Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)
Curriculum Guideline
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program, applicants must complete the following 30.00 credits:
- PSYC 1130 - Lifespan Human Development (or equivalent)*
- Any 3.00 credit ENGL university-transferable course
- 24.00 credits of university-transferable courses (non-social work courses)
*CFCS 1130 (Change and Development Lifespan) can be used in place of PSYC 1130; however, it only received University Transfer (UT) status in September 2018. If you completed CFCS 1130 from this date onward, you may use it towards your 30 UT credits to enter the BSW degree program. If you completed this course prior to September 2018, it does not count as a UT credit but you may use it as a course to fulfill the Lifespan requirement for the program.
Students must also complete the following:
- 100 hours of voluntary or paid work in the field of Human Services
- Two (2) letters of reference, one of which must be from a former supervisor in the Human Services field.
- A current resume.
- A letter of intent describing why the student wishes to enter the program and field of Social Work.
- A successful Criminal Record Check (information will be provided by Enrolment Services).
Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program is contingent upon:
- Availability of seats
- Applicant ranking
- Interview – required to ensure that students are suitable for Social Work practice and working within practicum placements where they will be working with vulnerable people.
Students who have completed a Community Social Service Work diploma or other credential, may be eligible to transfer into the Bachelor of Social Work program.
Graduation Requirements:
- Successful completion of 120 credits, including the Year I requirements completed as a part of the program admission:
- 30 University Transferable credits - A university transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC, (UBCV and UBCO), UNBC or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide
- A 3-credit course in Lifespan Human Development
- 40% (48 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- A program GPA of 2.00 is required
- In good academic standing
- Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: 10 years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.
Course Requirements (see note 1):
|
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credits |
|
Year II (see note 1) |
||
|
Introduction to Social Work Practice |
3.00 |
|
|
Introduction to Social Welfare |
3.00 |
|
|
Counselling: Theory and Practice I |
3.00 |
|
|
Family Systems Social Work |
3.00 |
|
|
Substance Misuse |
3.00 |
|
|
Social Work with Seniors |
3.00 |
|
|
Social Work Pratice: Mental Health |
3.00 |
|
|
Metropolitan Social Work Practice |
3.00 |
|
|
Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities |
3.00 |
|
|
ENGL elective |
ENGL 1130 or any UT ENGL course not previously taken |
3.00 |
|
Year III (see note 1) |
||
|
Social Work Theories and Perspectives |
3.00 |
|
|
Counselling: Theory and Practice II |
3.00 |
|
|
SOWK 3140 (see note 2) |
Practicum I |
4.50 |
|
Child Welfare Social Work |
3.00 |
|
|
Social Work with Indigenous People |
3.00 |
|
|
SOWK 3240 (see note 2) |
Practicum II |
4.50 |
|
UT Elective |
3000 or 4000 level UT elective from outside of Social Work |
3.00 |
|
UT Elective |
3000 or 4000 level UT elective from outside of Social Work |
3.00 |
|
UT Elective |
3000 or 4000 level UT elective from outside of Social Work |
3.00 |
|
Year IV (see note 1) |
||
|
Social Work Between Systems |
3.00 |
|
|
Research Methods in Social Work |
3.00 |
|
|
SOWK 4140 (see note 2) |
Practicum III |
4.50 |
|
Global Perspectives in Social Work |
3.00 |
|
|
Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Prevention |
3.00 |
|
|
Promoting Family and System Capacity |
3.00 |
|
|
SOWK 4240 (see note 2) |
Practicum IV |
4.50 |
|
UT Elective |
3000 or 4000 level UT elective from outside of Social Work |
3.00 |
|
UT Elective |
3000 or 4000 level UT elective from outside of Social Work |
3.00 |
|
|
Total Credits |
90.00 |
Notes:
1. The courses are listed in the year that they should be taken. If a student fails a course, then the student should communicate with the program coordinator about when to retake that course and how to progress in the following year.
2. Eligible students completing an International Field Placement may substitute AIST 3040 and AIST 3030 for SOWK 3140/3240 Practicum or SOWK 4140/4240 Practicum.
Other Credentials
Students might be interestested in pursuing the following credentials along with their Bachelor of Social Work degree at Douglas College.
Academic Foundation (Indigenous Studies)
Before entering the Bachelor of Social Work you might be interested in pursuing the Academic Foundation (Indigenous Studies). These courses would explore important aspects of Indigenous knowledge and culture to support your connection with Indigenous people and communities. Many positions within social work involve working with Indigenous people in direct practice settings, MCFD, and in broader areas of social policy. Within the profession there is an increasing need for social workers to be aware of Indigenous ways of being and to guide their relationships accordingly. The Academic Foundation (Indigeous Studies) can be used towards your 30 credits to enter the BSW degree and it must also include a university transfer Lifespan/Human Development course (Psyc 1130) or its equivalent.
NOTE: Before deciding on the courses to take as entry into the Bachelor of Social Work you should contact the Indigenous CAF Advisor and/or the Bachelor of Social Work Program Advisor.
Minor in Applied Psychology
The Minor in Applied Psychology lets you explore different avenues of interest while completing your BSW at Douglas College. The knowledge gained can add to your understanding of psychological principles and concepts when you are working with people in the social service sector. There is a breadth of courses available that can be applied to social work across a range of practice areas and client groups. You will take introductory courses along with your choice of five higher level psychology courses: Psychology and Law, Human Neuropsychology, Child Behaviour and Development, Social Cognition, Drugs and Behaviour, Counselling Skills Fundamentals, Lifespan Human Development, and more.
NOTE: For more detailed information about the Minor in Applied Psychology as it relates to your BSW degree please contact the Psychology Department and/or the Bachelor of Social Work Program Advisor.
Global Competency Certificate
During your studies as a BSW student you might be interested in working towards the Global Competency Certificate. This 15 credit credential will enhance your knowledge and skills about working across cultures in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. You will gain skills in critical thinking and intercultural communication while expanding your knowledge of different world views and lifestyles. You can complete this certificate along with your social work courses and apply these skills to working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds in a variety of social service settings.
NOTE: For more details about the Global Competency Certificate please contact the GCC Program Developer and/or the Bachelor of Social Work Program Advisor.
The Learning Outcomes for the BSW are designed in response to the needs of the Social Work profession to work as a generalist practitioner in the Metropolitan environment. Upon completing this program, the successful student will be able to:
- apply knowledge and skills to work with:
- families and children, those who are marginalized by poverty, mental health or substance misuse; and
- immigrants, indigenous people, and seniors;
- apply relevant critical-thinking, creative thinking and ethics in working with clients and as members of the inter-professional service teams; and
- develop academic skills to prepare them for graduate studies in the social work field.