The Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum is designed to be at the cutting edge of contemporary social work practice.
Our curriculum emphasizes the development of critically reflexive practice skills through the ongoing integration of knowledge, theory and practice within a framework that promotes the advancement of equity, inclusivity, reflexivity and social justice. It is our anticipation that graduates of our program will walk alongside those with whom they work, in collaborative, inclusive, reflexive and caring ways and that they will stand up for what they believe is just.
New for Fall 2025: the Indigenous Field of Study (IFS) program moves to hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual learning. There is no need to relocate—students enrolled in the program will take a combination of in-person one-week intensives and virtual synchronous (remote) courses.
We offer several options for obtaining your Master of Social Work (MSW):
Our curriculum is designed to provide a wholly integrated foundational year that grounds all regular track full-time students in essential and interconnected social work practice areas. The second year of the program provides optimal flexibility and choice for you to focus your preferences toward micro and/or macro practices.
Classes are normally held at our Kitchener location between Monday and Friday in Term 1 and on Thursdays and Fridays over the remaining four terms. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Our part-time online program follows the same curriculum as our on-campus program but provides more flexibility for professionals already working in the field.
Classes are fully online, asynchronous and self-directed, but students must meet weekly deadlines and assignments. Each course requires a minimum of 15 hours of study per week. Most courses are 6 weeks in length. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. Specific course sequencing for each cohort will be provided after admission to the program. For more information see course descriptions.
Advanced standing one-year full-time students, will have flexibility in choosing the direction of their learning in micro and/or macro practices while building on the skills learned in the BSW program.
Classes are normally held on Thursdays and Fridays at our Kitchener location over the three terms. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Our part-time online program follows the same curriculum as our on-campus program but provides more flexibility for professionals already working in the field.
Classes are fully online, asynchronous and self-directed, but students must meet weekly deadlines and assignments. Each course requires a minimum of 15 hours of study per week. Most are 6 weeks in length. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. Specific course sequencing provided to each cohort after admission to the program. For more information see course descriptions.
The Indigenous Field of Study is the first MSW program in Canada rooted in a wholistic Indigenous worldview and contemporary social work practice. This unique program includes the use of Indigenous elders, a traditional circle process, and Indigenous ceremonies.
Learn additonal information about the program's suitability.
Classes are normally held on Mondays and Tuesdays at our Kitchener location over the three terms with a few courses being 5-day intensives and/or land based. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
The Indigenous Field of Study is the first MSW program in Canada rooted in a wholistic Indigenous worldview and contemporary social work practice. This unique program includes the use of Indigenous elders, a traditional circle process, and Indigenous ceremonies.
Learn additonal information about the program's suitability.
Classes are normally held as 5 days intensives either at our Kitchener location, on location with our partner institutions or on the land. Typically, there are no more than two 5-day intensive courses per term. Courses noted are current as of posting but are subject to change. For more information see course descriptions.
Through the International Social Work Diploma (ISWD) program, a few international placements are available for students in the regular track full-time program. Student apply to the ISWD program in the first year of the program. Note: This diploma program is temporarily suspended.
The MSW program offers a number of thesis spaces each year depending on Advisor availability. The thesis option is available to full-time and part-time students as noted in the individual program information in this section.
Students who wish to complete a thesis must discuss this with the MSW associate dean as early as possible but no later than the first term. The MSW associate dean will assist students in identifying potential thesis advisors; however, enrolment in the thesis option is contingent upon the student finding a faculty member who is willing to act as his/her thesis advisor.
Should a student start the thesis option but, in the end, choose not to finish the thesis, they are no longer eligible for the exemptions noted and therefore must fulfil all program coursework requirements to be eligible to graduate.
Students who choose the thesis option may choose to take advantage of the following exemptions.
Regular track students:
Advanced standing students:
Field education is a vital aspect of your MSW program. It constitutes a large part of your program and provides an opportunity to integrate social work theory and practice.
The purpose of field education is to provide you with the opportunity to practice and integrate advanced-level social work values, knowledge and skills, including the development of a professional “self” and professional identity as a social worker.
Field education placements are courses that are graded (pass/fail) by an agency-based, qualified field instructor assigned to teach each student. The workload of placements is controlled to facilitate an emphasis on learning.
