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Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Woman with long brown hair walking away from camera, with mountains and blue sky in background

Where will you make a difference?

Our undergraduate (BSW) program nurtures accountable and critically engaged social work education, research and practice in the advancement of decolonization, anti-racism, Indigenous resurgence, feminism, 2SLGBTQ+ liberation, disability justice and other social justice struggles.

Admission requirements How to apply
Completing the [Bachelor of Social Work Indigenous specialization] through UVic has been one of the most fulfilling and enriching experiences of my life. The learning opportunities provided by the faculty were rich and abundant, as were the collaborative sessions with fellow students.
—Kelly Davie, BSW graduate

Program overview

Our fully accredited program emphasizes social justice, Indigenous and anti-oppressive approaches to working with communities, families and individuals. In addition to the standard program, we offer child welfare, Indigenous and Indigenous child welfare specializations.

Admissions to the Indigenous and Indigenous child welfare specializations are limited to students of Indigenous ancestry. We define Indigenous to be inclusive of students who come from various nationhoods, such as First Nations (status or non-status), Métis and Inuit who are Indigenous to North America.

Please note we value relational concepts regarding identity and do not exclusively rely on government-imposed identities.

Child welfare specialization

The child welfare specialization (CWS) prepares you for child protection and/or child welfare work in government and other settings, while also satisfying the general practice criteria required for BSW accreditation and entry into the social work profession.

The CWS meets the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) advanced entry-level expectations for child protection positions.

Indigenous specialization

The indigenous specialization allows you to shape your undergraduate program toward practice in Indigenous communities and organizations. You will co‑create learning environments with other Indigenous students and faculty, engaging in relational, land‑based and community‑rooted approaches that support the development of your cultural knowledge, responsibilities and professional practice.

Indigenous child welfare specialization

The Indigenous child welfare specialization combines courses from the Indigenous and child welfare specializations. The intent of this specialization is like the Indigenous specialization with an emphasis on the well-being of Indigenous children, families and communities.

This specialization’s fourth-year field education placement will be in an Indigenous child welfare agency that is delegated by the MCFD or an Indigenous child welfare service agency. You may complete this placement in a child protection agency or an Indigenous child welfare agency that is not protection focused.

Learn where you live

Our program gives you the opportunity to create a flexible, full- or part-time program of studies through online distance education. All required academic courses in the BSW curriculum are available through distance education study, allowing you remain employed while completing your studies.

Alternatively, you can choose to complete the BSW program requirements through our on-campus/distance education combined program. Please note that distance education courses are not facilitated internationally.
Learn more about distance education

Earn hands-on experience

Field education placements let you put what you’ve learned in your course work into practice. Field education builds upon practice and previous experience, and provides an opportunity to strengthen your skills, knowledge and understanding of current values and attitudes.

You can complete field placements in your own community or choose to relocate. If you have previous paid or unpaid social work or social justice experience, you may apply to complete your third-year placement by prior learning assessment (PLA).
Learn more about field education placements

Career opportunities

Our graduates are employed in a wide range of government and voluntary organizations such as family and children's services, hospitals, women's services, corrections and Indigenous social services.

Explore careers in social work

Ready to apply?

BSW applications open in December each year and are due by January 31 for entry in September. Read more about admission requirements and the application process on our admissions page.

View admission requirements

Contact us

If you have any questions about the BSW program, including admissions, contact us via email.