Social Work - Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificates in Social Work serve as stand-alone credentials for practicing social workers with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, who seek formal professional development opportunities in their field.

These certificates also provide a flexible option to “ladder” to the MSW program. Students who complete the graduate certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice and one of the certificates in a specialization area are eligible to apply to the course-based MSW program. If accepted, students will receive credit for the 24 units of coursework completed in the two certificates.

Students must apply to the MSW (course-based) degree within five years from the beginning of their first graduate certificate in Social Work.

Certificates offered

Not all specialization topics are offered every year. Consult the Faculty of Social Work website for topics and residency locations

• Advanced Social Work Practice (ASWP)
• Clinical Social Work Practice (CSWP)
  • Specializations:
    • Adult Mental Health and Addictions
    • Individuals, Families and Group
    • Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
    • Trauma-Informed Practice
    • Community-Informed Practice for Health and Wellbeing
• International and Community Development (ICD)
  • Specializations:
    • International Social Development
    • Community Development
• Leadership in the Human Services (LHS)
  • Specialization:
    • The Practical and Transformational Leader
    • Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Leadership
• Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Mental Health and Addictions (APPLICATIONS FOR THIS CERTIFICATE ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED)​​​​​​​

Each certificate in the Specialization area addresses a particular topic (e.g., Trauma-Informed Practice, International Social Development, The Practical and Transformational Leader, etc.). Not all specialization topics are offered every year. Consult the Faculty of Social Work website for topics and residency locations.

Completing this program

• Courses: Each certificate consists of 12 units (four courses). Students must follow the prescribed sequence of courses for the Advanced Social Work Practice certificate or for their chosen Specialization topic.

Social workers practice in a wide range of settings supporting individuals, families, communities and organizations, including: hospitals/community health centers, mental health clinics, schools, non-profit/advocacy groups, government, social service/child welfare/family service agencies, correctional facilities, social housing, family courts, employee assistance programs, private counselling, and school boards.

Students who complete the graduate certificate in Advanced Social Work Practice and a certificate in one of the Specializations are eligible to apply to the Master of Social Work (course-based) program.