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Social Work (BSW)

Anna Amy Ho, social work

Meet this social work alumna

Anna Amy Ho, social work, is a crisis counsellor and violence prevention program coordinator at Victim Services Toronto. In 2015, Anna received the Attorney General's Victim Services Award of Distinction. Anna also performs as an aerial acrobat and hopes to establish a centre for arts-based forms of psychotherapy.

Photo by Arthur Mola, Image Arts.

Is It for You?

Social workers strive to advance social justice and equity for individuals, families, groups and communities. This program includes 700 hours of field experience through placements at local or international organizations and opportunities to work on community projects. You’ll learn how processes of marginalization and oppression shape people’s experiences and access to resources, power, and social and health services, and be ready to contribute to transforming practice by promoting social justice upon graduation.  

 Program Format(s)
Full Time: Four Year; Advanced Standing to Second Year
Part Time: Advanced Standing to Third Year

 Degree Earned
Bachelor of Social Work

 Minimum Grade Range
86-89%+*

 Non-Academic Requirements
For part-time, advanced standing to third year only: resumé, letters of reference, employment confirmation letter(s), statement of intent

 Experiential Learning
Mandatory field placements

 Accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education.

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What You Need to Know

 Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.

*Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2023 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.

Tuition and Fees 2022/2023

Full-Time Format
Domestic Ontario Students Fees Range:
$7,095 - $7,587
Domestic Out-of-Province Students Fees Range: $7,601 - $8,133
International Students Fees Range: $31,749 - $33,086

Part-Time Format (One to Eight or More Courses)
Domestic Ontario Students Fees Range:
 $924.40 - $5,528.34
Domestic Out-of-Province Students Fees Range: $974.97 - $5,934.10 
International Students Fees Range: $3,313.90 - $24,629.86

For detailed fees information visit Tuition and Fees by Program.

Academic Requirements

Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Social Work strives to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in the student body and aims to respond to community needs. The admission committee provides opportunity for special consideration for those applicants who wish to have their application reviewed in this light. Applicants may provide details regarding experiences that should be viewed within the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion. Applicants can include this information on the Supplementary Form and/or on a Special Consideration Form available on the Applications and Related Forms page.

 Please note: Applicants are only eligible to apply to one of the three programs below based on their education and work experience. Please read through the requirements carefully to determine which program is your best fit.

 OUAC Program Code: SSE

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements. Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:

  • A minimum grade of 70 % or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available at: Admission Requirements.

Important Note: Applicants with Social Service Worker or Human Service(s) Counsellor diplomas (or any diploma from a public Canadian college that is eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (external link, opens in new window) ) will not be considered for admission to the four year program and should apply to the advanced standing program that best fits their work experience.

 OUAC Program Code: SWT

Social Service Worker or Human Service(s) Counsellor Diploma (or any diploma from a public Canadian college that is eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (external link, opens in new window) ), with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 ('B') or higher, and less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

Important Notes:

  • Applicants must submit a summary of paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the Social Services field, in order to confirm that eligibility criteria have been met (less than two years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the Social Services field). This summary must be included in the Activities/Employment section of the online application form (OUAC or Toronto Metropolitan University Applications) or the Non-Academic History section of the Supplementary Form.
  • Successful applicants are required to complete two (2) additional courses from first year as part of their degree requirements, as follows: One (1) lower level liberal studies course, and SWP 331 (Social Work Theories of Practice).
  • Successful applicants will receive transfer credit for SWP 36A/B (Field Practicum) at the time of admission.
  • Due to competition, applicants will normally be required to present academic averages significantly higher than the minimum.
  • Holders of college diplomas with two years or more accumulated paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field, must apply to Part-Time, Advanced Standing to Third Year.

