UofC

Location: MacKimmie Tower 301

Dean's Office: 403.220.5945

Dean's Office Email: [email protected]

Student Services Email: [email protected]

Website: socialwork.ucalgary.ca

Calgary Campus
MacKimmie Tower, Room 301
Program number (undergraduate): 403.220.2124; 403.220.5430; 1.877.220.0667
Program number (graduate): 403.220.6208; 403.220.3489; 1.877.220.6945
Fax: 403.282.7269
Email address: [email protected]

Edmonton Campus
3-250, 10230 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5J 4P6
Program number: 780.492.3888; 1.888.492.2083
Fax: 780.492.5774
Email address: [email protected]

Lethbridge Campus
4401 University Drive
Lethbridge, AB
T1K 3M4
Program number: 403.329.2794; 1.866.329.2794
Fax: 403.329.2787
Email address: [email protected]

International Definition of Social Work

“Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and Indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.”
(ifsw.org/get-involved/global-definition-of-social-work)

Faculty of Social Work Vision

Creating social well-being and just societies.

Faculty of Social Work Mission

• Dedicated to promoting societies that respect human dignity and worth, meet basic human needs, are anti-oppressive, inclusive, and based on principles of social justice.
• Committed to learners by providing and building a knowledge base and set of skills in environments designed to stimulate and support a spirit of critical inquiry.
• Focused on serving as a catalyst for positive community impact through the creation and dissemination of knowledge and innovation.

The Faculty of Social Work prepares BSW graduates to address individual, family, community, and social concerns in the context of diverse and changing societies. Graduates are prepared to draw upon a variety of assessment and intervention methods to help achieve social well-being outcomes with appropriate structural supports across the life span.

The program is based on the social work tenets of mobilizing strengths of individuals and groups, social engagement and civil societies, respect for diversity, inclusion, equitable participation, and social justice.

The program is grounded in the vision and mission of the Faculty, the Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the social work profession, and the national accreditation standards for schools of social work.

The BSW program provides students with the professional knowledge, theory, and skills of social work including a wide range of experiential opportunities to integrate this learning in supervised practice settings. Upon graduation, students are prepared to practice as generalist social workers in a wide variety of social welfare fields in a continuously changing world. Areas of practice may include child welfare, family violence, community development, health, gerontology, mental health and addictions, social policy development, and working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Social Work Students' Association

The Social Work Students' Association (SWSA) is actively involved in the governance of the Faculty, with representatives on Faculty Council and Faculty committees. SWSA is an active advocate of student interests and issues, and a sponsor of social events for educational and charitable causes. SWSA is active at all three campuses and all students in the faculty are eligible for membership.

The study of social work practice places students in a position of special trust with professional social workers and their clients. The Faculty recognizes that social work education occurs both inside and outside the classroom and has the responsibility to ensure that its graduates are competent and ethical. Students are expected to comply with all university policies and regulations in addition to professional standards for the Social Work profession as outlined by the Canadian Association for Social Workers, Code of Ethics (2005): casw-acts.ca/files/documents/casw_code_of_ethics.pdf and the Alberta College of Social Work Standards of Practice (2019): acsw.ab.ca/site/practice-resources.

Students are expected to be both familiar and compliant with these standards.