Social Work
Dean: Dr. Peter Donahue
Associate Dean(s): Dr. David Delay (Graduate Programs & Research); Dr. Rusty Souleymanov (Undergraduate Programs)
Campus Address/General Office: 521 Tier Building
Telephone: 204-474-7050
Fax: 204-474-7594
Email Address: social_work@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/social-work/
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Social Work website for Faculty information.

Master of Social Work Program Information

The Master of Social Work program structure ensures that students have the knowledge and skills required to meet accreditation standards while continuing to allow for specialization. The program offers students flexibility in designing a program that meets their learning objectives.

The M.S.W. is an advanced specialized degree built upon the more generalist B.S.W. degree. Considerable attention is given to issues of educational equity. In addition to treating these matters as course content, every effort is made to ensure that people from marginalized groups have access to the M.S.W. program. 

The purpose of this initiative is to achieve equity in professional education so that no person shall be denied educational opportunities or benefit for reasons unrelated to ability. In fulfilment of this goal, the aim is to correct the conditions of disadvantage in professional education experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples in Canada, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees to Canada, LGBTTQ and persons who are members of a visible minority in Canada. Educational equity does not mean treating people in the same way. It also requires overt measures and the accommodation of difference while maintaining a particular focus on the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous peoples.

Note: The M.S.W. program is not offered through Distance Delivery.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

M.S.W. Admission Requirements

Students must meet the following requirements:

• Possession of a B.S.W. degree (convocated) or a minimum of a four-year undergraduate degree other than a B.S.W. (convocated) by June 30 of the application year, from an accredited program or its equivalent, which is recognized by the University of Manitoba.
• A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 (B) is required in the last 60 credit hours of university study.
• If courses have been taken subsequent to the degree as a Special Student and/or Occasional Student and/or in a subsequent degree or a Pre-Master program, they will be calculated into the Grade Point Average as part of the last 60 credit hours.
• Applicants who self-identify as members of one or more of the Educational Equity priority groups, and who possess a Grade Point Average between 2.5 and 2.99, will be reviewed for special consideration. Applicants with Grade Point Averages below 2.5 will not be considered.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the M.S.W. program of study page.

Degree Requirements
Advanced M.S.W. Program

The credit hour requirement is 27 credit hours in the course-based option and 24 credit hours in the thesis option. Students may take the M.S.W. program on a full-time or part-time basis. 

The program requires at least 12-18 months of full-time study (students who choose the thesis option may require more time depending on the nature of their research).

Expected Time to Graduate: 2-4 years

Advanced Course Requirements

All Advanced MSW students must:

• complete four core courses (12 credit hours)
• complete additional specialized social work courses (9 credit hours)
• complete 3 credit hours of electives (which may be taken with Social Work or other departments)

Students choose either the course-based option, which includes the completion of SWRK 7180 and SWRK 7190, or the thesis option (GRAD 7000). Students completing a thesis must complete at least one course from the research cluster.

Core Courses

Advanced Progression Chart

Course Requirements

All students must:

• complete the four core courses (12 credit hours)
• complete additional specialized social work courses (9 credit hours)
• complete 3 credit hours of electives (which may be taken with Social Work or other departments)

Students choose either the course-based option, which includes the completion of SWRK 7180 and SWRK 7190, or the thesis option (GRAD 7000). 

Specialized Courses

Note: Not all courses may be offered annually.

Foundation M.S.W. Program

Students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree, but do not have a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree from an accredited program or its equivalent, will be admitted into the first and foundation year of the M.S.W. program.

This first year will be 18 credit hours of foundation level courses and 6 credit hours of field work. To complete and receive the M.S.W. degree, students must complete both the year one foundation level courses and the year two advanced level courses of the M.S.W. Program.

The program requires at least one year of full-time study to complete the foundation level courses and at least another 12-18 months of full-time study for the advanced level courses of the M.S.W. Program (students who choose the thesis option may require more time depending on the nature of their research).

SWRK 7006 (Field Practice) cannot be waived under any circumstances. All students admitted into the Year One Foundation Level must complete the field placement. All foundation MSW courses and the field practice of the foundation year must be completed before students register into the year two advanced level MSW courses or the M.S.W.-IK courses.

Expected Time to Graduate: 2-4 years

Foundation Course Requirements

All Foundation MSW students must:

• complete 4 courses (18 credit hours)
• complete field practice (6 credit hours)

Foundation Progression Chart

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

All students must:

• complete four courses (18 credit hours)
• complete field practice (6 credit hours)

Note: Not all courses may be offered annually. 

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

Students must meet with their faculty advisor to select and approve the courses before registering.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

• GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
• GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

• maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Social Work