 OUAC Program Code: SDG

Consideration for admission to the program will be given to applicants who have the following qualifications; A and C or B and C:

A. Holders of a baccalaureate degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited Canadian university (or equivalent), who have at least (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

OR

B. Graduation from one of the following eligible diplomas from a Canadian public college:

  • Assaulted Women/Children’s Counsellor/Advocate
  • Child and Youth Care / Child and Youth Worker
  • Community & Justice Services
  • Addiction & Mental Health Worker Program
  • Native Child & Family Services Program
  • Human Services Counsellor
  • Human Service Counsellor
  • Community Worker
  • Social Work Diploma
  • Social Service Worker
  • Community Worker Outreach & Development

With a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 ('B') or higher, plus at least two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field.

AND

C.  Completion of a prerequisite course, CVSW15A/B Foundations of Social Work II, with at least a 'B' level grade. Registration in this course is by invitation only. Applicants will be invited to complete this course based on their post-secondary academic performance and employment in the social services field. The course runs from May to June each year. Selected applicants will receive this invitation letter in their ChooseTMU portal account.

Applicants not invited to enrol in CVSW15A/B are required to apply for admission once again the following year.

Note: Applicants who hold a diploma from a public Ontario college (or the equivalent) or a baccalaureate degree from an accredited Canadian university (or equivalent) that is not listed above, and who have at least (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field, may be considered on an individual basis.

Important Notes for College Diploma Applicants:

  • Due to competition, applicants will normally be required to present academic averages significantly higher than the minimum.
  • College diploma applicants with less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field will not be considered and should apply to the full-time Advanced Standing - Second Year Entry option.
  • Successful college diploma applicants are required to complete four (4) courses, in addition to the third and fourth year curriculum, as part of their degree requirements, as follows: Three (3) liberal studies courses, one (1) lower level and two (2) upper level, and SWP 331 Social Work Theories of Practice.
  • Successful college diploma applicants will receive transfer credit for SWP 36A/B Field Practicum at the time of admission.

Important Notes for Baccalaureate Degree Applicants:

  • Baccalaureate applicants with less than two (2) years accumulated, paid, full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in the social services field will not be considered and should apply to the full-time four-year program.
  • Baccalaureate degree holders approved to this program are not eligible to receive further transfer or challenge credits.

Non-Academic Requirements

For Part-Time, Advanced Standing to Third Year Applicants

In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application.

 Your non-academic requirements are due by February 1, 2023 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

Submit two letters of reference (one academic and one professional, or two professional). The letters of reference should speak to your potential for success in the program (e.g. your suitability for the program, strengths, etc.)

 Please save a copy of each letter and upload them. Submission instructions can be found below.

Submit a current resumé. For each job you list, please indicate:

  • Name of the organization
  • Your position/title
  • Primary responsibilities
  • Start date (month/year)
  • End date (month/year)
  • Number of hours worked per week
  • Whether it was paid or voluntary
  • Name of a person who can verify this information (with phone and/or email information)

 Please save and upload your resume as a .pdf file.

Submit a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming date(s) of paid employment and responsibilities. You need only provide enough letters to confirm two years’ worth of relevant, full-time employment.

 Please save a copy and upload your employment letter. If you have more than one employment letter, please save them as ONE document (.pdf file) and upload the one file. Submission instructions can be found below.

Please submit a Statement of Intent (500 to 700 words) addressing the following:

  • Why Toronto Metropolitan University?
  • Why Social Work?
  • Why Now?

 Please save and upload your Statement of Intent as a .pdf file.

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

Instructions on how to upload documents can be found on our Ready to Submit Your Documents? web page.

If you are applying for readmission or reinstatement, you are not required to submit the above non-academic requirements. Only a completed application and Supplementary Form are required.

After Graduation

As a skilled advocate and collaborator, you will work to advance social justice and equity for individuals, families, groups and communities in fields such as child and youth welfare; immigrant and settlement services; social action groups; health and social services; non-profit organizations; research; education and policy analysis, both in Canada and internationally. You may work as a social worker, community settlement worker, crisis care manager, behavioural support worker, wellness therapist, counsellor, service navigator, community support worker or field education coordinator. You may pursue a master of social work (MSW) or a master’s degree in other areas such as early childhood studies, immigration and settlement studies or public policy and administration at Toronto Metropolitan University.

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