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Social Work

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Our two masters level programs combine coursework, practicum and a practice-based research paper. You will graduate from one of our programs with the thorough foundation needed to work successfully with diverse populations in a wide variety of social service settings.

Our PhD program provides students with advanced scholarship related to the development and practice of critical knowledge, theory, skills and approaches to social work. The program assumes that students have prior and extensive knowledge of the field of social work. It will be open to qualified students wishing to pursue advanced scholarly study in the field of social work.

MSW in Social Work

The MSW program focuses on consideration of complexity in practice in order to enable students to engage in practice from a critical perspective.

The full-time or part-time MSW program is open to graduates of recognized universities, with a BSW or an equivalent honours undergraduate social work degree with at least a B average in the last two years of study, and related social work experience.

Two-year MSW in Social Work

The first year of the program is a foundation year, designed to introduce students to advanced social work education at the graduate level. The second year of the program is integrated into the existing one-year, full-time MSW program.

The two-year full-time MSW program is designed for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), but who hold an honours undergraduate degree in a related subject and who have relevant professional, personal and volunteer experience in the field.

PhD in Social Work

The PhD program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds, making the program a stimulating learning environment.

We encourage the further development of working relationships with a number of Research Centers at York, including the Centre for Feminist Research, the York Institute for Health Research, the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies and the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights.

Degrees Offered
Degrees Offered: 
 
Full time
Part time
MSW Advanced Standing (BSW required)XX
Two-year MSW (Bachelor degree required)XN/A
PhD Social WorkXN/A
Deadlines and Dates
Deadlines and Dates: 
Deadline date means: Date a completed application package is received by York.
Start Date September
Deadlines MSW: December 12
Two-year MSW: December 12
PhD: December 12
What you need to apply to this program
Minimum Admission Requirements: 
Type
Requirements
Academic (GPA) MSW: B+
PhD: B+
International Students: refer to the international credentials information for your country.
Language Proficiency
Do you need?
TOEFL
  • Paper-based: 600
  • Computer-based: 250
  • iBT: 100

IELTS
  • Overall Band Score: 7.5

YELT (York English Language Test)
  • Band: 1
Recommendations 3 (MSW, Two-year MSW, PhD)
OtherMSW in Social Work
  • BSW degree with a "B+" average in the last two years of study or equivalent honours undergraduate Social Work degree
  • Three letters of recommendation (one of which is academic, one professional and third can be either - academic is preferred)
  • Resumé or CV
  • Statement of interest (500 words)
  • Two years of experience in social work/social justice work (paid and/or voluntary) is preferred
 Two-year MSW in Social Work
  • Honours undergraduate degree in a related subject with a "B+" average in the last two years of study or equivalent honours undergraduate degree
  • Relevant professional, personal or volunteer experience
  • Resumé or CV
  • Statement of interest (500 words)
  • Three letters of recommendation (one of which is academic, one professional and third can be either - academic is preferred)
  • Two years of experience in social work/social justice work (paid and/or voluntary) is preferred
  • Successful completion of an undergraduate research methods course (search for "research methods" under Course Title)
 PhD in Social Work
  • MSW* with a minimum B+ average
  • Resumé or CV
  • Statement of interest, including proposal for plan of study
  • Sample of professional or academic writing
  • One-page statement of reasons for choosing York (indicate fields of study that relate to your research interest)
  • Three letters of reference (one of which is academic that addresses candidate's potential for doctoral level research)

*In exceptional cases, a master’s degree in a related discipline will be considered. In such a case, the applicant must demonstrate extensive experience in the field. Because the number of applicants greatly exceeds the number of positions available, meeting our minimum admission requirements is not a guarantee of admission.
Application Mailing Addresses
Address: 
  • Completed Application Package means:
    1. Use York University's graduate studies online application.
    2. Send all required and supplementary documents and materials in a single package. (Exception: official transcripts sent to York directly from previous educational institutions. Official transcripts must come directly from, and bear the unbroken seal of, the issuing institution.) See checklist (PDF).
  • Mail or Courier Completed Application Package to:

Mail
York University
Office of Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box GA2300
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON
CANADA M3J 1P3

Courier
York University
Office of Graduate Admissions
W322 Bennett Centre for Student Services
99 Ian MacDonald Blvd
Toronto, ON
CANADA M3J 1P3

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