Professional and qualified instructors teach you in the field. Field education instructors typically hold an MSW degree and are recognized as Laurier’s faculty in the field. Instructors have a minimum of two-years post-master’s experience, as well as formal training.
Field education courses are covered under student fees. There are no extra charges through the university. However, once confirmed for a placement, you are expected to pay for related expenses such as immunizations, police checks, mileage and parking. Students and instructors are not paid.
As part of your field education, you will complete courses with approved agencies that provide micro and/or macro learning opportunities. A qualified agency-based field instructor will provide supervision to help you to develop social work practice skills that reflect your foundational or advanced field education course.
Students in the on-campus program complete placement hours and attend classes at Laurier concurrently. Placements are most often located within a 150-kilometer distance from the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener. Each placement cycle, the Field Education Office recruits placements from interested social agencies. Agencies, instructors and placement learning opportunities are approved by the Field Office. The field coordinator matches students to a placement for an interview. Following the interview, the agency determines whether they can provide the student with a placement opportunity. Commuting to placement is expected and many agencies require students to have access to a car while on placement.
You will be asked to rank interest in available placements. You are assigned to a placement interview based on the requirements of your MSW program and of the agency. Your interests in particular placements are also taken into consideration. Placements at specific agency settings are not guaranteed. The Field Education office also considers new placement opportunities that you propose within the appropriate time frame.
The timelines for field education courses are structured and sequenced to reflect course requirements and program progression. The following timelines also ensure that you are able to attend field preparation seminars and workshops, and that you complete your program requirements in a timely manner.
|
Placement Type |
Days Per Week |
Months |
Total Hours Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Foundational Field Education |
Three days (Monday – Wednesday); four days (Monday – Wednesday) |
January to March; April to May |
450 hours |
|
Advanced Field Education |
Three days (Monday – Wednesday) |
September to April |
500 hours |
|
Advanced International Field Education |
Five days (Monday – Friday) |
Late August to December |
720 hours |
Students in the online program complete placement hours and attend classes online simultaneously. Students are required to propose placements within their communities. At minimum, students are required to attend placement 16 hours a week, over two days during the instructor’s availability. The majority of agencies offer placements on weekdays during regular business hours.
Students who are also working professionals are expected to negotiate time off with their employers prior to beginning the MSW program in order to ensure they will be able to complete their courses and graduation requirements within the program timelines. Placements at the student’s workplace may be possible, if they meet conditions of approval outlined by the faculty.
The placement planning process for students in the online MSW program takes into consideration their need for flexible learning within their own communities. Accordingly, the placement process is self-directed and students take the lead on proposing new placements or workplace placements based on their learning interests and geographical area. In the absence of a suitable local placement within the preferred geographical area, students will need to commute to fulfill the field requirements of the MSW program and/or request to defer their placement course.
The timelines for field education courses are structured and sequenced to reflect course requirements and program progression. The following timelines ensure that you are able to attend field preparation webinars, and that you complete your program requirements in a timely manner. Students have the option to attend placement either two days/week, three days/week or five days/week with an agency that can support the option selected. Students in the regular track part-time program are required to complete 950 placement hours. Students in the advanced standing part-time program are required to complete 500 placement hours.
|
Days Per Week |
Hours Per Week |
Total Terms |
Total Hours Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Two days |
16 hours |
4 terms |
950 hours |
|
Three days |
21 hours |
3 terms |
950 hours |
|
Four days |
28 hours |
2 terms |
950 hours |
|
Five days |
35 hours |
2 terms |
950 hours |
|
Days Per Week |
Hours Per Week |
Total Terms |
Total Hours Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Two days |
16 hours |
2 terms |
500 hours |
|
Three days |
21 hours |
2 terms |
500 hours |
|
Four days |
28 hours |
2 terms |
500 hours |
|
Five days |
35 hours |
1 term |
500 hours |
“My experience at Laurier has nurtured and inspired me. Simultaneously, it has challenged and dislocated me from the comforts of what I thought I knew and who I thought I was. I am so grateful for the transformative learning opportunity I have been afforded here.”
Andrew Hoang
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
Learn more about Laurier’s MSW programs by attending one of our upcoming virtual information sessions. These sessions cover:
Although the Indigenous Field of Study program is open to students of all cultural backgrounds, candidates for the Indigenous Field of Study must have – in addition to the Advanced Standing requirements above – some familiarity with the traditional wholistic healing approach and/or have used it in their practice. This will be demonstrated through a personal statement, references and an admissions interview.
