Inquiry

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.

The BSW program combines a liberal arts education with professional social work education. In your first year, you will take a range of courses outside of social work and two social work courses that will introduce you to the profession of social work and the programs and policies of the state.

A Structural” Approach

When you choose to study Social Work at Carleton, you will be entering a school that has pioneered the “structural approach” to social work.This approach recognizes that the society in which we live consists of diverse groups of people who have differential access to economic and political power.

The ability to explore the connections between individual issues and socio-economic structures provides a basis for critical social analysis, empowerment and liberation.

Hands-On Experience

The field practicum is an integral part of the Social Work degree program and offers you an opportunity to apply, test, develop and integrate your accumulated knowledge and skills. The BSW program includes two mandatory field placements; some incoming students may receive transfer credit for the first of these placements from prior post-secondary experience.

You will have the chance to choose from a range of organizations and will work under the guidance of a placement supervisor with additional direction provided by a faculty member.You will also have contact with other students through an on-campus field seminar.

Commitment to Educational Equity

Both Carleton University and the School of Social Work have an expressed commitment to the principles of educational equity.

The School recognizes that some groups of people have been historically disadvantaged and excluded from access to higher education. This includes, but is not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with low incomes.

The School affirms the principle that individuals from all groups should have opportunities to learn and to contribute in supportive environments that validate and develop their knowledge, insights and perspectives.