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 Southern, Eastern and Western Ontario) in regard to health services, family and child welfare, and the social welfare system. Unlike any other Ontario university, Algoma University is situated on the former site of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School and offers special lectures and guest presentations from Residential School Survivors. 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 practice.
Our social work program was developed in consultation with various local employers and advisory boards in Sault Ste Marie, 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, and 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 |
| Delivery: | Full-time or Part-time |
| Length: | Minimum 3 Semesters |
Application & Admission
The Algoma University School of Social Work prepares students for generalist practice 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 those living in rural/ remote areas.
Our faculty actively participate 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 of Social Work Program is offered at the Sault Ste. Marie campus on an in-person basis. There is a thesis-based stream or field practicum stream that applicants can select when applying to the program.
A: Thesis Stream (Full-time)
- Fall Semester: Five required courses
- Winter Semester: Two elective courses selected from a list of offerings
- Spring-Fall Semester: Complete Thesis
B: Field Practicum Stream (Full-time)
- Fall Semester: Five required courses
- Winter Semester: Two elective courses selected from a list of offerings
- Spring Semester: Complete Field Practicum
*Students in the field practicum stream must complete 450 hours of field practicum.
About our Classes
All classes are scheduled during evening hours, from 4pm or 7pm, Monday through Friday.
Required courses:
- Advanced Critical Research Methodology in Social Work
- Ethics in Community Practice: A Reflexive Approach
- Reflexive and Critical Anti-Oppressive Clinical Social Work
- Critical Theories and Practice
- Graduate Research and Field Placement Seminar
Elective courses to select from:
- Indigenous Perspectives and Worldviews in Social Work
- Gender Trouble in Social Work
- Climate Change, Biodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge, and Social Work
- Asian Feminisms in Social Work
- Food Sovereignty and Social Determinants of Health
- Critical Perspectives and Practice Approaches with the Aging
- Social work in Black Communities
- Independent Reading Seminars
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.
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 assessment of the applicant’s aptitude for graduate studies.
All the documents for Fall 2026 Intake are due on July 8. 2026
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/CV. This should contain the following information:
- 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).
- Additional information, including awards, publications, training, etc.
- Statement of Interest: This should be an 8-10 page, double-spaced, PDF document in 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins that answer the following questions:
- What is leading you to undertake a Master of Social Work degree?
- What qualities or attributes do you possess that make you an effective social worker?
- Please indicate if you would like to pursue the field-based stream or thesis-based stream and outline the rationale for your choice. In what area of social work (e.g., homelessness, mental health, clinical practice) will you focus? Who would you like to be your first reader (i.e., School of Social Work faculty member) and why?
- Please describe your social location and how your identity will intersect with your proposed stream (field-based or thesis-based).
- How will your undertaking of a Master of Social Work program at Algoma University be reflective of the University’s Special Mission as well as the Seven Grandfather Teachings?
- Unofficial Transcript of your Bachelor of Work degree.
Arrange to have two letters of recommendation (one academic reference and one work reference) sent electronically to the Graduate Admissions office ([email protected]), addressed to the attention of the Graduate Admissions and Support Specialist. Letters mailed by the applicant are not accepted.
These documents need to be received by the Graduate Admissions Office ([email protected]).
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)
- You have 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 the required information, as noted above
- You have written your Statement of Interest that addresses the questions listed in the section above (Prepare your Application)
- You have made arrangements for two references (one academic and one work-related)
- You are prepared to pay the non-refundable application fee ($70) 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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