Social Work

Introduction to Social Work Practice

This course provides an overview of the history, philosophy and theories of the social work profession in Canada. The role of social workers in contemporary society is examined from social justice and client self-determination perspectives. Social structures that influence peoples’ lives, including wealth distribution, gender inequities, and prejudice, are explored as sources of oppression and marginalization in Canadian society. The relationship between personal problems and social context is examined. Multiple contexts and settings for the practice of social work are considered.

Introduction to Social Welfare

This course introduces students to the development of social welfare policy in Canada. Social and human rights reactions to social problems in general will be examined, as well as poverty and economic disadvantage in particular. The role of the social worker to influence policy development and help change the social structures that exist currently will be explored. Methods of forming social policy at the legislative and grassroots level will be considered. The intersection of personal, professional, and societal values will be examined related to larger issues of power, oppression, and the inclusion or exclusion of different members of society. During the course, students will be provided with opportunities to work on various policy issues to examine their impact on service delivery and the wellbeing of clients. The relationship between the profession of social work, political perspectives on society, and public opinion will be discussed as well.

Introduction to Social Work Practice

This course provides an overview of the history, philosophy, and ethics of the social work profession in Canada. The role of social workers in contemporary society is examined across multiple contexts and practice settings. Social work theories are introduced, and challenges faced by service users are considered from a range of theoretical perspectives. The relationship between personal problems, strengths, and social context is explored, focusing on the professional mandate to advance human rights and social justice. Social structures, including those maintaining colonialism, racism, classism, ableism, ageism, cissexism, and heterosexism are investigated as sources of oppression and marginalization in Canadian society.

Counselling Theory and Practice I

This methods course introduces students to the foundational skills of interviewing and counselling. It emphasizes the importance of versatility in working with individuals in social work settings. Students will explore and apply interviewing and counselling skills for developing relationships, goal setting, and problem solving. Using a strengths-based approach, students will reflect on their interactions with others and explore ways to promote self-determination and empowerment. The course emphasizes culturally responsive practice, including working respectfully with Indigenous people and with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and identities.

Introduction to Social Welfare

This course introduces students to social welfare policy in Canada. Students will explore the historical development of these policies, considering the political, economic, and theoretical factors that shape them. This course will examine the experience of people accessing social welfare services, including the experience of women, Indigenous people, immigrants and refugees, children, and Francophone individuals. The role of the social worker to support service users and influence existing policies and social structures will be examined. Students will investigate the intersection of personal, professional, and societal values in relation to broader issues of power, oppression and the inclusion and exclusion of different societal members. Throughout this course, students will have the opportunity to critique policies based on their impact on service users and society.

Family Systems Social Work

In this course, students will study diverse family structures, theories, and approaches to working with families. Family dynamics, strengths, and cultural and community contexts are explored. The course emphasizes self-reflection, understanding how personal background shapes practice, and applying anti-racist and decolonizing strategies to support families.

Substance Use

Students will study approaches to working with people who experience substance use-related concerns. Topics include the impacts of substance use on the brain and behaviour, psychopharmacology, prevention strategies, treatment models, and counselling frameworks. The course explores individual, family, and community perspectives, and addresses social and structural factors shaping substance use, such as colonialism, capitalism, and intersecting identities.

Social Work with Seniors

This course offers an overview of gerontology practice and policy issues from a social work perspective, focusing on the role of social workers in supporting older adults and their families in various settings. Topics include the biopsychosocial aspects of aging, housing challenges, social supports, legal considerations, substance use, mental health and end-of-life care. Students will explore issues related to mental health, and elder abuse, as well as the impact of poverty on older adults. The course utilizes inclusive, strengths-based approaches and examines aging across Indigenous, multicultural, and socio-economic contexts, with particular attention to the distinct experiences of Indigenous older adults.

Social Work Practice: Mental Health

This course provides foundational knowledge and skills for social work practice in the field of mental health. The course emphasizes strengths-based, recovery-oriented approaches. Students will explore historical, contemporary, and emerging perspectives on mental health, with a focus on the recovery model that views recovery and wellness as achievable goals. Students will examine and critically discuss models of illness classification and treatment approaches, integrating both medical and social work perspectives to support client-centered practice.

