This course provides an overview of the social work profession and its place in the social welfare system in Canada. Students will examine Indigenous and Eurocentric histories, worldviews, values, and ethics while considering approaches to practice with individuals, families, and communities. Students will learn to think critically about various fields of social work practice as they impact marginalized and disadvantaged social groups.
SWREN 120R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 220RSocial Work with Individuals - Theory and Practice 10.50 units
Students will be introduced to several theoretical approaches and interventions in the field of social work and begin to develop interview and assessment skills. Students will consider how experiences of oppression and social identities provide the necessary context for understanding the individual in the therapeutic social work relationship.
SWREN 220R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
This course introduces students to the theoretical constructs necessary for an understanding of social work with groups. Students will gain knowledge and develop skills regarding group counseling strategies, effective team functioning, and Indigenous approaches to group work.
SWREN 221R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
This course presents students with an overview of different approaches to community organization and community development, and engages students in critical assessment of the theoretical foundations, assumptions, and shortcomings of each approach. Drawing on historical and current examples of social movements and community projects, students will practice analyzing the operations of power, and learn strategies for improving wellbeing and initiating progressive social change at the community level.
SWREN 222R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 224RPoverty in Canada and its Social Consequences0.50 units
In this course students will delve into the foundations of poverty in Canadian society. From historical roots to contemporary manifestations, students will gain a comprehensive knowledge of how poverty is socially understood and the wide-ranging disparities it generates. Students will critically analyze the various stakeholders involved in designing and influencing poverty-related programs and policies, as well as the main approaches to addressing poverty.
SWREN 224R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
In this introductory level statistics course students will learn when and how to apply basic principles in the collection, manipulation, presentation, and analysis of numerical social science data. Students will build capacity to be informed consumers of quantitative and hypothesis testing information in social science research.
SWREN 250R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
Prerequisites
Students must be in level 2A
Antirequisites
Not open to students in a Faculty of Mathematics program
This course provides students with a fundamental grounding in social science research. Students will examine various conceptual and practical approaches to planning research and learn to apply both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigating social science research questions.
SWREN 251R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
Prerequisites
Students must be in level 2A or higher
Antirequisites
Complete all of the following
Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
SWREN 300RCanadian Social Welfare Policy0.50 units
In this course students will gain an understanding of key concepts in social welfare policy as it has evolved in the post-industrial era and develop their skills in social policy research and analysis. Students will examine various social, economic, and political factors that shape Canadian social welfare policy, critically assess contemporary social policy, discuss policy change processes, and debate current controversies and dilemmas regarding capitalism and the welfare state.
SWREN 300R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 301RUnderstanding Diversity in Canada0.50 units
In this course, students will explore diversity of worldviews (e.g., Indigenous, Eurocentric, Eastern) and critically analyze the notion of diversity and inequities in Canada. Students will examine the Eurocentric ideas of "self" and "others," power, privilege, colonization, oppression, discrimination, and intersectionality as they relate to lived experiences of dominance, subjugation, social justice, and social work practice.
SWREN 301R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 311RIndigenous Peoples and Canadian Public Policy0.50 units
Framed within truth, justice, and reconciliation processes underway in Canada, students will examine the historical and ongoing colonial processes and impacts of government policies that target First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Students will engage in critical analysis of government policy as a cause of (and response to) social, political, and economic problems experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.
SWREN 311R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 312RHomelessness and Public Policy0.50 units
Students will explore the root causes of the multifaceted problem of housing insecurity, examine its impact on individuals and society, and deconstruct the programs and policies for addressing it. Through a combination of theoretical exploration, case studies, and real-life examples, students will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by unhoused people and the systemic factors that contribute to their status.
SWREN 312R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
In this course students will learn how political, social, and institutional contexts shape social work practice with families. Students will learn to apply diverse theoretical approaches to working with families, analyze complex situations that social workers and families encounter, and build respectful and anti-oppressive relationships with different family members.
SWREN 321R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 331RSocial Inequality, Social Justice, and Social Action0.50 units
In this course students explore the relationship between structural power and social inequality through engagement with historic and contemporary social justice movements. Students will critically analyze economic, social, and cultural factors that perpetuate inequality and develop tools to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and seek meaningful social change.
SWREN 331R is available only to students who have been given conditional admission to the BSW program; such students must have already completed their first undergraduate degree.
