Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program provides students with the required knowledge and qualifications for educational advancement and employment opportunities in the social services sector. The BSW prepares students seeking to extend their education for admittance to graduate studies in Social Work, and it prepares students for a variety of careers, including achieving membership as professional Social Workers.

The Bachelor of Social Work program ensures students are qualified to carry out and promote the enhancement of social development services while critically evaluating the accessibility and equity of these services. The program also gives students the chance to immerse themselves in their education through extensive field training and experiential education at partnering locations. Through the program, students acquire written and verbal communication skills, intercultural communication skills, research and information literacy skills, as well as ecologically sustainable and anti-racist values.

Combined, these skillsets provide a holistic understanding of historical and current cultural equity issues in the social work profession, including the effects of colonialism on Indigenous peoples, ongoing anti-Black racisim, oppressive and harmful actions towards 2SLGBTQ+ community members, and the structural inequality of Francophone cultures.

These skills will promote the development of students' professional practice and identity. Furthermore, the field education component of the prgram allows students to engage with practicing social workers, individuals, families, and groups to encourage organizational and societal change through future policy development.

Planning

Before beginning the BSW program, interested students must complete 60ch of undergraduate studies, and it is recommended that students take the following courses or approved equivalents:

  • HUM 1021 Effective Writing I or 3 ch courses designated with an English writing component
  • POLS 1201 Introduction to Canadian Politics
  • PSYC 1003 Introduction to Psychology I and PSYC 1004 Introduction to Psychology II
  • SOCI 1001 Introduction to Sociology, and an additional 3ch of 1000- or 2000-level Sociology
  • SWRK 2001: Introduction to Social Work
  • One of :
    • INDG 1002 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
    • HIST 2514 Colonialism and Indigenous Peoples in America
    • HIST 2515 Indigenous Peoples in North America since 1800
    • SOCI 2008 Sociological Approaches for Understanding Indigenous Experiences

Students should refer to Section B for the full list of Admission Requirements.

Program requirements

Students accepted into the program will have already completed 60ch of undergraduate studies. These count towards the minimum 132ch required for the Bachelor of Social Work. The remaining 72ch involves 700 hours of Field Education* completed through 4 courses: SWRK 3005 Field Education I, SWRK 3505 Field Education II, SWRK 4005 Field Education III, and the SWRK 4607 Community Capstone Project.

*A criminal record check is not required to complete the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of New Brunswick, although one may be required for specific placements with the Field Education component.

To successfully obtain the BSW degree, students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher:

  • SWRK 3001 Issues in Social Work (3ch)
  • SWRK 3002 Intercultural Safety & Communications (3ch)
  • SWRK 3003 Social Work History and Ethics (3ch)
  • SWRK 3005 Field Education I (6ch)
  • SWRK 3505 Field Education II (6ch)
  • SWRK 3704 Wellbeing for Care Providers (3ch)
  • SWRK 4003 Family and Child Welfare (3ch)
  • SWRK 4005 Field Education III (12ch)
  • SWRK 4505 Special Topics in Social Work (3ch)
  • SWRK 4607 Community Capstone Project (3ch)
  • SWRK 4706 Indigenous Policy and Legislation (3ch)
  • POLS 3231 Representation and Recognition in Canadian Politics (3ch)
  • POLS 4216 Politics of Sustainability (3ch)
  • PSYC 3362 Introduction to Guidance and Counselling (3ch)
  • SOCI 3104 Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (3ch)
  • SOCI 4026 Social Policy in Canada (3ch)
  • 9ch of recommended electives.

Recommended electives