Program Overview

Master of Social Work Programs

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed with working professionals in mind, offering a variety of topics in areas most requested by social workers. As a Canadian leader in clinical social work education, the program provides knowledge and skills that can be applied to working with diverse groups at home and abroad.

Program Overview

• The program offers course- and thesis-based options for all specializations.
• Students can choose from specializations such as Clinical Social Work Practice and International & Community Development.

Specializations

• Clinical Social Work Practice: This specialization focuses on providing critical, culturally appropriate, and therapeutic assessments and interventions with individuals, families, and groups in a range of settings. Students learn to conceptualize client problems and solutions within a framework that values each client's life context.
• International & Community Development: This specialization provides skills and knowledge needed to critically examine and engage with development policies and practices. Students learn ethical approaches to working with diverse populations in global and local contexts and develop community development skills that can be used in Canada or abroad.

Admission Requirements

• A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree or a four-year bachelor degree from an accredited/recognized institution, awarded by March 1.
• A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
• The equivalent of two years of full-time paid work or a minimum of 3,000 hours of paid and/or volunteer work in the human services field by the application deadline.
• English Language Proficiency

Foundation Year

• For students without a Bachelor of Social Work, the program begins with a year of foundational study.
• The foundation year provides crucial concepts, theory, and knowledge needed to pursue graduate-level social work education.
• Working full-time during the foundation year is not recommended.

Career Opportunities

• A Master of Social Work provides knowledge and skills that can be applied to a huge variety of careers.
• It also provides a perspective that lasts a lifetime.
• Social work can be a calling, offering a professional identity that is meaningful and worth bringing into various fields, including medicine.

Testimonials

• "Social work came into my life when I really needed to learn the lessons it had to teach me."
• "Nothing spoke to me louder than social work."

Application Details

• Applications for spring 2026 opened on August 15, 2025.
• The application deadline is November 5.
• Applications are currently closed.

University Acknowledgement

The University of Calgary acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation within Alberta. The University strives to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way” on this land.