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Social Work - BSW

Is it for you?

Social workers strive to advance social justice and equity for individuals, families, groups and communities. This program includes 700 hours of field experience through placements at local or international organizations and opportunities to work on community projects.

You’ll learn how processes of marginalization and oppression shape people’s experiences and access to resources, power, and social and health services, and be ready to contribute to transforming practice by promoting social justice upon graduation.

 Accreditations: 

  • Canadian Association for Social Work Education

Program info

Faculty: 
Faculty of Community Services

Program format(s): 
Full time: 4 Year, Advanced Standing to second year

Part time: Advanced Standing to third year

Degree: 
Bachelor of Social Work

Grade range: 
Mid 80s1

Requirements:
Grades-Only
Grades-Plus2

Experiential learning: 
Mandatory field placements


Tuition and fees 2023-2024

For detailed fees information, visit tuition and fees by program.

Full-time format 2023-2024:

Ontario students fees range: $7,280 - $7,753
Out-of-province students fees range: $7,996 - $8,661
International student fees range: $33,423 - $34,665

Part-time format (one to eight or more courses):

Ontario students fees range: $928 - $5,420
Out-of-province students fees range: $1,013 - $6,095
International students fees range: $3,467 - $25,730

First-year courses

Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.

1st & 2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • POL 101 Canadian Political Institutions
  • POL 102 Political Processes in Canada
  • PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology I
  • PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology II
  • SOC 111 The Social World I
  • SOC 112 The Social World II
  • SWP 132 Critical Social Work Foundations
  • SWP 331 Social Work Theories of Practice

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

Your future

As a skilled advocate and collaborator, you will work to advance social justice and equity for individuals, families, groups and communities in fields such as:

  • Child and youth welfare
  • Immigrant and settlement services
  • Social action groups
  • Health and social services
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Research
  • Education
  • Policy analysis
  • Wellness therapy
  • Crisis care management
  • Behavioural support work
  • Community support work
  • Field education coordination 
  • Graduate studies in a master of social work (MSW) or a master’s degree in other areas such as early childhood studies, immigration and settlement studies or public policy and administration at TMU

Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.


Requirements

Academic requirements

Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Social Work strives to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in the student body and aims to respond to community needs. The admission committee provides opportunity for special consideration for those applicants who wish to have their application reviewed in this light. Applicants may provide details regarding experiences that should be viewed within the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion. Applicants can include this information on a Special Consideration Form available on the applications and related forms page.

Please note: Applicants are only eligible to apply to one of the three programs below based on their education and work experience. Please read through the requirements carefully to determine which program is your best fit.

 OUAC Program Code: SSE

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements. Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:

  • A minimum grade of 70 % or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.

Important Note: Applicants with Social Service Worker or Human Service(s) Counsellor diplomas (or any diploma from a public Canadian college that is eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (external link, opens in new window) ) will not be considered for admission to the four-year program and should apply to the Advanced Standing program that best fits their work experience.

 OUAC program code: SWT

Social Service Worker or Human Service(s) Counsellor Diploma (or any diploma from a public Canadian college that is eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (external link, opens in new window) ), with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 ('B') or higher, and less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

Important notes:

  • Applicants must submit a summary of paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the Social Services field, in order to confirm that eligibility criteria have been met (less than two years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the Social Services field). This summary must be included in the Activities/Employment section of the online application form (OUAC or Toronto Metropolitan University Applications) or the Non-Academic History section of the Supplementary Form.
  • Successful applicants are required to complete two (2) additional courses from first year as part of their degree requirements, as follows: One (1) lower level liberal studies course, and SWP 331 (Social Work Theories of Practice).
  • Successful applicants will receive transfer credit for SWP 36A/B (Field Practicum) at the time of admission.
  • Due to competition, applicants will normally be required to present academic averages significantly higher than the minimum.
  • Holders of college diplomas with two years or more accumulated paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field, must apply to Part-Time, Advanced Standing to Third Year.

