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Social Work (MSW)

Students in the Master of Social Work program acquire the knowledge, skills and values to move beyond a generalist approach to social work into advanced innovative practice within a specialized area defined by population, issue, or type of practice that incorporates principles of respect for diversity, social inclusion and social justice.

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    Faculty

    • Faculty of Social Work
    • Faculty of Graduate Studies

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    Degree

    • Master of Social Work

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    Expected duration

    • 2 years

Social action. Social justice. Social change.

Earn your MSW

Go further

The MSW will help you develop the capacity to critically reflect on values, theory, research and existing practice approaches in a chosen area of specialization.

You will have the opportunity to master theories, research, policies and practices appropriate to advanced study, including the critical analysis of the social construction of theory and practices that may reflect injustices.

Design your own program

The MSW program offers you greater flexibility in designing a program that meets your learning objectives. You have the opportunity to meet degree requirements through a thesis or coursework option.

Unlearn biases

The MSW program will help you respond to the needs and characteristics of the various clienteles served by social workers that include ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual and gender diversity.

You will have the opportunity to develop a practice that critically reflects on “professional expert” power, white privilege, social workers' own social locations, the ways that societal oppression manifest in everyday practices, practice settings, policies, research and how these impact clients and social workers.

Challenge oppression

Develop the ability to understand, apply, and critique, social work values, ethics and practice in order to make professional judgments consistent with a commitment to promote equity and the elimination of oppressive social conditions.

Develop transferable analysis and practice skills that are aware of the origins and manifestations of social injustices and the multiple and intersecting bases of oppression, domination and exploitation.

Fully accredited

The MSW program structure includes both common core and specialized courses in compliance with the standards of our accreditation body, The Canadian Association for Social Work Education. The program structure ensures that students have knowledge and skills required to meet accreditation standards while continuing to allow for specialization.

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A group of social work students studying together.
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Three social work students look at books in the library.

Program details

The Master of Social Work degree is fully accredited and recognized internationally as both a professional and academic qualification.

Expected duration: 2 years

Tuition and fees: One year tuition, then continuing fees in subsequent years (refer to Graduate tuition and fees)

Students choose either the course-based option, the specialized course-based or the thesis option.

  • Course-based option: 27 credit hours 
  • Thesis option: 24 credit hours including master's thesis

Sample course offerings

  • SWRK 6010: Data Analysis for Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7300: Clinical Evaluation of Social Work Interventions (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7440: Policy Analysis in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7600: Critical Perspectives and Social Work (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7620: Paradigms, Methodologies and Methods for Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7630: Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7660: Social Work Perspectives on Practice with Networks, Neighbourhoods, and Communities (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7670: Community Mobilization: Application of Concepts in Social Work Practice with Groups, Networks, and Communities (3 credit hours)
  • SWRK 7690: Leadership, Strategic Program Planning, and Financial Management in Social Service Organizations (3 credit hours)

For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.

All students must complete 3 credit hours of electives, which may be taken with Social Work or other departments.

Course-based option students must also complete

  • SWRK 7180: Advance Field Practice (0 credit hours) and
  • SWRK 7190: Integrating Theory and Research in Advanced Field Practice (3 credit hours)
  • 450 hours of advanced field practice experience.

Thesis option students must take GRAD 7000 Master's Thesis (0 credit hours) in addition to the mandatory Master of Social Work courses.

Flexible program options

  • Full Time: take up to four years to complete the program
  • Part Time: take up to six years to complete the program

Our commitment to educational equity

Every effort is made to ensure that people from marginalized groups have access to the Master of Social Work program. Our Educational Equity Initiative aims to correct the conditions of disadvantage in professional education experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples in Canada, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees to Canada, 2SLGBTQ people and persons who are members of racialized groups in Canada.

Admission requirements

To qualify for admission to the Master of Social Work program, you must have a minimum of:

  • A Bachelor of Social Work degree (by June 30 of the application year) from an accredited university recognized by the University of Manitoba,
  • With a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) in the last 60 credit hours of university study.

If you have taken courses subsequent to the degree as a Special Student and/or Occasional Student and/or in a subsequent degree or a Pre-Master program, they will be calculated into the GPA as part of the last 60 credit hours.

Applicants who self-identify as members of one or more of the Educational Equity priority groups and who possess a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 will be reviewed for special consideration. Applicants with adjusted GPAs below 2.5 will not be considered.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

How to apply

The MSW program has only one application deadline per year, and applications are accepted for September entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:

  • $100 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Unofficial copies of transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
  • Paid and volunteer work history (must be completed within application)
  • Area of specialization statement (must be completed within application)
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if required

Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.

Application deadline (Canadian, US and international applicants)
Term Application deadline Apply
Fall 2022 December 1, 2021 Not Open Yet

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation and application fee by the deadline date indicated.  

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Contact us

Admission and application inquiries

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Fax: 204-474-7553

Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Program inquiries

Faculty of Social Work
Room 521 Tier Building
173 Dafoe Rd. W
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)  
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

social_work@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-7050
Fax: 204-474-7594