University of Toronto

M.S.W. Program with Advanced Standing

Candidates entering with a B.S.W. degree from a recognized university will be given advanced standing and will typically complete the program in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

Program Requirements

Students may complete the degree program either full-time or part-time. Part-time students must meet the same degree requirements and complete the same number of credits as full-time students, although the structure and sequencing of their individual programs of study may vary.

1. Full-time students normally complete the program over three academic sessions (September to June). Part-time students normally complete requirements within two years. The maximum time limit for completing degree requirements is four years from the date of first registration in the program. Requests for program extension are reviewed and require approval by the School of Graduate Studies accompanied by appropriate documentation.
   
2. The program of study consists of an equivalent of nine half-credit courses. Except for Gerontology, where-by the program consists of 10 half-credits, with or without a thesis option.
   
3. Students must take four required half-credit courses within the area of specialization; a required half-credit course in Research Methodology ( SWK4510H ); two half-credit course electives; and a full-year practicum. 
   

4. The thesis option may be available to a maximum of three students in any given year. For students undertaking a thesis, this requirement is equivalent to two half-credit courses. Students in the thesis option who have at least two consecutive years of prior full-time social work experience are eligible to apply for exemption of two graduate-level elective half-credit courses.  A review process is in place for exemption requests to ensure that professional criteria have been met.  Workplace supervision must have been undertaken with an M.S.W. supervisor.  Requests for course substitutions must be reviewed jointly by the Associate Dean, Research and Associate Dean, Academic.  The number of students who can exercise the M.S.W. thesis option is subject to faculty availability.
   The major steps in the thesis process are outlined below. Please refer to the MSW Thesis Manual for details:

   A. The submission of two page proposal to be vetted by the Associate Dean of Research; please attach an updated resume clearly showing your research background; attach a covering letter explaining your rationale for undertaking a thesis;
   
   B. The procurement by the student of a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the work; 
   At least one other academic member who will be on the thesis committee – referred to below as the supervisory committee;
   
   C. When the completed thesis is approved by the supervisory committee, the supervisor appoints a non-committee member who will be the External Examiner. This person will read and assess the thesis. This person should be at arms-length but for a Masters defense said person can be affiliated with the University of Toronto.
   
   D. An oral examination is held during which the student is examined on the content of the thesis. The final decision to accept, or not, the thesis will be based on both the written document and the oral defense.

   
   
5. A practicum is required, equivalent to two half-credit courses. Students' unpaid practicum must be in their area of specialization. For students enrolled in the full-time program the practicum is completed three days a week from September to April. For students enrolled in the part-time program the practicum is designed to commence as a 16-week block (Monday to Friday) in the Greater Toronto Area starting in April. Exceptions to block summer practicum must be negotiated in advance with the Practicum Office.

See Program Study: M.S.W. Advanced Standing