December 8, 2011 - 2:09am
Vancouver Island University is launching a new online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program.
“We’re accepting student applications for this new program immediately,” says Pat Konkin of the Faculty of Health and Human Services. “The first intake starts in August 2012.”
The online program will provide social work education that addresses local, national and global needs.
“One of our goals is to promote social justice by producing graduates who are skilled at clinical intervention, research and community development,” says Konkin. “The program will link colleagues in the faculty and other disciplines within the broader VIU community with local, national, and international organizations.”
Faculty and students are excited about the new program because it’s been in the planning stages for several years. “Students have long expressed interest in this kind of programming and we’re thrilled to be meeting that need,” adds Konkin.
Students will be accepted into the third year of the program after completing a minimum of 60 credits of post-secondary education.
The new program provides bridging opportunities for VIU students who have completed two-year diploma or certificate programs such as the School and Community Support Worker certificate and the Disabilities Studies, Social Services, Early Childhood Education and Child and Youth Care diplomas.
“Students who have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree may also be interested in pursuing the new social work degree as these students would have already acquired many of the Liberal Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences courses required in their application to the Bachelor of Social Work,” says Konkin.
Areas of study in the new program will focus on physical, historical, economic and social dimensions of society related to the diverse cultural backgrounds of people in our communities.
Faculty will encourage critical analysis about the conditions that contribute to community capacity-building and graduates will develop competence in a collaborative approach to community-based social work with a focus on three main areas: disabilities, well being for older adults and child welfare.
According to Konkin, qualified social workers are in demand and generally find employment in a variety of social, educational and health organizations as well as in private practice.
“Social workers assist individuals, families, groups and communities through their work in hospitals, community-based organizations, child welfare agencies, school districts, agencies serving Aboriginal people and human rights agencies that promote the interests of those experiencing inequality in our communities,” Konkin says.
Carol Stuart, Dean of VIU’s Health and Human Services faculty says the online BSW degree adds to the continuum of human services offerings at VIU and enhances access to degree level education for students on Vancouver Island and in other remote communities in need of social work expertise.
“Entry to third year of the BSW from multiple academic pathways will bring richness to the discussions that students have in their courses,” Stuart says.
Prospective students must complete a combination of required and elective courses prior to admission into the program. Interested applicants are encouraged to discuss requirements with an academic advisor at VIU before they apply.
As part of the program’s ongoing development and recognition within the professional social work community, Konkin says VIU will be applying for accreditation of the new social work degree to the Canadian Association for Social Work Education.
Enrolment is limited. Applications are being accepted until Feb. 28. For further information, visit the website at
Tags: In the Community
