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Diane Roussin [BSW/96] earned her bachelor of social work at UM. She leads the Winnipeg Boldness Project, one of Canada’s leading Indigenous social innovation labs.
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“Finding your purpose is a lifelong journey. Whatever path you take, believe in yourself.”
-Diane Roussin
Social action. Social justice. Social change.
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1943
Year the Faculty of Social Work was founded
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2
Extension campuses
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$55,000
Value of entrance scholarships, bursaries and financial aid
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100
Agencies that provide fieldwork experience
BSW program changes
The new BSW program curriculum commences in Fall 2024. Please refer to the new curriculum page for the latest updates on program revisions.
Program details
The Inner City Social Work BSW Access Program at the William Norrie Centre is for mature students (21 and older) who have inner city or similar social service experience who have traditionally faced systemic barriers common to inner city life experience such as poverty, racism, school failure and marginalization.
Expected duration: 4 to 6 years (maximum of 9 years)
- Full time: 4 years
- Part time: 6 years
Students are required to complete 123 credit hours of study.
Students admitted to the Inner City Social Work Program are accepted directly into a four-year Bachelor of Social Work program and do not require prior university study.
All students are required to complete, within the first 60 credit hours of their programs:
- a minimum of one three-credit hour course with significant content in written English and
- a minimum of one three-credit hour course with significant content in mathematics.
Classes are small. Those who start the program the same year usually stay together for most classes throughout the four years. Students take the same courses that are offered on the main campus, but in a different order and with additional supports and preparation. In Year 3 and 4, students take some classes on the Fort Garry campus.
A schedule that accommodates parenting responsibilities
Since many of our students are single parents, our calendar mirrors the public school schedule. Classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m. Our holidays follow the public school schedule too, with the exception classes run until the end of July.
Sample course offerings
- SWRK 1200 Introduction to Canadian Social Welfare
- SWRK 1220 Social Justice, Diversity and Human Rights
- SWRK 1240 Social Work and Professional Identity
- SWRK 1250 Human Behaviour, Family and Community Wellbeing: Theory and Practice
- SWRK 2000 Anti-Racist Social Work Practice
- SWRK 2010 Indigenization and Decolonization in Social Work
- SWRK 2020 Community Development and Social Work
- SWRK 2040 Social Welfare Policy: Analysis and Advocacy
- SWRK 3160 Feminist Perspectives in Social Work Practice and Social Welfare Policy
- SWRK 3180 Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees
- SWRK 3200 Social Work Practice with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities
- SWRK 4254 Substance Use, Mental Health, and Social Work
For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.
Field placements
Students learn firsthand how to provide professional practice through a social service delivery system. Students may be placed in a variety of agencies including schools, probation offices, child and family services, hospitals and ethnically sensitive services.
Academic, social and financial support
We provide academic and social support for students admitted to the program, along with assisting students in arranging funding for their studies.
Admission requirements
The Inner City Social Work Program offers Full-Time and Part-Time program study options. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, be a resident of or working within the City of Winnipeg, and meet the additional eligibility requirements as listed on the applicant admission requirements page.
Interested applicants are highly encouraged to attend an information session:
Information Sessions* – Part-Time program Applicants
- Thursday, October 16, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
- Monday January 19, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
*Sessions will be held online on Zoom.
Information Sessions* – Full-Time program Applicants
- Friday, October 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
- Monday, January 5, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
*Sessions will be held in-person.
All applicants are advised that this is a competitive program with limited spaces and that applicants meeting minimum eligibility requirements cannot be assured admission.
How to apply
To apply to the Inner City Social Work Program, pick up an application form in person at the William Norrie Centre. Applications will be available from October to January for the part-time program and October to February for the full-time program. It is recommended that you attend an information session (Sessions listed above in Admission Requirements). You will receive an application form at the information session.
William Norrie Centre
485 Selkirk Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2W 2M6 Canada
204-474-7364
Fax: 204-663-8857
Learn more
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Mailing address
Undergraduate Admissions
424 UMSU University Centre
University of Manitoba
65 Chancellors Circle
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
Office location
Room 424 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Submit a question
Phone: 204-474-8808
Toll-free: 1-800-224-7713 ext 8808
Program inquiries
Inner City Social Work Program
William Norrie Centre
485 Selkirk Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2W 2M6 Canada
Email: icswp@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-8160
Fax: 204-663-8857