Trent’s acclaimed Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program achieved a new milestone, receiving its first four-year accreditation with conditions status from the national accrediting body for social work education in Canada: the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).

The growing B.S.W. program, launched at Trent’s campuses in Peterborough and Durham GTA in 2014 and granted pre-accreditation status in 2016, now has the distinction of being a fully-accredited program in recognition of the high standards it has obtained over the last six years. Under both the pre-accreditation and accreditation status, students of the program are eligible to register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as registered social workers following graduation.

“Gaining full accreditation has truly been a team effort,” said Dr. Cyndi Gilmer, acting director of Social Work at Trent University. “Receiving this level of accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication our faculty, community partners, staff and students have invested into the B.S.W. program since its inception six years ago.”

Achieving accreditation was an intensive process in which the Commission on Accreditation worked closely with the department to ensure that the program met the Standards for Accreditation. Last fall, accreditors conducted site visits at both the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses and held focus groups with students, faculty, staff and community partners. After several reports and assessments, the B.S.W. received the news they had been waiting for.

Speaking of Trent’s successful accreditation, the external reviewers from the Commission on Accreditation from CASWE stated:

“The B.S.W. program at Trent University has a lot to be proud of. We are excited to see the program make further advancements and wish Trent continued success in providing social work education.”

The Bachelor of Social Work program at Trent prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills for meaningful professional practice in a wide range of social work contexts. Students of the program benefit from more than 700 hours of hands-on supervised field placements, working with mental health associations, sexual assault centres, community counselling, shelters, social services and more. The new accreditation by the CASWE- will see students not only graduate from an accredited social work program, it will open the door to social work jobs that require recognition from a national body.

For more information about the Trent Bachelor of Social Work program, visit trentu.ca/socialwork.