course.

Program Requirements

300 Level

Introduction to Counselling and Assessment Skills
Critical Social Work Practice
Social Work Field Education I
Social Work and Indigenous Peoples 
Critical Social Policy
Social Work Research/Policy/Practice
Social Work Philosophy and Ethics

400 Level

Northern/Remote Social Work Practice
Social Work Field Education II
Family/Child Welfare Policy
Human Growth and Development

Students must select an additional 9 credit hours of approved 400-level Social Work courses from the approved list.

Current Issues in Child Welfare Practice
Social Work with Groups and Communities
Social Work/Law and the Justice System
Social Work in Mental Health
Social Work and Substance Use
Social Work with Victims of Abuse
Social Work and Health Care
Social Work Critical Issues in Aging
Social Work and Family Practice
Social Work Practice and Spirituality
Disability Issues
Indigenous Governance and Social Policy 
Indigenous Wellness: Individuals, Families, and Communities
Special Topics
Directed Readings

Elective Requirement

Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.


漍漍漍Updated: July 29, 2024