Academic Calendar - 2026
Western University Academic Calendar. - 2026
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK (HONOURS) - HONOURS SPECIALIZATION IN SOCIAL WORK
Social Work, School of
The essential module in the BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK (HONOURS) degree is the Honours Specialization in Social Work.
Note: Students who entered the module prior to September 2026 will follow the requirements in the 2025 Academic Calendar.
Admission Requirements
Only students who have been formally accepted into the Social Work program may enroll in Social Work courses at the 3000-level and beyond. Prior to admission to the Honours Specialization in Social Work students should register for their alternate degree choice(s).
Students accepted into the professional program (Year 3) must register at King's University College.
Admission to the Social Work program (Year 3) is by formal application by March 15 of the calendar year in which admission is sought. Enrolment in the Social Work program is limited.
The admission of each candidate is determined by the Director on the recommendation of the School's Admissions Committee. In the admissions process, candidates are chosen according to academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic requirements for admission may be completed by July 1 of the year in which admission to the professional program is sought. To be eligible for admission, applicants must complete not less than 10.0 courses or equivalent of university study with an overall average of 70%. These courses must include:
2.0 courses with a minimum grade of 70% in each:
1.5 courses: Social Work 1025A/B, Social Work 1026A/B, Social Work 2216A/B.
0.5 course from: Writing 1020F/G, Writing 1022F/G, Writing 2101F/G.
0.5 course with a minimum grade of 60%: Social Work 2206A/B.
7.5 additional courses:
0.5 course from Category B. (Arts and Humanities)
1.0 course from Category C. (Science)
6.0 additional courses.
Applicants must have a minimum average of 70% in the last 10.0 courses taken prior to admission to the program, with no failures.
In addition, all students must meet first-year requirements as outlined in Senate Academic Policy.
All applicants are required to complete the Casper test. There is a cost associated with this test that will be borne by the applicant.
Candidates will receive official notification of the acceptance or rejection of their application after official final year grades have been received by the School (generally the end of July of each academic year).
Module/Program Information
Module
10.0 courses:
5.0 courses completed in Year 3: Social Work 3301A/B, Social Work 3303A/B, Social Work 3308F/G, Social Work 3316A/B, Social Work 3318A/B, Social Work 3319F/G, Social Work 3320Y or Social Work 3350A/B, Social Work 3333A/B, Social Work 3344A/B, Social Work 3311A/B.
5.0 courses completed in Year 4:
2.5 courses: Social Work 4400, Social Work 4414F/G, Social Work 4415F/G, Social Work 4429A/B.
2.5 courses from Social Work electives at the 3000 level or above, including at least 0.5 from each of the following two categories (A maximum of 1.0 approved courses from outside of Social Work may be taken. Consult with the School for approved list.)
Category 1: Will primarily examine micro/meso levels of practice and course topics may include but are not limited to: addictions; crisis and trauma; mental health; children and adolescents; health care and social work; seniors; child welfare; human sexuality; thanatology; and disability studies.
Category 2: Will primarily examine macro levels of practice and course topics may include but are not limited to: advocacy; first nations; international and multicultural social work; social justice and peace.
Notes:
1. Students choosing to combine the Honours Specialization in Social Work with another module may require more than 20.0 credits to meet requirements for both modules.
2. Students may count a maximum of 1.0 courses between modules.
Progression
Progression Requirements
To be eligible to progress, third-year students must:
• successfully complete all third-year requirements;
• achieve an overall average of at least 70% in all required courses each term;
• achieve a minimum mark of 60% in each course; and
• earn at “PASS” in Social Work 3320Y or Social Work 3350B.
Impact of Incomplete (INC) Grades and Withdrawn (WDN) Status: Third-year Social Work students who have a 0.5 INC grade or WDN status in any Fall term courses by the end of the Fall term (December 31) will be ineligible to enter practicum in the following term. This means they will also be ineligible to proceed in Social Work 3320Y. Students with an INC in 0.5 courses or a WDN in any third-year Winter term courses by the end of Winter term (April 30) will not be eligible for Block Placement in the Summer term and will be removed from Social Work 3350B. Students with an INC (incomplete) in 0.5 courses or a WDN (Withdrawal) in any fourth year Fall term course by the end of Fall term will not be eligible to continue in practicum in the Winter term and will be removed from Social Work 4400. Students will be eligible for practicum after outstanding coursework has been submitted and/or WDN courses have been successfully completed. Students will be unable to join practicum partway through a term. They will be required to wait until the next time the course is offered.
Completion of Outstanding Coursework: Social Work students who have an INC grade in more than 0.5 courses during any given term will not be permitted to continue with subsequent term Social Work courses until all final coursework has been submitted and a revised grade has been issued. In such cases, students may need to postpone enrollment in the following term’s courses until the courses are offered again.
WDN Status in Required Social Work Courses: Social Work students who have WDN status in any required Social Work courses (excluding electives) are not permitted to continue with any subsequent term Social Work courses (including practicum) until the required courses have been attempted or repeated.
Failed Courses and Practicum Eligibility: To maintain academic integrity, Social Work students must successfully pass all courses, and are not permitted to progress should they fail any courses.
Practicum Attempts: If a student has two unsuccessful Practicum interviews in agency settings in one academic year, this will result in a failure of the Practicum Integration Seminar course. Students are only allowed two attempts at completing their practicum. If a student fails two times at completing their practicum, they will fail the Practicum Integration Seminar course and will not be able to continue in the Social Work program.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible to graduate, students must successfully meet all fourth-year requirements. This includes:
• maintaining an overall average of at least 70% in all required courses each term of the professional Social Work program;
• achieving a minimum grade of 60% in each course each term; and
• earning a “PASS” in Social Work 4400.