Metropolitan Social Work Practice

This course offers an overview of the knowledge and skills essential for social work practice in diverse metropolitan areas such as the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Students will explore various issues and services related to working in a metropolitan area, including issues of housing, integration, employment, transportation, recreation, food security, and health. Students will analyze the unique needs of service users in neighbourhoods such as Vancouver's Downtown East Side and urban centers like Vancouver and Surrey. The course focuses on the effects of poverty, the experiences of marginalized populations, and the social determinants of health.

Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities

This course introduces students to foundational theories and skills for working with a wide range of groups and communities in social work. Students will explore the role of group work in the pursuit of social justice and individual and community well-being. Intercultural skills and approaches that promote empowerment, equity, mutual aid, and self-awareness will be examined. The principles of Indigenous story work will be applied to group settings. Students will identify group dynamics and practice strategies to overcome obstacles that commonly arise in groups. Students will develop skills in group design, participation, and facilitation, strengthening their capacity to be effective group leaders and participants.

Race, Ethnicity & Culture in Social Work

This course examines the historical and contemporary dimensions of race, ethnicity, and culture in Canadian social work practice. Students will explore diverse theoretical approaches, with emphasis on understanding the systemic nature of racism, colonialism, and white privilege, and their impact on Indigenous, racialized, and ethno-culturally diverse communities. Through critical analysis, experiential learning, and reflexive practice, students will develop the knowledge, skills, and ethical frameworks required to engage in anti-racist, decolonizing, culturally inclusive, and equity-focused social work. The course centres lived experience and community knowledge and includes attention to Indigenous-settler relations, multiculturalism, immigration and refugee systems, and the resilience and resistance of marginalized communities in British Columbia and across Canada.

Theories and Perspectives for Social Work Practice

The course provides students with an overview of essential theories, models and perspectives relevant to generalist social work practice. Students will examine theories important to social work practice, such as developmental, biopsychosocial, systems, anti-oppression, Indigenous, feminist, strength-based, social justice, social constructivism, and structural. Students will explore the application of theories, models, and perspectives to practice and develop a guiding framework for their own practice.

Counselling Theory and Practice II

This course offers students the opportunity to explore effective approaches for counselling individuals, with an emphasis on decolonizing and anti-racist frameworks. Building on the foundational concepts of SOWK 2122, this course focuses on current evidence-based and wise practice approaches including cognitive behavioural counselling, grief counselling, crisis intervention, mediation, and motivational interviewing. Through an inclusive, culturally responsive lens, students will develop skills to engage with clients’ individual, systemic, cultural, and spiritual differences, deepening their ability to provide compassionate, empowering, and socially just support.

Practicum I

In this course students will undertake assigned social work roles and tasks within a social service organization under professional supervision. In these field activities students will practice and demonstrate their ability to integrate social work skills, ethics, values, theory, and research in their work with clients, colleagues and the broader community. Students will report and reflect on their field experiences with faculty and peers throughout the semester in small group seminars and within individual assignments. Students learn about a range of social work field settings through their participation in seminar.
This course is linked to SOWK 3240 (Practicum II) and students will maintain their placement and seminar group throughout both courses.

Child Welfare Social Work

This course provides an overview of the historical, social, philosophical, and political foundations of Canadian child welfare social work. Students will analyze child welfare systems from anti-oppressive, decolonizing, Indigenous, anti-racist, and feminist perspectives and consider the impact of factors such as class, disability, gender, and sexuality. British Columbia's current child welfare legislation, policy, and approaches will be examined and critiqued. Students will explore the knowledge and skills required to provide effective interventions to families, children and youth, and to apply common child-welfare assessment and planning tools.

Practicum II

In this course students will undertake assigned social work roles and tasks within a social service organization under professional supervision. In these field activities students will practice and demonstrate their ability to integrate social work skills, ethics, values, theory, and research in their work with clients, colleagues and the broader community. Students will report and reflect on their field experiences with faculty and peers throughout the semester in small group seminars and within individual assignments. Students learn about a range of social work field settings through their participation in seminar.
This course follows SOWK 3140 (Practicum I) and students will maintain their placement and seminar group throughout both courses.

