Bachelor of Social Work | Undergraduate Studies

Help people. Build community. Make change.

Are you someone who wants to make a difference, not just get a job? Do you care about people, justice and the environment? Are you curious about the world and want to make it better?

The Bachelor of Social Work program at CMU is a four-year degree designed for people who want to walk alongside others, build stronger communities, and bring care and compassion into challenging situations. Whether you're supporting families, shaping policy, or working in your neighbourhood, you'll be learning how to help in ways that are thoughtful, ethical, and grounded in community.

This isn't just a degree; it's the beginning of a journey to walk with others toward healing, justice, and real change.

BSW Application Deadline.

Completed applications are due April 30.

A select number of applicants will be invited to interview for a spot in the program. To be considered for an interview, completed applications, references, and essay must be submitted by April 30.

More Information

Why Study Social Work at CMU?

You want to work with people.

The CMU Bachelor of Social Work program is all about connection. You'll learn how to listen well, care deeply, and understand people's stories. You'll gain the skills to support others through life's challenges, whether that's in schools, hospitals, shelters, government programs, or community organizations.

You care about justice and equality.

This program helps you understand how people's lives are shaped by systems, like racism, colonialism, sexism, and poverty, and how intersecting identities like race, gender, and class connect to broader histories of oppression. You'll explore how to challenge these systems and work toward a more just and inclusive society.

You want hands-on experience.

Starting in your third year, you'll complete two Work-Integrated Learning placements, working with and learning from people and organizations making a difference. You'll graduate with over 700 hours of experience that prepares you for employment or future studies.

You're looking for a program that sees the whole person.

We know you're more than just a student. At CMU, professors get to know you. We care about your head, your heart, and who you are. You'll explore what it means to help others, while also learning about yourself and what matters most to you.

You want to do something that matters.

Social work isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up, being present, and learning to walk alongside others. If your heart is in the right place, and you're ready to grow, this program will help you become the kind of social worker the world needs.

“The fact that we get to look at social work from so many different perspectives will be really helpful for working with a broad scope of people in the future.”

– Nya Dubyk, Bachelor of Social Work student

What Makes Social Work at CMU Different?

A focus on community and citizenship.

We believe strong communities make strong people, and people make communities. You'll learn how to build connections, support families (however they're defined) and work in ways that bring people together, not leaving anyone behind.

Decolonizing and Indigenous-led learning.

CMU is committed to centering Indigenous perspectives and addressing the harm done by both the social work profession and the Christian church. You'll take courses that help you understand Indigenous histories, cultures, and ways of showing up for one another, so you can help work toward reconciliation and healing.

Interdisciplinary learning.

You won't just study social work. You'll take classes in psychology, peace studies, ecology, religion, Indigenous studies, and more. This helps you see the bigger picture and prepares you to make connections across different areas of life.

Eco-social work.

Social Work at CMU includes caring for the environment. You'll explore how climate change and environmental issues affect people, especially those who are already facing challenges, and learn how to build more sustainable, caring communities.

Faith and spirituality.

At CMU, you'll explore how beliefs shape the way we care for others. The Bachelor of Social Work program invites you to examine your own values and see how faith can be a steady anchor in a challenging, but meaningful profession.

“Education shouldn’t just make students comfortable. It should give them the tools to challenge their own ideas, address privilege, and find ways to bring about a better world.”

– Dr. Alexander Sawatzky, Professor and Chair of Social Work

What Can You Do with a Social Work Degree?

If you care about people, relationships, and justice, this program gives you the skills to walk with others through real-life challenges — and the tools to support healing and change.

Whether you want to support individuals, advocate for communities, or improve the systems we all rely on, the CMU Bachelor Social Work program helps you think critically, act compassionately, and lead with integrity.

Here are just some of the ways CMU grads put their learning to work:

Support kids, families, and caregivers.

Work in child and family services to help strengthen relationships, keep families together, and connect people with the support they need.

Walk with people through crisis and healing.

Support mental health, recovery, or housing stability by offering compassionate, informed care in clinics, shelters, or community programs.

Build stronger, more connected communities.

Coordinate outreach programs, partner with local organizations, and create safe, welcoming spaces for people to gather, share and thrive.

Support students in school settings.

Help young people navigate emotional, social, and academic challenges, and advocate for resources that support their success and wellbeing.

Work toward justice in the legal system.

Serve in roles like probation officer or community justice worker, supporting rehabilitation and advocating for dignity and accountability.

Help newcomers make Canada home.

Support immigrants and refugees with housing, employment, and language resources while advocating for inclusive, just systems.

Advocate for environmental and social justice.

Work on the front lines of environmental change, ensuring vulnerable people and ecosystems are protected through fair, sustainable policy.

Shape services and systems that work better.

Join a nonprofit, agency, or government department to improve policies, evaluate programs, and ensure services truly meet people's needs.

Pursue further study.

Social Work at CMU prepares you for further study in areas like social work, counselling, theology, public health, or law.

Note: Some careers may require additional certifications or further studies.

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)

Social Work is about people, and you can't learn to do it just by reading a textbook. That's why the CMU Bachelor of Social Work program includes over 700 hours of hands-on experience through two field placements, in the third and fourth years of the program.

These placements are where your learning comes to life. You'll work alongside experienced professionals in places like:

Your first placement will focus on community-building and social justice, helping you understand the big-picture systems that shape people's lives. Your second placement will deepen your skills in direct support, like case management, counselling, and one-on-one work with individuals and families. You'll also take part in a field seminar with your classmates to reflect on what you're learning, ask questions, and connect the dots between theory and practice. You won't be doing this alone. Faculty mentors and agency supervisors will support and guide you every step of the way.

Accreditation

The CMU Bachelor of Social Work degree has Pre-Accreditation status with the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE). This is an important first step towards full accreditation and ensures that our graduates have the same benefits and opportunities for work and future master's-level study as those from fully accredited programs.

Purpose

Shaped by the values and mission of CMU, our social work program emphasizes peace-building, community engagement, and the pursuit of social justice as key tenets for social work practice. The Bachelor of Social Work program at CMU seeks to prepare students for service with diverse individuals, groups. Families and communities through anti-oppressive, Indigenous, structural, and feminist critical approaches to social work practice. We acknowledge the history of harms social work has committed to our Indigenous relations and walk humbly towards a world that is more equitable and just for all.

Vision

Graduates of the CMU Bachelor of Social Work program are compassionate and empathetic people that demonstrate passion for peace and social justice and who critically examine and confront systems and social factors that cause harm to those most vulnerable in society. Our graduates build relationships with Indigenous and other people experiencing oppression in ways that acknowledge the shared history of harms from both the social work profession and Christian tradition. Graduates use their privilege and their skills to partner with those experiencing marginalization, enhancing the self-determination of those they serve to work collaboratively to create peaceful and just communities for all.

Program Commitments

The CMU social work program is committed to:

Critical listening through empathy, reflection, and learning.
Community building for peace, conflict resolution, advocacy, and social justice.
Critical thinking to challenge systems of oppression.
Accountability, transparency, and trust building.
Diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and anti-racism to break down barriers and build relationships.
Creativity and curiosity as tools to promote lifelong learning and growth.

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