SWREN 411RIndigenous Knowledges and Decolonizing Social Work Practice with Indigenous Peoples0.50 units
This integrative practice course examines colonial impacts on social work policies and service delivery that adversely affect Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Indigenous knowledges and the importance of cultural practices for healing central to shifting colonial notions of 'best interest' are examined. Engagement in a reflexive stance encourages an inward gaze and analysis of the structural powers that work to sustain political, economic, environmental, and social injustices, as well as the identification of and actions towards decolonizing social work practices, relationships, and allyship with Indigenous Peoples.
SWREN 414RInterviewing and Assessment in Social Work Practice0.50 units
This social work methods course explores the theory and skills of generalist social work practice, with particular attention to interviewing, communication, and assessment skills used with individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Emphasis is placed on developing capacity for "critical reflection" on the social work practitioner's professional and personal self.
SWREN 422RMacro Practice: Critical Considerations of Community Organization0.50 units
The course examines and compares the strengths, limitations, differential uses, and interconnections of the range of skills needed for community organization, social planning, and social policy practice. Practical applications such as conference planning, proposal writing and fund raising will be explored.
SWREN 423RSocial Work Knowledge and Skills for Diverse Group Work Practice0.50 units
The aim of this course is to develop student's knowledge of different approaches to social group work practice, and the ways in which specialized knowledge of client's life conditions, life circumstances, and significant life events informs social work practice with groups within a generalist framework. Emphasis is placed upon conceptualizing and analyzing group-work skills and the capacity for self-directed practice with groups directed towards increasing the resiliency of the group as a whole and the resiliency of individual group members. A salient goal is the use of democratic means so that group process in all social work groups reflects a vision of social justice.
In this course, students will apply critical and anti-oppressive theories to examine how organizations shape social work practice. Students will investigate the relations between social workers, service users, agency colleagues, and other institutions in particular practice settings, and how these are influenced by policies, mandates, forms, and other institutional texts. Key concepts will include diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, decolonization, and institutional (in)justice.
SWREN 431RPractitioner Research in Social Work: Intersectional Considerations0.50 units
This course examines contemporary fields of practice. Attention is given to historical developments, service delivery systems, and practices. Research activities help develop a critical understanding of how social experience impacts the ways that people with diverse experiences access and encounter some of the major fields of practice.
SWREN 434RSelected Theories for Social Work Practice: Analysis and Application0.50 units
In this course, students are provided an overview of selected theories that guide a generalist-eclectic approach to social work practice. It offers students the opportunity to engage in the critical analysis and application of contemporary theories by integrating theory with social work values and principles. The course emphasizes the critical use of theory to understanding, critiquing, and transforming the social work profession.
This first practicum phase helps students understand the general structure and functioning of the helping network and the place of agency-based community settings in it. Simultaneously, the students begin to integrate interviewing and assessment skills to formulate an intervention plan with sensitivity to the diversity of the setting. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.
The second practicum phase develops students' intervention skills. Opportunity is given to enhance social work practice skills specific to particular client populations within the context of diversity, and to develop awareness of one's professional self in relation to social work practice within the agency context. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
SWREN414R - Interviewing and Assessment in Social Work Practice (0.50)
The third practicum phase helps students demonstrate understanding of, and ability to use, a range of interventions within the context of diversity. Professional identification and the integration of theory with practice are emphasized. A bi-weekly seminar runs concurrently with the practicum.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
SWREN414R - Interviewing and Assessment in Social Work Practice (0.50)
SWREN 470RMental Health Landscapes, Concepts, and Practice Approaches0.50 units
This course uses an intersectional lens to critically explore social work practice and distress, mental health, and substance use. Students explore, understand, and apply different knowledges, worldviews, and intervention frameworks related to distress, mental health, and substance use, including national policy frameworks and Indigenous approaches to wellness and healing. Key topics in mental health and substance use are considered including trauma and trauma-informed services, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented principles and services as they are relevant to social work practice. Students are introduced to community- and peer-based approaches to distress and recovery.
SWREN 471RSocial Work with Older Adults: Critical Issues and Future Trends0.50 units
Focusing on social work practice, policy and research, the course examines issues of aging such as health, economic changes, role transition, family dynamics and losses. The course also looks at implications of societal issues and the influence of recent Canadian research in the field of aging. Current innovative and traditional programs will be examined for their relevance for future work with populations of older adults.
SWREN 472RInternational Context of Practice: An Experiential Learning Opportunity0.50 units
This course provides a framework for understanding a developing country through a comparative study with Canada. The collective responses of citizens in meeting community needs in the context of colonial legacies and contemporary global influences are highlighted in both settings. The international learning experience usually takes place during Reading Week and is complemented by three days of pre-trip learning focusing on Canadian realities and one post-trip day to reflect upon the comparative analysis.