Social Work with Indigenous Peoples

This course provides social work students opportunities to develop their competence and understanding for working collaboratively with Indigenous people. Students will explore Indigenous approaches to healing, wellness, and social work. An important theme of the course will be to understand Indigenous worldviews and experiences in the context of the historical and continuing impact of oppression and colonialism.

Macro Social Work

This course will teach students how to mobilize communities and address systemic problems that are of common concern. Students will apply a macro perspective to understanding the nature of systems, organizations, and communities. They will be introduced to wise practices in community development and in working with Indigenous communities. Students will explore strategies that support collective change efforts and promote human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. These include needs and assets assessment, change management, advocacy, evaluation, and policy development. Students will engage in community-based activities to develop and apply their macro social work skills.

Risk Assessment, Mitigation & Prevention

This course supports students in developing essential skills to conduct risk assessments through a client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive lens. Students will engage in critical analysis of evidence-based practices, examining the limitations of traditional Western approaches to risk assessment. By applying an intersectional framework, students will learn to assess risk while considering the impact of social identities on clients' experiences. The course emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and contemporary harms of risk assessment practices and seeks to support students in applying more culturally responsive and ethical risk management approaches.

Practicum III

In this course students will undertake assigned social work roles and tasks within a social service organization under professional supervision. In these field activities students will practice and demonstrate their ability to integrate social work skills, ethics, values, theory, and research in their work with clients, colleagues and the broader community. Students will report and reflect on their field experiences with faculty and peers throughout the semester in small group seminars and within individual assignments. Students learn about a range of social work field settings through their participation in seminar.
This course is linked to SOWK 4240 (Practicum IV) and students will maintain their placement and seminar group throughout both courses.

Research Methods in Social Work

This course prepares students to conduct, evaluate and apply research to improve social work practice, policy and service provision. Students will examine how qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research contribute to knowledge and understanding the limits of knowledge. Students will develop a research question and apply knowledge of research design to that question, addressing ethical issues, recruitment, sampling, data collection, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization.

Social Work in Health Care

This course explores the role and scope of social work within healthcare systems. Students will deepen their understanding of the social determinants of health, family dynamics, and biopsychosocial assessments, with a focus on their application to healthcare settings. Through a critical lens, students will examine healthcare legislation, policies, assessments, and systemic inequities in access to services, particularly for people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized communities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized groups. Students will apply social work theory to healthcare social work and critically examine the medical model as it relates to healthcare systems in Canada. The course covers the continuum of care, from acute to community settings. Key issues such as health across the lifespan, chronic illness, cultural responsiveness, ethical decision-making, adult protection, risk assessments, collaboration in interdisciplinary teams, mental health, substance use, and end-of-life care will be explored.

Social Work in Mandated Settings

This course teaches students to collaborate with individuals and families in identifying and implementing both short- and long-term goals within formal systems of support. Goals may include addressing mental health, substance use, and child welfare concerns. Students will use strength-based approaches and skills to empower families. Students will learn about culturally appropriate practice and approaches and how to engage individuals and families from diverse backgrounds. Students will learn ways to work with reluctant service users and will assess collaborative practice with individuals and families, and on interdisciplinary teams.

Practicum IV

In this course students will undertake assigned social work roles and tasks within a social service organization under professional supervision. In these field activities students will practice and demonstrate their ability to integrate social work skills, ethics, values, theory, and research in their work with clients, colleagues and the broader community. Students will report and reflect on their field experiences with faculty and peers throughout the semester in small group seminars and within individual assignments. Students learn about a range of social work field settings through their participation in seminar.
This course follows SOWK 4140 (Practicum III) and students will maintain their placement and seminar group throughout both courses.

Global and Environmental Perspectives in Social Work

In this course students will examine social work practice from a global perspective. Course content will include issues related to social justice, wealth inequality, human rights, human trafficking, global medical issues, war, oppression and colonization, particularly as these relate to migration and settlement. Students will consider how globalizing forces are manifested in local communities and learn about how to anticipate and respond to the social consequences. The environment, climate change and strategies to promote ecological sustainability will be examined at many levels. Students will apply international theory, including Indigenization, to their understanding of global issues.