| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| S880 Ross Building | gradsowk@yorku.ca | socialwork.gradstudies.yorku.ca |
York University’s School of Social Work is recognized as having one of the most progressive and socially responsive social work programs in Canada. Noted for its critical perspective and commitment to human rights, social justice and anti-oppression, the Graduate Program in Social Work offers full- time and part-time graduate study (for students with a BSW) leading to a Master of Social Work degree; a two-year MSW program designed for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work, but who have relevant experience and an undergraduate degree in a related subject; and a full time doctoral program leading to a PhD in social work.
Admission Requirements
The advanced standing Master of Social Work program is offered on a full or part time basis and is open to graduates of recognized universities, with a BSW (or an equivalent honours undergraduate social work degree from outside Canada) with at least a B+ average in the last two years of study, and related social work experience. A minimum of two years of experience in social work/social justice related work (paid and/or voluntary) is preferred.
The two-year full-time Master of Social Work program is geared towards applicants who have a dedicated interest in social work but who currently have an honours degree in another discipline, from a recognized university with a minimum B+ average in the last two years of study, and who have successfully completed an undergraduate research methods course. A minimum of two years’ of experience in social work/social justice related work (paid and/or voluntary) is preferred.
Students with a grade average that is lower than “B+” but with substantial social work/social justice related experience may be offered admission.
All applicants must provide:
- a written statement (two pages) including the rationale for applying to the social work program at York University, and a statement of areas of practice and research interests;
- curriculum vitae; and,
- three letters of reference, one of which should be academic and one professional (if possible from a supervisor). It is preferred that the third referee be academic, but a professional one will also be accepted. If separate reference letters are provided, they must be on official letterhead.
- MSW Admission - Social Service Experience Form (to be completed and uploaded via MyFile).
- One official sealed copy of transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended.
The master’s programs in social work have three accredited fields of study:
- integration of research and critical practice;
- identity, diversity and anti-oppression; and,
- social policy analysis and advocacy in a local, global and international context.
Applicants must have a minimum B+ average from the master’s degree (MSW or a related discipline), and have completed at least one social work degree (BSW or MSW). In exceptional cases, applicants who do not have a social work degree may be considered if they have a related degree. In such case, applicants must also demonstrate extensive experiences in social welfare, or community/social services. Within the broader scope of a critical theory approach to social work, faculty members offer research and teaching strengths in the following five fields of study.
Social Policy
Social policy refers to the political, economic and social goals of a group or society. The field of social policy involves examination of
the history, context, formation, contributing values, implications and social and personal impacts of policies. It also involves the critical analysis of social problems and theorizing solutions in support of social justice and equality.
Globalization and International Issues
This field addresses salient global issues and their impact on the global north and the global south. Attention is given to human rights and the role of the social work profession in addressing the social, economic, political and cultural consequences of globalization. It explores the history of colonization, the growth and crisis of capitalism and the consequent imbalance in the wealth of nations. International organizations that help to shape international social welfare policies and services are also examined to understand how rich countries shape the processes of economic, cultural, technological and military globalization and the implications for our worldview.
Systemic Oppression
Oppression occurs when one group uses power to dominate and exploit another group. Systemic oppression refers to the ways such power is embedded in cultural, economic, political, interpersonal and psychological structures, and to the interlocking dynamics of oppression. This field includes, for example, class analysis, as developed in Marxist scholarship, which provides a theoretical and material base for understanding oppression based on the economic positions of individuals and groups. Feminist scholars have contributed a rich analysis of the dynamics of oppression based on gender. Relevant issues related to gender include but are not limited to violence and exploitation; aging, paid and unpaid labour; and the effects of economic restructuring on women. The field also includes the power and social relations of oppression as they relate to disability, sexual orientation, religions and age.
Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
This field addresses how race is produced and ethnicity is used as a category of discrimination and how culture, race and ethnicity interact in this production. It interrogates commonsense understandings of race, ethnicity and culture and recognizes the present day legacies of the global history of colonialism and imperialism to uncover how racialization and ethnic superiority are accomplished. This field is particularly relevant to social work in Canada today because ethno-racial communities are increasingly constructed as homogeneous cultural identities and workers and clients/users struggle with the impact of racialized cultural assumptions and systemic racism and oppression in their everyday lives.
