Admissions & Degree Requirements

Our four-year BSW program leads to an Honours degree in Social Work and consists of 20.0 credits with at least 11.0 credits of professional Social Work education including over 700 hours of field placement. The first two years provide a general foundation in various disciplines that inform social work practice and provide students the opportunity to explore a range of contemporary themes connected to social work from across disciplines. All students must apply to be admitted into third year - the first of two Professional Years. During the Professional Years, students will acquire the knowledge, ability, and skills to be become an effective generalist social work practitioner.

Please reference the Academic Calendar (www.trentu.ca/calendar) for the most up to date information on the BSW program and admissions policies.

General Years (Years 1 and 2)

Social Work courses in years 1 and 2 are open to any student. Any student may declare a social work major. Declaring a major does not guarantee admission into the Professional Years. Students will take four half credits in social work over years 1 and 2. In the winter semester of second year, students can apply for entry into the Professional Years. Students must meet academic requirements in the general years in order to apply to for the Professional Years. If you receive a transfer credit for SWRK 3000Y, it cannot be used to meet the professional year admission requirements.

Applying for Admission into the Professional Years (Years 3 and 4) 

Admission will be limited and offered through a competitive process. Students are admitted on a full-time basis to the Professional Years of the Social Work program. Students complete the professional program over a two-year period by completing 5.0 credits in year 3 and 5.0 credits in year 4. To be considered for admission into year 3 (the professional years), students must have met the requirements by May 15 of the application year: Admissions requirements can be found under Social Work in the Academic Calendar and by referring to the Admissions Package, which is available by late November each year. 

Students applying to the professional years will only be admitted for the beginning of third year (September). Students will be charged an application fee to apply for the professional years. There is a required supplemental application that includes a list of their employment, volunteer, and extracurricular experiences, as well as a short critical thinking essay. The application for the professional years will open mid January and close March 1 at 11:59 pm in the Trent portal, under the Academics Tab - Admissions - BSW Supplemental Application. Students will be asked to state a campus preference (you can select Peterborough, Durham, or either campus). An "either campus" selection increases students' opportunities for seats in the professional years of the BSW Program. There are a maximum of 30 spaces available on each campus. Offers will go out mid-June of the application year. 

All successful applicants to the Professional Years are required annually to obtain and pass a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening. A student with a criminal record that is unacceptable to a placement agency may be unable to complete the program. Placements may be a driving distance of an hour or more from home campus. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from the placement setting.

For full details on how to apply for the Professional Years please reference the Admissions Package. If you have any questions about applying or completing the professional years, please do not hesitate to contact our department, via email or phone 705-748-1011 ext 7618.

Current as of November 30, 2021.