Note: Laurier reserves the right to close applications to the part-time online MSW programs at any time after the application open date without notice. Therefore, if you are interested in a specific entry term, plan to complete Step 1 as early as possible.
A list of required documents is listed in the MSW Application Checklist below. Please visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying, specific info on supplemental documents, troubleshooting, etc.
Program application deadlines are firm. Late applications are not accepted.
Fall 2025 applications are closed. Fall 2026 applications will open as per the chart below.
| Program | OUAC Application Open for Step 1 | OUAC Application Closes for Step 1 | Supplemental Documentation Due as per Step 2 | Target for Decisions on Applications as per Step 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Standing | Sept. 15 | Oct. 31 | Nov. 21 | End of February |
| Regular Track | Sept. 15 | Oct. 31 | Nov. 21 | End of March |
| Program | OUAC Application Open for Step 1 | OUAC Application Closes for Step 1 | Supplemental Documentation Due as per Step 2 | Target for Decisions on Applications as per Step 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS Full-time | Oct. 15 | March 1 | March 15 | End of April/Early May |
| IFS Part-time | Oct. 15 | March 1 | March 15 | End of April/Early May |
For both the MSW Regular Track and MSW Advanced Standing programs, applications are accepted during the following time periods.
Program application deadlines are firm. Late applications are not accepted.
| Entry Term | Application Opens | OUAC Application Closes for Step 1 | Supplemental Documentation Due as per Step 2 | Target for Decisions on Application as per Step 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Sept. 15 |
Oct. 1 (Regular Track and Advanced Standing) |
Oct. 15 | End of February (Advanced Standing) End of March (Regular Track) |
| Winter 2027 | Feb. 2 | Feb. 23 (Regular Track and Advanced Standing) | April 1 | End of July |
| Spring 2027 | June 1 | June 19 (Regular Track and Advanced Standing) | July 31 | End of November |
1 Target dates are noted but are subject to external factors.
2 For MDiv/MSW (Full-time) program applicants: This program is jointly administered by Martin Luther University College and the Faculty of Social Work at Laurier. Applicants are required to apply to each area separately (Luther and Social Work) and to complete the application form and submit documentation and application fees as required for each area, by the specific deadlines for each program. When applying to the Faculty of Social Work, indicate in your personal statement that your anticipated program is the MDiv/MSW. Only applications for September (fall term) starts are considered.
About three to five days after you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
An application for admission to all MSW programs must include:
*Note: Applicants who have been out of school for three or more years, and who cannot obtain an academic reference, will be required to submit a second professional reference in its place. A professional reference is someone who can speak to your work and/or volunteer experience in human services. Do not include personal references from friends and family. Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded by the applicant.
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Requests for exemptions or substitutions must be made at the time of application and is part of the Statement of Interest form that is a required document in the application process.
With the exception of field courses, course exemptions may be granted based on prior graduate-level university courses up to a maximum of two half-credit core courses for the MSW Regular Track programs, and a maximum of one half-credit core courses for the Advanced Standing full-time and part-time programs. Additional requirements include:
With the exception of field courses, course substitutions may be offered based on prior undergraduate-level university courses up to a maximum of two courses for the MSW Regular Track programs. Additional requirements include:
Exemptions and/or substitutions for field placement hours/courses may be considered for students who can demonstrate successful completion of an MSW field course from a social work program accredited by Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE).
The process for requesting a field exemption/substitution includes the following requirements:
Complete our Pre-assessment Survey to verify your academic qualifications before you apply. If you have questions about the application process, view our frequently asked questions before contacting us.
“I chose Laurier because the MSW program promised to allow me to consolidate the learning I had acquired throughout my career in a timely way.”
Amanda Workman
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
Examples of jobs held by our graduates include:
The Faculty of Social Work's professional development programs offer more than 40 continuing education workshops a year. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your skills, complement your studies or explore new areas of interest, the professional development programs can help you achieve your goals.
ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.
Email socialwork@wlu.ca for admission enquiries.
For enquiries regarding the Indigenous Field of Study, email mswindigenous@wlu.ca.
