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Social Work

Apply to UNBC

Pursue your passion for community change and personal empowerment with a degree in social work.

Study the holistic, interdisciplinary, activist nature of social work, and its commitment to justice and community service. Prepare for a rewarding career supporting vulnerable members of our society.

Degree
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Campus
Fort St. John
Prince George
Quesnel
Terrace
Credits
60 credits,  2 Years,
Part-time available
Experiential Learning
Practicum,  Undergraduate Research Experience
Honours Option
No
Intakes
Sep

Program Details

Prepare for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. 

Examine power in relation to class, poverty, health, age, gender, and ethnicity and how it affects the welfare of vulnerable members of our society.

Study a curriculum that advocates for justice and equality, and equips you with the practical, intellectual and professional skills required to promote beneficial change.

Discover a self-reflective balance between the following:

  • theory and practice
  • research, teaching and community service 
  • critical self-awareness and respect for the ideas of others

Apply for entrance to the Social Work program after completing 60 credit hours (two years) of study in the humanities and sciences. Study contemporary theory and put it to work in a relevant field placement.

Applications are also accepted from those with a community college social service worker certificate.

Program Website Academic Calendar

Career Paths

  • School social worker
  • Corrections officer
  • Refugee settlement counsellor
  • Social policy analyst
  • Law enforcement
  • Health care social worker
This degree provides a strong foundation for further studies in disciplines such as education, medicine, law, or for pursuing your master's and PhD.

Why at UNBC

  • Earn the necessary academic qualifications to apply for certification as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) from the BC College of Social Workers
  • Learn from faculty who are active in professional social work service and recognized for meaningful and personal commitment to the classroom and community
  • Focus on northern and remote areas, Indigenous Peoples, women, anti-oppressive and community practice
  • Participate in classroom and web-based instruction, complemented by field placements that match your interest and skill development
UNBC motto

'En Cha Huná

UNBC’s motto, from the Dakelh (Carrier) Elders, reminds us that all people have a voice and a viewpoint. Interpreted as “respecting all forms of life,” 'En Cha Huná encapsulates the spirit of academic freedom, respect for others, and willingness to recognize different perspectives.

Admission Requirements

Social Work Admission Requirements

Students must complete prior post-secondary studies before they are eligible to apply to the Bachelor of Social Work program.

  • 60 credit hours of university transferable coursework (or the equivalent to):
    • SOCW 200 - Introduction to Social Work Practice
    • SOCW 201 - Introduction to Social Welfare
    • FNST 100 - The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
    • WMST 100 - Introduction to Women's Studies
    • 42 additional credit hours of liberal arts and/or science courses
    • Six additional credit hours of university transferable coursework from any discipline
  • 2.67 GPA (B- average) from most-recent 60 credit hours of transferable coursework
  • Applicants must provide references and additional non-academic supplementary application

Additional Entry Routes

Students who completed a social service worker training program at a post-secondary institution that has a transfer agreement with UNBC may be eligible to receive credit as determined under the applicable UNBC Transfer Credit Pathway and Agreement.

Students who hold a Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.67 (B-) can apply for entrance into the third year of the Bachelor of Social Work. Students applying to the School of Social Work with a Baccalaureate degree in a related discipline will normally have completed courses that are equivalent to the four BSW course pre-requisites.

Tuition and Fees

Approximate Costs per Academic Year

(30 credit hours, 10 courses)

  Domestic International
Tuition* $5,985 $26,750
Student fees* $1,125 $1,315
Books* $1,400 $1,400

* Tuition, fees and books are subject to change and vary among programs.

Tuition and Fees

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

View the hundreds of available scholarships, bursaries, and awards.

  • 1 in 4 students receive a UNBC financial award.
  • $3,500,000 in financial awards given each year.
Awards and Financial Aid Information for Indigenous Students

Important Dates

Early entrance scholarships application deadline Early entrance scholarships application deadline
General scholarships, bursaries, and awards application deadline General scholarships, bursaries, and awards application deadline
Undergraduate orientation (Fall semester) Undergraduate orientation (Fall semester)
First day of Fall classes First day of Fall classes

Related Programs

BSW Child Welfare Specialization
BSW Indigenous Specialization
Community and Population Health: Aboriginal and Rural Health
Community and Population Health: Environmental Health
First Nations Studies
Women's Studies
See all Programs

We Are Here to Help

This is your personal guide through every step of the admissions process. We are here for one reason: to support you. We help every part of the admissions process make sense. Just ask us.

Email: futurestudents@unbc.ca
Phone: 250-960-6306

Contact a Student Recruitment Officer