Students must successfully complete all first-year program requirements to be eligible for admission to the professional years. This includes SWLF 1005 or SWLF 1006/1007 with a minimum of 60%, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Psychology both with a minimum grade of 60%; and 12 credits of electives in Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences or Mathematics. The admission process includes an application form.  The applicants are rank-ordered and admitted until all spaces are filled.

Students who are admitted to professional years and are transferring from other programs, affiliates, or universities may not take SWRK 3405 unless they have completed the equivalent of 60 university credits, including SWLF 2106/7 with a minimum of 70%.

The following is the recommended pattern of courses, for a full-time student, leading to the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) degree. Deviations from this pattern must be discussed with the student's academic advisor, and approved by the school.* Generally the program consists of 66 Social Work (SWRK, SWLF) credits, and 54 credits in the arts and sciences taken over four years.

To graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Social Work a student must:

1. complete 120 credits which satisfy all stated requirements for the degree;
2. complete all Social Welfare and Social Work required courses with a minimum grade of 70%, as well as grades of "Satisfactory" in SWRK 3605 and 4605;
3. complete 6 credits of Social Welfare and Social Work elective courses with a minimum grade of 60% after no more than two attempts;
4. complete all courses presented for the degree with an overall average of 60%. Only courses completed at Laurentian University are included in the calculation of averages.

Academic status

To be in good academic standing in B.S.W., the student must meet all conditions of admission;

1. complete all SWRK and SWLF  required courses with a minimul grade of 70%
2. achieve a minimum of 70% in SWLF 1006/7, 2106/7, SWRK 2315, 3405, 3505, 4915;
3. obtain a "satisfactory" grade in both of SWRK 3605 and 4605;
4. achieve a minimum grade of 60% in 6 credits of upper year SWRK/SWLF electives;
5. have an overall average of 60% on all passed courses in the previous year or in the previous 30 consecutive credits with no failures in any course attempted.

Probation

Students who fail to attain academic standing in a given year may be allowed to continue in that program on probation by petition to APR with a positive recommendation from the school for no more than one year or 30 consecutive credits. If after one year, such students fail to attain academic standing, they must withdraw from the program.

Students failing to meet the minimum grade requirements may continue in the program on probation for no more than one year or 30 consecutive credits. They must include the specified course in their program in the probationary year. Should they fail to meet all program requirements in the probationary year, they must withdraw from the school.

Refer to the Academic Regulations common to all students for further information on transfers.

Suspension

Students will be required to withdraw from the University if they have been required to withdraw from a professional program and have not been permitted to transfer to another program. The School of Social Work, through its faculty and appropriate committees, reserves the right to suspend a student who, not withstanding her/his academic performance, fails to adhere to ethical and professional standards incumbent upon members of a helping profession

Field practicum

Field Instruction I (SWRK 3605) consists of a minimum of 300 and Field Instruction II (SWRK 4605) consists of a minimum of 400 hours of work in a practice setting approved by the School of Social Work. Considerable flexibility is permitted to students and their agency-based Field Instructors to determine appropriate work schedules. This may result in the field practicum being offered in a block (3, 4 or 5 days per week) or concurrently (2 or 2-1/2 days per week) throughout the session. Practicum settings must be approved by the field coordinator and learning contracts (including work schedules) are approved by an assigned Faculty consultant. Given the range of agency requirements and student priorities, learning contracts and work schedules differ, but all are subject to the mutual consent of the parties concerned.

Fieldwork I and II are graded by the assigned faculty consultant on a satisfactory/fail basis.

While engaged in field practice, students are expected to abide by all School, University and professional codes of conduct. In addition, students are required to respect the particular standards of the field placement setting and the policies and procedures outlined in the Field Education Manual.

Electives in Social Welfare

All SWLF courses are available as electives in social welfare to students in other programs. These courses are intended to give members of other professions or related disciplines an understanding of the ways in which society organizes services in the meeting of individual and social needs and of the role of the professional social worker.

Challenges

Many students in the program are individuals with experience in social services related fields. For students with a minimum of two years full-time experience in social services, the program offers challenge examinations which, if passed, constitute credit for SWRK 3605 and up to 6 credits of upper SWRK/SWLF electives.