Cape Breton University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is designed to prepare the next generation of social workers with practice-ready skills to address social and systemic inequities. In response to pressing socio-economic crises and healthcare challenges, the BSW program uses a trauma-informed lens which emphasizes bio-psycho-social determinants of health, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and decolonization of social work practice, generational dimensions of poverty and addiction and culturally safe practices and care.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) curriculum is relevant to practice across Nova Scotia and beyond wherever rural, Indigenous and de-industrialize communities are found and intersect.
An accelerated 16-month program pre-accredited through the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE), the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program adheres to the core learning objectives of CAWSE while maintaining the commitments to an inclusive and supportive learning environment that enables ongoing self-reflection and the integration of theory, research and practice through hands-on learning experiences. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program offers opportunities for intra-professional collaboration and aims to thoughtfully prepare practice ready social workers for the profession. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is delivered full-time, on campus with the exception of two field practicums.
Completion of an undergraduate degree is required for admission into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.
Academic Program Regulations for Bachelor of Social Work
The structure of this degree program will require the completion of 60 credits over four terms.
Completion of an undergraduate degree is required for admission into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program.
Term 1 Fall (15 credits)
SWRK-4201 – Foundations of Social Work (3 credits)
SWRK-4203 – Social Policy and Social Welfare in Canada (3 credits)
SWRK-4204 – Human Behaviour in Social Environments I (3 credits)
SWRK-4205 – Decolonizing Social Work: A Two-Eyed Seeing Perspective (3 credits)
SWRK-4206 – Diversity & Oppression (3 credits)
Term 2 Winter (15 credits)
SWRK-4207 – Generalist Social Work Practice I (3 credits)
SWRK-4208 – Child Welfare Policy and Strengths-Based Approaches to Child Welfare (3 credits)
SWRK-4209 – Human Behaviour in Social Environments II (3 credits)
SWRK-4890 – Field Practicum I -250 hours (6 credits)
Term 3 Spring (15 credits)
SWRK-4211 – Generalist Social Work Practice II (3 credits)
SWRK-4213 – Social Justice & Advocacy (3 credits)
SWRK-4214 – Community Engaged Research (3 credits)
SWRK-4215 – Organizations & Community Practice (3 credits)
CHOOSE ONE ELECTIVE (3 credits)
SWRK-4505 – Indigenous People’s Psychology: Holistic Health and Healing (3 credits)
SWRK-4504 – Applied Mental Health Support (3 credits)
SWRK-4533 – Issues in Children’s Rights (3 credits)
Term 4 Fall (15 credits)
SWRK-4899 – Field Practicum II- 450 hours (9 credits)
SWRK-4893 – Field Practicum Seminar (3 credits, dual mode)
CHOOSE ONE ONLINE ELECTIVE (3 credits)
SWRK-4507 – Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Healing (3 credits)
SWRK-4508 – Mental Health Promotion in Social Work (3 credits)
SWRK-4506 – Gerontology -Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Aging (3 credits)
Embedded Certificate Options
Embedded certificate options (15 credits) in Mental Health Promotion in Social Work or Indigenous Perspectives in Social Work are achieved by bundling identified electives in Terms 3 & 4 with final field placement in a related area of practice (SWRK-4899).
Mental Health Promotion in Social Work (15 credits)
SWRK-4504 – Applied Mental Health Support (3 credits)
SWRK-4508 – Mental Health Promotion in Social Work (3 credits)
SWRK-4899 – Field Practicum II- 450 hours (9 credits)
Indigenous Perspectives in Social Work (15 credits)
SWRK-4505 – Indigenous People’s Psychology: Holistic Health and Healing (3 credits)
SWRK-4507 – Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Healing (3 credits)
SWRK-4899 – Field Practicum II- 450 hours (9 credits)
Grade Requirements and Failure to Progress:
The pass mark in all social work courses is 65%.
Students who fail to meet the pass mark in social work courses will be designated as a Failure to Progress (FTP). A student who fails to progress may be permitted to repeat the course/courses the next time it is offered in the timetable or through a tutorial. A student can receive the maximum of two failures to progress before being dismissed from the program.
Field Practicum is a Pass/Fail course and is exempt from tutorial requests. Failure of Field Practicum I or II may result in dismissal from the program.
If a student is dismissed from the program, they may reapply to the program after one year. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed. If a student is readmitted to the BSW program, and a subsequent failure to progress transpires, the student will be permanently dismissed from the program with no option for reapplication.
Internal and External transfer credits
External Transfer
CBU welcomes all students, past, and current with an interest in continuing their education. If you have completed social work courses at another accredited and recognized post-secondary institution, you may be able to transfer those courses to CBU. Credit from other Field Practicum courses cannot be transferred in to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at CBU.
In order to be eligible for admission into the BSW program, students must have completed an undergraduate degree (minimum of a 90-credit degree). A maximum of 6-12 credits of social work courses may be considered toward the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program.
Due to the unique nature of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) curriculum as it relates to rural and indigenous competencies, students may not be able to transfer credits from another institution’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. Transfer credit will be given on a case-by-case basis as deemed appropriate by the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program Director in consultation with the Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
Internal Transfer
Current students enrolled at CBU may also be eligible to transfer internal credits in a situation where a CBU student has taken a cross-listed undergraduate course which is part of the BSW curriculum. A maximum of 6 credits may be considered for transfer. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program Director in consultation with the Dean and Registrar’s Office and may involve additional academic or financial requirements.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements and standards for this program include:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree (minimum of a 90-credit degree) and submission of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Minimum 70% average within the last 30 credits*
- Submission of Personal Statement which describes the applicant’s interest in social work
- Submission of Work and Volunteer Experience
- Three reference letters: one academic, two professional references
- Applications will be screened during the admissions process and selected applicants will move forward to an interview
Indigenous, African-Nova Scotian, and equity-seeking applicants will be invited to self-identify in their Personal Statement as part of the program’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Indigenous and African-Nova Scotian applicants who self-identify may choose to apply under a specialized Indigenous & African Nova Scotian admission stream. All applicants within this stream will be forwarded directly to the interview phase of the application process provided they have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university and have submitted all required application materials.
*Individuals with a grade average below 70% will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Admission for this program is only open to domestic students at this time.
Admission Criteria
|
Grade average of most recent 30 credits |
15% |
|
References |
15% |
|
Work and Volunteer Experience |
20% |
|
Personal Statement |
25% |
|
Interview |
25% |
For more information about the program, admission requirements or general questions, please email socialwork@cbu.ca.