Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
The MSW is for graduates of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs with a research thesis-based or field practicum option.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
General Inquiries:
[email protected]
Admission-related Inquiries:
[email protected]
Application for the Fall 2024 Semester is now closed.
Application for the Fall 2025 Semester opens in the Fall. Information on our new application timelines is coming soon!
The Master of Social Work degree is offered on our Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins campuses through hybrid delivery option. It is focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion and aligns with the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) plan on anti-oppressive, anti-racism and social justice practice, teaching, and learning.
What makes us unique?
Students enrolled in our program will examine a variety of topics and will understand how Northern communities significantly differ from urban communities (in the South, Eastern and Western Ontario) in regard to health services, family and child welfare, and the social welfare system. Ourgraduates will understand crisis intervention, and how to deal with victims of abuse, including those who were affected by the residential school system in Canada. Unlike any other Ontario university, Algoma U is situated on the former site of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School, and offers special lectures and guest presentations from residential school Survivors. Many fellow classmates may in fact be Survivors or descendants of survivors. This provides our students with a unique learning experience, and the opportunity for students to better understand oppression, colonization, and self-determination and apply them in their social work practices.
Our social work program was developed in consultation with various local employers and advisory boards in Sault Ste Marie and Timmins, who have cited a growing need for employees. For this reason, our program is designed to help fulfill the need for social workers in Northern, rural, remote regions. A degree in social work is highly sought after in the work world. Plus, social workers are found in the broadest range of workplace settings: public agencies, private businesses, hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, private practices, police departments, courts, etc. Social work graduates have an easier time finding employment after graduation than graduates in most other fields.
Program at a glance:
| Campus: | Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins or hybrid (Distance) |
| Delivery: | Full-time |
| Length: | 3 Semesters |
Application & Admission
The Algoma University School of Social Work prepares students for generalist practices rooted in anti-racist, anti-colonial, and anti-oppressive principles. Graduates engage in critical social work to promote equity and justice for diverse communities, including marginalized groups and remote areas.
Our faculty actively participates in collaborative community research and teaching initiatives, fostering enriching experiential learning opportunities. Aligned with the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), our program is committed to social justice, equity, and reconciliation.
We prioritize dismantling various forms of oppression and highlighting Indigenous knowledge, while developing professional cultures that embrace inclusivity and diversity. Our teaching methods encompass interactive lectures, small group work, hands-on practice, and community engagement.
Furthermore, we emphasize partnerships with colleges, communities, and organizations, and work towards advancing accreditation standards. Visit our website to learn more about our mission and program delivery.
Program Structure:
Our Master’s Program is offered at two campuses, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins. The program spans over three semesters, Fall, Winter and Spring. The Master of Social Work degree is offered on our Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins campuses through hybrid delivery options. There is a research-based thesis or field practicum option that applicants can select when applying to the program.
A: Thesis Stream
- Fall Semester: Five required courses
- Winter Semester: Two elective courses selected from a list of offerings available to Master’s students & Thesis work
- Spring Semester: Complete Thesis
B: Field Practicum Stream
- Fall Semester: Five required courses
- Winter Semester: Two elective courses selected from a list of offerings available to Master’s students & beginning Field Practicum Placement
- Spring Semester: Complete Field Placement
*Students in the field practicum stream must complete 450 field practicum hours.
About our Classes
All classes are scheduled during the evening hours, from 4pm or 7pm, Monday through Friday.
Required courses:
- SWRK5000: Advance Critical Research Methodology in Social Work
- SWRK5002: Ethics in community practice: A reflexive Approach
- SWRK 5004: Reflexive and Critical Anti-Oppressive Clinical Social Work
- SWRK 5012: Critical theory and practice
- SWRK5010: Research Seminar (Thesis Stream) / Field Placement Seminar (Practicum Stream)
Elective courses to select from:
- Queer Studies in Social Work
- Indigenous perspectives and worldviews
- Climate and ecological crises and Land back
- Asian Feminism in Social Work
- Special Course in Social Work: Food Sovereignty and Social Determinants of Health
- Critical Perspectives and Practice Approaches with the Aging
- SWRK 5004: Reflexive Anti-Oppressive Clinical Social Work
- Independent studies
- SWRK 5004: Reflexive Anti-Oppressive Clinical Social Work (Practicum Stream only)
- SWRK 5005 -Social work in Black
To be considered for admission to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
- Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree from a program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).
