Your preparation for professional practice in the dynamic and evolving field of social work begins with the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).
Make a real difference. King's BSW program trains you for rewarding social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Bachelor of Social Work Honours (BSW)
In King's Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) program, your education will be interdisciplinary: you’ll expand your knowledge and training with courses in sociology, psychology and community development. Your classroom learning will be augmented by social work practice skills developed through direct experience in a variety of social service and health organizations under professional supervision.
An integral and essential part of the undergraduate Social Work program is two supervised field placements (“practica”) to facilitate the integration of classroom theory and professional practice skills in an organizational context. You’ll have more than 700 total hours in your practica: 210 hours in the Winter term or a Spring block placement in the first year of your BSW, and up to 525 hours across the two terms of your second year. Our personalized placement matching will help you transition smoothly into your professional practice.
Learn more about King's Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) program.
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) program begins in third year. If you are entering first year at King’s, please see your academic advisor about choosing required courses. Students from college or other universities may also apply. Contact the School for information about transfer courses and pathways into upper years at King’s and the BSW program.
View the BSW Admissions Guide.
Explore our Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
Academic Admission Requirements
10.0 courses with an overall average of 70% consisting of:
2.0 courses with a minimum grade of 70% in each of these:
- SW 1025A/B - Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
- SW 1026A/B - Introduction to Social Work Practice and Communication Skills
- SW 2216A/B - Introduction to Generalist Social Work Practice and Theories
- Writing 1020F/G or 2101F/G or 2260F/G or 1032 or 1025F/G (or Writing 1002F/G + 1022F/G) or (Writing 1011F/G + 1021F/G)
0.5 course with a minimum grade of 60% in:
- SW 2206A/B - Research Methods for Social Workers (or equivalent) (King’s or Western Approved Equivalent Courses: Childhood and Youth Studies 3311F/G; Disability Studies 2224; Family Studies 2300F/G; Health Sciences 2801A/B; Psychology 2800E; Psychology 2820E; Psychology 2840F/G; Psychology 2855F/G; Nursing 3319A/B, Sociology 2206A/B; Thanatology 2201F/G); Other courses will be considered upon request and provision of a detailed course syllabus
7.5 additional courses in :
- 0.5 course from Category B (Arts and Humanities) - in addition to the Writing course
- 1.0 course from Category C (Science)
- 6.0 additional courses in any subject
Non-Academic Admission Requirements
- Resume
- References
- Supplemental questions
- Completion of Casper Test (See BSW Admission Guide for details on booking a test)
Email the School of Social Work for information about transfer courses and pathways into upper years at King’s and the BSW program.
Download the BSW Admissions Checklist.
Education Pathways
College Pathways
Most community college graduates will receive up to 1 year of transfer credits and have to complete one or more years of university courses to be eligible to apply to the BSW program. Once you apply to King’s through OUAC, your community college transcript(s) will be assessed with a view to granting advanced standing courses.
Fanshawe College
If you graduated from the Social Service Worker Program at Fanshawe College in 2020 or later, you may be able to apply to King’s BSW program. You will be required to take 2.0 credits in the summer term to be eligible. Applications are due March 15 each year and the School will assist with summer course registration. View the Fanshawe Pathway guide for more information.
Lambton College
If you graduated from the Social Service Worker Program at Lambton College in 2020 or later, you may be able to apply to the BSW Program. You will be are required to take 2.5 credits in the summer term to be eligible. Applications are due March 15 each year and the School will assist with summer course registration. View the Lambton Pathway guide for more information.
University Pathways
(with degree or two years of full-time university courses)
In many instances, we may be able to apply up to two years’ worth of credits from a prior four-year degree in any discipline, or two years of university courses (10.0 full courses) from an accredited university, toward the 4-year BSW degree. You may need to complete Social Work pre-requisites. Refer to this checklist for the BSW requirements.
You can apply to the BSW Program by March 15 and can complete any missing courses, as long as you don’t exceed 2.0 credits in person and 0.5 distance summer courses. This allows students who have not completed the necessary Social Work prerequisites to be eligible for application and admission during the same year. You have until July 1 to complete academic requirements before the September admission and the School will assist with summer course registration.
Applicants from other universities are encouraged to email the School’s advisor to get an academic assessment done before applying to the BSW program.
Program Options
| Area of Study | Honours Specialization | Specialization | Major | Minor | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOCIAL WORK |
Sample Courses
Money Matters
Scholarships/Awards
Investigate the scholarships King's offers to Social Work students.
Apply to King's BSW
Applications for King's BSW program open December 1; the application deadline is March 15.
You must have a Western or affiliate student number and UWO email address to apply to the BSW program at King's. If you don't have a Western or affiliate student number or email address, apply to King’s through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) before starting your application to King’s BSW Program. Once we receive your application through OUAC, we will send you a student number and ID.
What People Are Saying
"I came to King's as a Bachelor of Social Work student in 2021, and found a wonderful community here. I am now completing my Master of Social Work. King's has provided me with room to grow and flourish into a social worker and I am so grateful for that."
Meet Our Faculty - School of Social Work
Lucas Andersen
Lecturer
Dr. Kofi Antwi-Boasiako
Assistant Professor
Dr. Stephanie Baird
Associate Professor
Dr. Laura Beres
Full Professor
Dr. Rachel Birnbaum
Professor Emerita
Kym Briggs
Lecturer
Derek Chechak
Lecturer
Dr. Richard Csiernik
Professor Emeritus
Jared Dalton
Lecturer
Dr. Barbara Decker Pierce
Professor Emerita
Bridget DeMarchi
Lecturer
Steve Didham
Lecturer
Rhonda Hallberg
Lecturer
Dr. Laura Hogarth
Lecturer
Prof. Dermot Hurley
Professor Emeritus
Dr. Amina Hussain
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kathryn Irvine
Associate Professor
Dr. Rose Marie Jaco
Professor Emerita
Trevor Johnson
Lecturer
Daniel Kennedy
Lecturer
Dr. Laura Lewis
Associate Professor
Dr. Andrew Mantulak
Associate Professor
Dr. Kowa Qiyomiddin
Lecturer
Maureen Reid
Lecturer
Amanda Reinhart
Instructor
Dr. Jane Sanders
Interim Director
Rachel Sansone
Lecturer
Dr. Carrie Smith
Associate Professor
Mary Starnaman
Lecturer
Dr. Akin Taiwo
Interim Graduate Program Coordinator
Cheryl Vanderveen
Lecturer
Dr. Rosemary Vito
Associate Professor
Ruth Wilson
Assistant Professor