I have a non-social work degree

The foundation year provides you with the crucial concepts, theory and knowledge you'll need to pursue graduate-level, social work education. Have a look at what your first year will look like.

Every student who has a degree from a discipline other than Social Work has to complete the foundation year (12 months).

You will advance to your specialization courses after you complete the foundation year - no new application is required.

The foundation year consists of 9 courses (27 units), including 450 hours of field practicum (equivalent to 1 course):

• History and Foundation of the Profession
• Professional Communication and Interviewing
• Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
• Practice with Organizations and Communities
• Social Policy and Social Justice
• Human Behaviour in the Environment
• Models of Practice
• Issues in Social Work Research
• Foundational Field Practicum

You must complete all foundation courses before you will be allowed to register in your specialization courses (described further below).

Regardless of the specialization and topic you select, you can complete your on campus residency in the foundation year at either our Calgary or Edmonton campus.

Space is limited at each campus. Your flexibility may be required.

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 three, in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.

Trauma-informed care provides a critical lens for clinical social work. Most people have had traumatic experiences, so recognizing the impact of trauma is central to professional practice. You'll learn to recognize the impacts of trauma in various contexts and provide appropriate social work interventions and supports.

Program residencies:

Calgary — offered mostly online with three, in-person residencies at our Calgary campus.

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 three, 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 three, 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 three, in-person residencies at our Edmonton 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 three, in-person residencies at our Calgary 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 three, in-person residencies at our Edmonton campus.