Join a respected, regulated profession focused on eliminating inequality, inequity and other conditions that disadvantage people in local and global contexts. Wilfrid Laurier University's Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is an accredited, direct-entry undergraduate program that allows you to begin social work studies in first year.
Offered at Laurier’s Brantford campus, you'll receive specialized training in the assessment, treatment and support of individuals, families and communities. You’ll develop the skills to address social issues like racism, poverty, displacement and violence while advocating for social justice, human rights, and equitable access to health and social services. Graduates are prepared for careers in social work and related human service fields.
Discover what makes this Laurier program unique and how you'll gain real-world experience.
Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:
Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!):
As part of the Social Work program, you will complete two field education placements which brings what you are learning in the classroom to the workplace and develops your professional identity as a social worker.
The field education placements are conceptualized as an educational course rather than a work term. That is, courses are graded (pass/fail) by an agency-based qualified field instructor assigned to teach each student, and a field advisor is assigned to support each student and instructor. The workload of field education is controlled to facilitate an emphasis on learning.
You will complete two field placements as part of SK399: Field 1 (360 hours in 12 weeks) and SK499: Field 2 (360 hours in 12 weeks) for a total of 720 hours of field work. You must pass both field experiences in order to graduate from the Social Work program.
BSW placement agencies or teaching centres consist of social agencies/organizations selected and approved by our Field Education office. These centres are mostly located in towns/cities within a 150-kilometre range of Brantford. Commuting to placement is expected and, as a result, flexibility regarding the geographical location of a placement is required. Many agencies require that you have access to a car while on placement.
You view a large list of available placement opportunities and rank your top ten in order of preference. You are able to meet 1:1 with a field team member to review your choices and ensure your goals and needs for placement are met. You are matched to one site based on multiple variables. The main goal for the field team is to ensure each student has the most beneficial learning experience possible, based on the available options, goals and needs of the student and of the site.
The timelines for field education courses are structured and sequenced to reflect course requirements and program progression. The following timelines also ensure that you attend the required seminars and workshops that are part of the field education course, and that you complete your program requirements in a timely manner.
Field education course timelines:
Professional and qualified instructors teach you in the field. Field education instructors typically hold a minimum of a BSW degree and are recognized as “our faculty in the field.” Instructors have a minimum of two-years post-degree experience as well as formal training.
Field education courses are covered under student fees. There are no extra charges through the university. However, while on placement, you are usually expected to pay for expenses such as police checks, mileage and parking. Students and instructors are not paid.
Placement agencies may cover your mileage costs while on agency business; however, this varies with agencies.
Laurier’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE). This accreditation allows graduates to register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), or the provincial equivalent, upon graduation. Registration is required to become a Registered Social Worker and use the protected title of Social Worker.
Explore what a sample weekly schedule to see what your day-to-day might look like in this program.
Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.
Explore a variety of courses, specializations and pathway options that let you shape your degree around your unique interests and goals. Find out how you can customize your experience and prepare for what’s next.
Apply to a direct entry pathway to the Bachelor of Education program (BEd). Students applying for an honours degree with the Teaching Minor will be considered for admission directly into the BEd program. The Teaching Minor is designed to provide you with a variety of courses and hands-on learning opportunities to prepare you for future studies and a rewarding teaching career.
Apply directly to Social Work with Teaching Minor on the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by choosing ‘Teaching Minor’ as your program enhancement.
These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:
Once you’re at Laurier, you can connect with an academic advisor in your first year for more information about pursuing a minor. In the meantime, check out other electives and minors to enhance your degree.
The following opportunities allow you to pursue additional, related qualifications from another postsecondary institution (either before or after your time at Laurier):
OUAC code: USW
When you apply on the OUAC application:
Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum must present the following:
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements. You will find which courses from your country's curriculum are equivalent to the admission requirements listed above. If your country or curriculum is not listed, please reach out to international@wlu.ca.
Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you are successful in your academic courses.
Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.
We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.
If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.
The Academic Transition Pathway (ATP) program is offered through our affiliated institution, Wilfrid Laurier International College, and provides an option for meeting our English-proficiency requirement. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English-proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the ATP program.
If you've completed studies at another college or university, you may be eligible to transfer into Wilfrid Laurier University's Social Work (BSW) program. Because this program is considered competitive, it requires outstanding academic achievement in college courses and the required high school courses. Space for transfer students is subject to availability based on the number and calibre of applicants.
To find out if you can transfer into this program, we encourage you to:
1. Review our transfer admission requirements to find the criteria that applies to your unique situation, including information about transfer credits and academic requirements.
2. Explore our transfer pathway opportunities, including our 2+2 Social Service Worker and 3+3 Child and Youth Care pathways, to see how your previous studies may count toward this program.
Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree are not eligible for this program. Instead, consider exploring our Masters of Social Work (MSW) program. If you need to complete additional courses to be admissible to the MSW program, consider applying to Post-Degree studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Once completed, you can apply to the MSW program.
Note: If you're transferring from Social Service Worker or Child and Youth Care to Social Work diploma programs and wish to complete the Teaching Minor, be aware that you'll need to take extra courses, which may lengthen the time needed to complete the BSW program.
Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree are not eligible for this program. Instead, consider exploring our Masters of Social Work (MSW) program. If you need to complete additional courses to be admissible to the MSW program, consider applying to Post-Degree studies at Laurier. Once completed, you can apply to the MSW program.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.
Discover three inspiring reasons why social work may be the right career path for you.
Our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates go on to a wide range of rewarding careers. Here are just a few examples.
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
As a Laurier alum, you'll have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
Below is a breakdown of tuition fees and expenses for Laurier Social Work students for one year (or two terms) studying full time. Fees are based on 2026/27 rates and are subject to increase. All fees are shown in Canadian dollars.
| Fee Type | Domestic Students | International Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,180 | $36,624 |
| Student Fees | $1,830 | $2,778 |
| Textbook Fees | $1,500 | $1,500 |
See a full breakdown of your first-year expenses.
When you apply to Laurier you’ll be automatically assessed for entrance scholarships (based on your final admission average) and for in-course scholarships in your upper years (based on your Laurier GPA from the previous academic year). We also offer more than 700 competitive scholarships and awards, which require separate applications and may be awarded throughout the academic year.
This is primarily an in-person program, meaning you'll attend classes on campus and learn face-to-face with professors and classmates. When you register for courses, you'll be able to select from available sections and create your timetable.
In-person delivery gives you direct access to faculty, hands-on learning opportunities and a traditional university student experience.
Become a Laurier insider to get quick, fun and informative updates along your application journey.
Have questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548‑889‑8888 or see all contact information.
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