Social Work

Carleton’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a four-year Honours degree that places strong emphasis on the interactions between people and their environments, and looks at innovative ways of helping individuals, families and communities cope with a rapidly changing world. Our program is geared towards those who enjoy working with diverse populations and have strong interests in promoting social justice. The program will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for working sensitively with both individuals and groups and for critically analyzing social policies and programs that affect the lives of people in our society.

The BSW program combines a liberal arts education with a professional social work education. In first year, you will take a range of courses outside of social work and one main social work course which introduces you to the profession of social work and the programs and policies that comprise the welfare state.

In second year, you will be introduced to the basic theoretical frameworks that underlie social work. This will include ideas and concepts from the social sciences, including sociology, psychology, political science and economics, with an emphasis placed on understanding the impact of race, gender and class on people’s lives. In addition, you will explore the history and theories of the welfare state and cover topics such as the nature of the labour market, the family, the voluntary sector and research methodology.

In third year, you will study how the welfare state is administered and managed, you will learn about working in community and human service organizations, and you will have the opportunity to hone your analytic and interpersonal skills. Your field practicums (or placements) allow you to put theory into practice.

In fourth year, you will have more opportunities to practise social work as you complete another field practicum. After you have completed your fourth-year practicum, the Honours Integrative Seminar provides you further opportunity to synthesize theory with practice and to enhance your skills in critical self-evaluation.

Carleton’s Social Work program is accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, and BSW graduates can work in any province or territory in Canada.