Service social

Working holistically while recognizing and advancing human rights, you will have the opportunity to respond to those in need in order to promote social change and justice.

Build on your knowledge and experience in direct or indirect social work practice and social welfare analysis, reflecting the interests, resources, population, and social conditions of Northern Ontario.

Complete the program with a combination of coursework and a 450-hour placement or a thesis project.

Benefit from an academically challenging environment, small class sizes, and wonderful opportunities to work closely with faculty members and peers.

The regulations of the School of Graduate Studies apply unless otherwise stipulated. The deadline for applications is January 15, preceding the fall registration period. Enrolment is limited. New students are admitted to the program for September intake.

Academic Requirements
The normal academic requirement for admission is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a university recognized by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), with a 75% average (or better) in their undergraduate study.
Exceptional circumstances: Candidates who hold a four-year degree in a discipline related to social work, with above-average (80%+) grades, and at least five years of professional experience in the human services, will also be considered for admission. In cases where admission is granted on exceptional grounds, students may be required to successfully complete specified undergraduate courses in practice theory, social policy, or research methods, prior to registering in graduate courses in the same area.
Candidates for admissions are ranked on the basis of academic performance (grades), professional experience (range and depth of activity / professional accomplishment / community involvement), personal qualities (self-direction / leadership ability), and research orientation (intellectual focus, clarity, and fit in relation to program strengths and university mission). Rankings are determined by an admissions committee on the basis of university transcripts, personal statements, letters of reference, and resume/curriculum vitae. Admission decisions cannot be appealed.

 
Application Process
Step 1. Click here to submit the online application. Once students have applied, they will receive instructions (typically within 48 hours) from the Office of Admissions leading them to the MyLaurentian portal. Students can access the portal at my.laurentian.ca; sign-in credentials will be provided in the correspondence received from the Office of Admissions upon successful completion of an application. The following documents will be required in order to complete an application.

Documents:

• Three Reference Forms (to begin the process at my.laurentian.ca click on "Reference Submission" on the left-hand navigation menu)
• Applicant essay (to be uploaded via MyLaurentian) - see below for instructions
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume (to be uploaded via MyLaurentian)
• Official Academic Transcript(s) from all post secondary studies* (Please note that current or prior Laurentian University students do not need to request transcripts) 

*Please note that official transcripts or WES course-by-course (for institutions attended outside of North America) must come directly to the Office of Admissions from the previous post secondary institution by requesting at the time of your application or by contacting the institution's Registrar's Office.

Step 2. Once the Admissions Office receives all information and the application is deemed complete, the application will be forwarded to the department.  An Admissions Committee meets to review the applications.

Step 3. The Admissions Committee will review all applications on file and make a decision regarding the suitability of each applicant.  The Admissions Committee will then make a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Laurentian University. The Graduate Studies office will verify the dossier and if satisfactory, the Dean of Graduate Studies will forward the recommendation to the Office of Admissions at Laurentian University for admission.

Step 4: If approved for admission, the Office of Admissions will send the student an Offer of Admission via MyLaurentian.  Applicants wishing to accept the offer of admission must indicate their response on MyLaurentian within 3 weeks of receiving the offer. Once the student has accepted the offer, a transition to the registration process occurs.

Applicant Essay
All applicants are required to submit an essay of up to 2,000 words. As used in the admissions process, this essay is viewed as one measure of the applicant's conceptual abilities and expository writing skills. For those admitted to the program, it serves as an initial indication of the applicant's expectations regarding specialization and general topic for the master's thesis or advanced practicum project. In your essay, please address the following:

• What, from your socio-cultural perspective, do you bring to social work?
• What contribution to you see yourself making to social work in northern communities? (please include any innovative notions you may have in this regard)
• Carefully read the description of the M.S.W. program and outline of courses. Indicate your current preference for a thesis or advanced practicum. As specifically as you can, explain what topic might you consider for a research thesis or advanced practicum. What are your thoughts on how you would go about accomplishing this project?

Your essay will be evaluated carefully by the Admissions Committee for clarity, specificity, conceptualization, and feasibility.

Qualifying Year
Applicants with work experience who do not have the academic background necessary for admission directly into the M.S.W. program may be considered for a qualifying year program, which is tailored to their individual circumstances. Upon successful completion of the qualifying year program, students will be eligible to apply for admission to the M.S.W. program.
In addition to selected core courses in the undergraduate program, for example, social work policy, research, theory/practice courses (see B.S.W. course descriptions), qualifying year students may be required to complete the following:

• SWRK-4705EL - Field III This 450-hour field placement is intended for students enrolled in the qualifying of the Master of Social Work program. It is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to apply theory to practice and acquire the skills and knowledge required for a graduate program. (exp. 450) (6 credits)

What do Social Workers do?

Work in schools, hospitals, mental health agencies, with children and youth, in addiction treatment, crisis intervention, and violence against women programs, and in the areas of community development, social policy, corrections, disability services, and gerontology.

Graduates can rest assured knowing there is a multitude of career options they can explore post-graduation. Many of these careers can be found in the public and private sector.