Once it has been determined that you have met the academic requirements in (A) above, you will be mailed a package of materials which includes:
- a personal profile/questionnaire, and
- three confidential reference request forms.
All students are required to complete this questionnaire and arrange for their references to be forwarded to the College in order to have a complete admissions package.
You are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer OR employment experience. The purpose of the volunteer OR employment experience is exposure to the human services field. It is recommended that volunteer hours be completed with one organization when possible. Your main function must involve contact with people, and one reference form needs to be completed by the employment or volunteer supervisor. For further information see the volunteer information on the departmental webpage.
An interview with a Social Work faculty member is required as part of admission. Once your completed package is received by the College, you will be contacted for this interview. The majority of your work or volunteer experience must be completed prior to your interview with a Social Work faculty member.
Note: While not an admission requirement for the program, applicants are advised that they will be required to provide a Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check to most agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of a criminal record may prevent practicum placement, program completion, professional licensure and therefore affect future employment prospects. It is the decision of each agency or institution to accept or reject a student for placement or observation experience based on the results of the criminal record check. Students should be prepared for approximately $50 to $75 in extra expense to acquire these documents.
Increasingly, social work practice in many social services agencies requires workers to work extended hours of operation. Many agencies now provide a variety of programs associated with their services that operate on evenings or weekends. Students need to be prepared to work during non traditional business hours if placed in these agencies.
Note: regarding university transfer: While students may enter the SOWK Diploma program without English 30 or ELA 30-1, those intending to transfer to a university program are advised to complete English 30 or ELA 30-1 before entering the program. This will enable you to take university transferable English courses in your first year. Students who enter the program without English 30 or ELA 30-1 may take English 30 (or equivalent) upon admission to Social Work but may not complete the Diploma within four terms. English 30 or ELA 30-1 is not credited toward Diploma requirements.