 OUAC program code: SDG

Consideration for admission to the program will be given to applicants who have the following qualifications; A and C or B and C:

A. Holders of a baccalaureate degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited Canadian university (or equivalent), who have at least (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

OR

B. Graduation from one of the following eligible diplomas from a Canadian public college:

  • Assaulted Women/Children’s Counsellor/Advocate
  • Child and Youth Care / Child and Youth Worker
  • Community & Justice Services
  • Addiction & Mental Health Worker Program
  • Native Child & Family Services Program
  • Human Services Counsellor
  • Human Service Counsellor
  • Community Worker
  • Social Work Diploma
  • Social Service Worker
  • Community Worker Outreach & Development

With a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 ('B') or higher, plus at least two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

AND

C.  Completion of a prerequisite course, CVSW15A/B Foundations of Social Work II, with at least a 'B' level grade. Registration in this course is by invitation only. Applicants will be invited to complete this course based on their post-secondary academic performance and employment in the social services field. The course runs from May to June each year. Selected applicants will receive this invitation letter in their ChooseTMU portal account.

Applicants not invited to enrol in CVSW15A/B are required to apply for admission once again the following year.

Note: Applicants who hold a diploma from a public Ontario college (or the equivalent) or a baccalaureate degree from an accredited Canadian university (or equivalent) that is not listed above, and who have at least (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field, may be considered on an individual basis.

Important notes for college diploma applicants:
  • Due to competition, applicants will normally be required to present academic averages significantly higher than the minimum.
  • College diploma applicants with less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field will not be considered and should apply to the full-time Advanced Standing - Second Year Entry option.
  • Successful college diploma applicants are required to complete four (4) courses, in addition to the third and fourth year curriculum, as part of their degree requirements, as follows: Three (3) liberal studies courses, one (1) lower level and two (2) upper level, and SWP 331 Social Work Theories of Practice.
  • Successful college diploma applicants will receive transfer credit for SWP 36A/B Field Practicum at the time of admission.
Important notes for baccalaureate degree applicants:
  • Baccalaureate applicants with less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field will not be considered and should apply to the full-time four-year program.
  • Baccalaureate degree holders approved to this program are not eligible to receive further transfer or challenge credits.


Non-academic requirements

For part-time, Advanced Standing to third-year applicants only

This is a Grades-Plus program. In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application. 

Fall 2024 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2024 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

Submit two letters of reference (one academic and one professional, or two professional). The letters of reference should speak to your potential for success in the program (e.g. your suitability for the program, strengths, etc.)

 Please save a copy of each letter and upload them. Submission instructions can be found below.

Submit a current resumé. For each job you list, please indicate:

  • Name of the organization
  • Your position/title
  • Primary responsibilities
  • Start date (month/year)
  • End date (month/year)
  • Number of hours worked per week
  • Whether it was paid or voluntary
  • Name of a person who can verify this information (with phone and/or email information)

 Please save and upload your resume as a .pdf file.

Submit a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming date(s) of paid employment and responsibilities. You need only provide enough letters to confirm two years’ worth of relevant, full-time employment.

 Please save a copy and upload your employment letter. If you have more than one employment letter, please save them as ONE document (.pdf file) and upload the one file. Submission instructions can be found below.

Please submit a Statement of Intent (500 to 700 words) addressing the following:

  • Why Toronto Metropolitan University?
  • Why Social Work?
  • Why Now?

 Please save and upload your Statement of Intent as a .pdf file.

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

If you are applying for readmission or reinstatement, you are not required to submit the above non-academic requirements. Only a completed application and Supplementary Form are required.


Student spotlight

Meet a social work graduate

Keneisha Charles (Class of 2023) spent an academic year in placement with SKETCH Working Arts, an enterprise that connects marginalized and homeless youth to the transformative power of the arts. “The placement gave me real-world experience with creative activism, which I want to do more of to support Black, queer and disabled communities.”

Read more: Celebrating Black excellence among new TMU grads


More ways to explore TMU

 Notes:

  1. Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2024 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.
  2. For part-time, Advanced Standing to third year only

Disclaimer: 

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.