Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Program code
BSOWK
Discontinued
No
Program
Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Social Work
Credential type
Bachelor's Degree
Transcript title
Bachelor of Social Work
Date of first offering
Start term
202530
End term
Not Specified
Credential
Bachelor of Social Work
Length of program
Four years
Credits
120.00
Admissions requirements

Applicants must meet the admissions requirements listed below:

  • Completion of a minimum of 30.00 university transferable (UT) credits including the following:
    • PSYC 1130 - Lifespan Human Development or equivalent (note 1)
    • Any 3.00 credit ENGL university-transferable course
    • 24.00 credits of university-transferable courses (non-social work courses)
  • The following are required to determine suitability for the program:
    • 50 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 Criminal Record Check (information will be provided by Enrolment Services following an offer of admission into the program).

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.

Notes:

  1. CFCS 1130 (Change and Development Lifespan) can be used to satisfy the PSYC 1130 Lifespan requirement.  However, if CFCS 1130 was completed prior to September 2018, an additional 3 university transferable (UT) credits would be required to satisfy the 30 UT credits for admission into the program.
  2. 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.
Curriculum framework

Graduation Requirements:

  • Successful completion of 120.00 credits, including the Year I requirements completed as a part of the program admission:
    • 30.00 University Transferable credits including a 3.00-credit course in Lifespan Human Development. (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.)
  • 40% (48.00 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.
  • Up to 50% (60.00 credits) of coursework used towards a previously received credential can be used to meet graduation requirements (see the Credentials Awarded Policy).

Course Requirements (see note 1):

Course Number

Course Title

Credits

Year II (see note 1)

SOWK 2100

Introduction to Social Work Practice

3.00

SOWK 2200

Introduction to Social Welfare

3.00

SOWK 2122

Counselling: Theory and Practice I

3.00

SOWK 2333

Family Systems Social Work

3.00

SOWK 2360

Substance Misuse

3.00

SOWK 2362

Social Work with Seniors

3.00

SOWK 2363

Social Work Pratice: Mental Health

3.00

SOWK 2400

Metropolitan Social Work Practice

3.00

SOWK 2422

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)

SOWK 3100

Social Work Theories and Perspectives

3.00

SOWK 3122

Counselling: Theory and Practice II

3.00

SOWK 3140 (see note 2)

Practicum I

4.50

SOWK 3233

Child Welfare Social Work

3.00

SOWK 3250

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)

SOWK 4100

Social Work Between Systems

3.00

SOWK 4160

Research Methods in Social Work

3.00

SOWK 4140 (see note 2)

Practicum III

4.50

SOWK 4260

Global Perspectives in Social Work

3.00

SOWK 4133

Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Prevention

3.00

SOWK 4233

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.

3) Students might be interestested in pursuing the following credentials along with their Bachelor of Social Work degree at Douglas College. Before entering the Bachelor of Social Work you might be interested in pursuing the Academic Foundation (Indigenous Studies). The Minor in Applied Psychology lets you explore different avenues of interest while completing your BSW at Douglas College. During your studies as a BSW student you might be interested in working towards the Global Competency Certificate (GCC). For more details about how to take advantage of these programs, please talk with a Student Success Advisor, the BSW program coordinator, and for the GCC program, the GCC Program Developer.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, the successful student will be able to:

  • apply knowledge and skills to work with:
    • families and children, those who are systemically vulnerable due to 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.