Social Work University of the Fraser Valley

Overview

This Social Work MA program from University of the Fraser Valley involves five-semesters, 30 credits and includes a required 450-hour practicum. The Advanced MSW program is offered every two years in even years.

Graduates who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work can apply to our Foundational Master of Social Work program.

UFV's three-year Foundational Master of Social Work (MSW) involves one-year of undergraduate social work courses, which involves three-semesters, 33 credits and a required 450-hour practicum.   The MSW component of the program involves five-semesters, 30 credits and includes a required 450-hour practicum.  The Foundational program is also offered every two years in odd years.

Please note: the practicums in these programs (Foundational and Advanced) are not open to PLAR or challenge.

UFV's Master of Social Work program builds on the success of UFV's Bachelor of Social Work program, and draws on the expertise of the School’s experienced and diverse faculty members. Strong relationships and consultation with community agencies in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland enhance the delivery of the MSW, particularly in terms of practicum placements and supervision.

Program goals

The program goals include respect for Indigenous self-determination and a commitment to working in partnership with local First Nations communities. As well, the Master of Social Work encourages you to integrate principles of anti-oppressive and cross-cultural social work into your practice frameworks.

The program also emphasizes social work education through practices and partnerships that respect ethno-cultural diversity, development through research, and collaborative community work.

These goals are consistent with the principles of inclusion and social justice, and the mandates of UFV, the BC College of Social Workers, and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education.

Career opportunities:

The British Columbia 2025 Labour Market Outlook identifies social work as a high opportunity occupation with excellent projected employment rate.

When registered, social workers who have completed a master's degree find increased opportunities to move into leadership roles in the field. They may work as administrators, teachers, case managers, or program developers in human services. They may also conduct research or work in the area of policy development for social or government agencies.

In fact, many graduates of the Master of Social Work program have done exactly that, and now work in leadership positions, private practice, or teaching positions in the local and surrounding communities.