Community and Direct Practice
This field recognizes that the experiences of discrimination and oppression are experienced by individuals, groups and communities at the local level. It is here that social work practice is primarily located and that its impacts are manifested. Faculty members of the Graduate Program in Social Work have considerable experience in direct social work practice across a number of diverse communities and have produced a rich body of scholarship in this area.
Degree Requirements
MSW
Students must successfully complete:
a) Social Work 5150 3.0: Critical Perspectives in Social Work/
Prerequisites: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, 5040 3.0, 5050 3.0 and Social Work 5020 3.0; or a BSW;
Social Work 5250 3.0: Graduate Research Seminar/
Prerequisite: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, or a BSW;
Social Work 5350 6.0: Advanced Practicum/Prerequisite:
Social Work 5310 6.0, or a BSW; Prerequisites/Co-requisites: Social Work 5150 3.0;
Social Work 5450 3.0: Practice Research Paper Seminar/
Prerequisites: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, or a BSW; and Social Work 5250 3.0;
Social Work 5550 3.0: Indigenous Worldviews and Implications to Social Work;
and
b) Two elective half-courses from the series Social Work 5900 3.0 to 5999 3.0, or an approved course from another graduate program.
Program Entry
The MSW (advanced standing) program can be completed on a full or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.
Program Length
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 3 terms; part-time students are expected to complete within 6 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
Students must successfully complete:
a) Social Work 5010 3.0: Social Work Theories and Critical Practice I;
Social Work 5011 3.0: Social Work Theories and Critical Practice II/Prerequisite: Social Work 5010 3.0;
Social Work 5020 3.0: History of Social Welfare and Social Work from Critical Perspectives;
Social Work 5030 3.0: Oppression and Intersectionality;
Social Work 5040 3.0: Social Welfare and Social Policy;
Social Work 5050 3.0: Understanding Organizations for Social Work Practice;
Social Work 5150 3.0: Critical Perspectives in Social Work/Prerequisites: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, 5040 3.0, 5050 3.0 and Social Work 5020 3.0; or a BSW;
Social Work 5250 3.0: Graduate Research Seminar/Prerequisite: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, or a BSW;
Social Work 5310 6.0: Practicum/Prerequisites: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5020 3.0, 5030 3.0, 5040 3.0 and co-requisites: Social Work 5011 3.0 and 5050 3.0
Social Work 5350 6.0: Advanced Practicum/Prerequisite: Social Work 5310 6.0, or a BSW; Prerequisites/Co-requisites: Social Work 5150 3.0; Social Work 5450 3.0: Practice Research Paper Seminar/
Prerequisites: Social Work 5010 3.0, 5011 3.0, 5030 3.0, or a BSW; and Social Work 5250 3.0;
Social Work 5550 3.0: Indigenous Worldviews and Implications to Social Work;
and
b) Four elective half courses from the series Social Work 5900 3.0 to 5999 3.0, or an approved course from another graduate program.
Program Entry
The MSW (two-year) program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
Program Length
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 5 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 5 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 5 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
PhD
Candidates for the PhD degree must fulfil the following requirements.
Students in the PhD in Social Work must successfully complete five core courses and two post-MSW electives. All students are expected to complete five core and two post-MSW elective courses by the end of the first four terms of study. The doctoral seminar is the final core course and is normally taken in year two.
Core Courses
Social Work 7000 3.0: Social Justice within a Social Work Context
Social Work 7010 3.0: Epistemology
Social Work 7020 3.0: Seminar on Research Design and Methodology
Social Work 7030 3.0: Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis
Social Work 7040 3.0: Doctoral Seminar
Comprehensive examinations are taken either at the end of the second year of study or in the fall of year three.
The comprehensive process consists of the satisfactory completion of a comprehensive paper outline (3 pages in length) by the end of the first five terms of study, and a comprehensive paper (50 pages in length) by the end of the first seven terms of study.
The Committee is comprised of at least three faculty members all of whom must be appointed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. At least two members must be from the School of Social Work and one must be external to the School. One of the members from the School of Social Work will be the student’s chosen supervisor.
Following successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, students advance to the dissertation stage. Students enrol in the doctoral seminar and begin preparation of a dissertation proposal, to be approved by their supervisory committee.
An original research study and written dissertation must be completed by the student. The student must successfully defend the dissertation at an oral examination presided over by an examination committee.
The PhD program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The program is designed as a full-time doctoral program. While it is possible that some full-time students will complete the program in 12 terms (4 years), it is likely that most students will take 15 terms (5 years) to complete this PhD program. Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.