Information about field education for MSW students Learn more
The practicality piece in the Master’s was great. Our practicums were great experiences as well—landing in spaces where we could apply a lot of the knowledge that we got from our BSWs and MSWs.
Justin Solamillo
MSW ’12, Community Development Officer, Government of Alberta (2026)
Thesis or Course-Based MSW?
The course-based MSW program is designed to enhance the practical knowledge of social workers. Courses mirror real-life situations. The goal of this program is to graduate independent professionals to the social work profession.
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The thesis-based MSW program is designed for students who intend to pursue doctoral studies and/or anticipate a career requiring advanced program evaluation and research skills.
Program requirements in brief
Residency & Location
Your residency aligns with your chosen specialization topic. If your preferred topic is full, an alternative may be offered.
Specialization Requirements
Course-based: 12 courses (36 units), including a minimum of 500 hours of field practicum (equivalent to 2 courses)
Thesis-based: 10 courses (30 units) followed by thesis research and oral examination
Choose your specialization and topic:
Each year we offer different specialization topics. These are the choices available to BSW degree holders.
Applying for Spring 2027? Your choices are:
Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization
Learn how to lead and master therapeutic/transformative conversations with clients and other professionals across a wide range of clinical and social problems. You'll also learn how to help persons move from maintaining the status quo toward preferred ways of living and working.
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
Expand your developing clinical framework to provide evidence-based and anti-oppressive mental health services for infants, children, adolescents and their families. This is done through experiential learning that mirrors real-world clinical practice.
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
Learn how to lead and master therapeutic/transformative conversations with clients and other professionals across a wide range of clinical and social problems. You'll also learn how to help persons move from maintaining the status quo toward preferred ways of living and working.
Program residencies:
Edmonton — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Edmonton campus.
Learn to recognize the impacts of trauma in various contexts and provide appropriate social work interventions and supports. You'll also discuss vicarious traumatization and secondary traumatic stress, and take part in activities in self-awareness and self-care.
Program residencies:
Edmonton — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Edmonton campus.
International & Community Development Specialization
Using a social work lens you'll examine and engage with policies, practices and ethical approaches to working with diverse populations in global and local contexts. You'll analyze the social forces, structures, systems and international institutions that give rise to different models of social development. You'll explore and build skills to apply alternative intervention strategies and methods.
You'll also learn to work in a variety of settings including government and non-governmental agencies, and international humanitarian and relief organizations. Each step of the way you'll be challenged to imagine new ways to support global development.
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
Spring 2028 Future Choices
Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization
Learn the foundations for advanced clinical social work practice with youth and adults affected by significant mental disorders and/or addiction. Taught by leaders in the field, you will critically examine legislation, policies, mental health strategies and philosophies of care (e.g., trauma-informed, patient-centred and Indigenous approaches) and frameworks of mental health and illness (i.e., neurobiological and social determinants).
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
Learn how to lead and master therapeutic/transformative conversations with clients and other professionals across a wide range of clinical and social problems. You'll also learn how to help persons move from maintaining the status quo toward preferred ways of living and working.
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
International & Community Development Specialization
Using a social work lens you'll examine and engage with policies, practices and ethical approaches to working with diverse populations in global and local contexts. You'll analyze the social forces, structures, systems and international institutions that give rise to different models of social development. You'll explore and build skills to apply alternative intervention strategies and methods.
You'll also learn to work in a variety of settings including government and non-governmental agencies, and international humanitarian and relief organizations. Each step of the way you'll be challenged to imagine new ways to support global development.
Program residencies:
Calgary — offered mostly online with two in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.
Earned your Social Work degree outside Canada/USA? Your degree must be assessed by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) as equivalent to a Canadian BSW before applying to the MSW. Learn more