- Minimum GPA of 75% (B+) average in the last two years of study.
This is an advanced standing program. Minimum admission requirements include a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree from a program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), with at least a 75% (B+) average in the last two years of study.
Applicants are encouraged to review our Faculty members’ research areas and the School of Social Work page to learn more about the research areas and activities within our school.
NOTE: Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee automatic admission. Admission decisions are contingent upon the availability of spaces in the program and the School of Social Work’s assessments of the applicant’s aptitude for graduate studies.
FALL 2025 INTAKE
Applications for this intake will be accepted starting in late Fall, 2024.
Information on application and document submission deadlines will be posted.
Please review our Tuition and Ancillary fees for the Master’s Programs
Applications are submitted through the Application Portal of Algoma University.
Pre-application guide:
- Please budget sufficient time to complete the application.
- Once the application fee is paid, the Portal will allow for submission of supporting documents. Be sure to have these documents ready for upload
- Resume,
- Statement of Intent,
- Name and contact information of two references.
- In addition, you will be asked to fill out a form that contains a number of questions regarding your professional goals and interests.
Required Documents to be submitted with the application (be sure to have these ready when you apply):
- Resume/CV. This should contain information on:
- Your contact details,
- Education (list all diplomas, degrees, and academic qualifications with dates of completion or expected graduation), experience, including paid social work experience, unpaid social work experience (e.g., field practicums, internships), paid non-social work experience and volunteer work. Specify the duration and average hours per month for each position (e.g., January 2024-June 2024, 70 hours per month). Please provide contact information for supervisors from all agencies for both paid and unpaid work, as well as volunteer experience
- Additional information, including awards, publications, training, etc.
- Statement of Intent: This should be a 2-page double-spaced PDF document in 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins that answers the following questions:
- Indicate if you are applying for the: (a) field practicum stream or (b) research stream.
- Why do you want to pursue the MSW?
- How have you engaged in Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice?
- If you are applying for the placement stream, what placement do you intend to pursue and how does it connect to AOP and anti-racism?
- If you are applying for the research stream, what research do you intend to pursue and how does it connect to AOP and anti-racism?
Required Documents to be submitted to complete your application:
- Two letters of recommendation: One academic (from your BSW Program) and one from your work experience. Please contact your two references and arrange to have these sent electronically via email attachment to the Graduate Admissions office by emailing [email protected], addressed to the attention of the Graduate Admissions and Support Specialist. Letters mailed by the applicant are not accepted.
- Official Transcript of your Bachelor’s degree. These should be sent directly by your school to Graduate Admissions by emailing [email protected], addressed to the attention of the Graduate Admissions and Support Specialist. A Transcript is considered official if it is sent directly from your school to our Admissions Office. Transcripts sent by the applicant are not admissible.
These documents need to be received by the Graduate Admissions Office ([email protected]) no later than July 26th, 2024.
To ensure a successful application, please review this checklist before submitting your application:
- You have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree from a program accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE)
- Attained a minimum 75% (B+) average over the last two years of full-time undergraduate study
- You have a Transcript of your completed Bachelor’s degree ready to upload to the Application Portal
- You can provide a current Resume that contains required information, as noted above
- You have written your Statement of Intent that addresses the questions listed in the section above (Prepare your Application)
- You can provide the names and contact details of two references (one academic and one work-related)
- Understand the non-refundable application fee ($70) is required to complete your application
Applicants need to meet all the above-listed conditions to be considered for admission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program as those offered admission are selected competitively based on the merits of the application.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
For admission-related inquiries: [email protected].
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