FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK SOUTHERN ALBERTA REGION (SAR) MSW PROGRAM GUIDE

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FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK

SOUTHERN ALBERTA REGION (SAR)

MSW PROGRAM GUIDE

The Vision of the Faculty of Social Work:

“Creating Social Well-Being and Just Societies”

Faculty of Social Work Southern Alberta Region 4401 University Drive West

Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4

www.ucalgary.ca/fswsouth Phone: 403.329.2119

Fax: 403.329.2787

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Greetings from the Associate Dean and Head

Southern Alberta Region, Faculty of Social Work

Whether you are ready to start your undergraduate professional social work education (BSW) or want to study social work at the graduate level (MSW), I encourage you to consider studying social work through the Faculty of Social Work's Southern Alberta Region.

We are located in two of Canada's most liveable cities. In Lethbridge, we offer a BSW degree in a traditional format while, in Medicine Hat, we offer the BSW on alternating weekends. Our MSW degree, based in Lethbridge, combines on-line delivery with short periods of residency. Whatever program you choose, you will find small, friendly classes. Our program is user friendly and you will have a wonderful opportunity to get to know your professors and fellow students. They will also get to know you. SAR faculty members are seasoned academics who have

extensive and diverse practice experiences and significant research accomplishments. We strive to make our teaching relevant and insightful, in-tune with today's issues and anticipating

tomorrow's.

Our student services staff members have in-depth knowledge of the university's procedures and requirements and will be supporting you from application to graduation. On behalf of the faculty and staff in the Southern Alberta Region, welcome. We look forward to meeting you. Heather Coleman, PhD RSW

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The University of Calgary

The University of Calgary has an outstanding international reputation for research and quality of instruction. More than 29,000 students are enrolled in the University’s undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The 14 academic faculties of the University of Calgary cover all the major fields of study, as well as a number of specialty programs. The University is committed to meeting the needs of learners, developing its role as a research university, multi-disciplinary inquiry and to giving back to the community.

The Faculty of Social Work

At the Faculty of Social Work, our vision is “creating social well-being and just societies.” Our approach to achieving this vision is to keep the learner at the centre of our efforts, contribute to excellence in professional social work, emphasize research in our curriculum and work in cooperation with social service agencies in the communities where we teach. This approach is reflected in our Mission Statement:

 Dedicated to promoting societies that respect human dignity and worth, meet basic human needs, are anti-oppressive, inclusive and based on principles of social justice.

 Committed to learners by providing and building a knowledge base and set of skills in environments designed to stimulate and support a spirit of critical inquiry.

 Focused on serving as a catalyst for positive community impact through the creation and dissemination of knowledge and innovation.

The University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work has been an innovator in social work education for more than 40 years. With over 40 faculty members, the Faculty is one of the largest

nationally. Collectively, the academic staff represents an impressive range of expertise in gerontology, child and family practice, family violence, community development,

multicultural/multiracial practice and research, management in non-profit organizations, social policy, qualitative and quantitative research and other substantive issues of concern to

contemporary social workers.

The University of Calgary is the only Alberta institution offering degrees in social work. In addition to delivering on-site and distance programs from the University of Calgary campus, we provide social work education from our Edmonton-based Central and Northern Alberta Region and our Lethbridge-based Southern Alberta Region.

In Calgary, the Faculty of Social Work is housed in the Professional Faculties Building, one of the most innovative Social Work facilities in Canada. Programs offered from the Calgary campus include the BSW (on-site and distance), MSW (onsite and distance), MBA/MSW, PhD and Post-Master’s Diploma in Advanced Studies in Social Work.

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In Edmonton, the Faculty of Social Work’s Central and Northern Alberta Region is located close to the University of Alberta campus. Students enjoy access to both University of Calgary and University of Alberta services. Programs offered from our Regional offices in Edmonton include the BSW (on-site and in rural communities) and the MSW.

In Lethbridge, the Southern Alberta Region of the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, is located at the University of Lethbridge in the University Hall building. Students enjoy access to both University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge services. Programs offered from Lethbridge include the BSW (on-site and from Medicine Hat) and the MSW.

The Social Work Profession

Social work professionals are committed to strengthening the social well-being of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society in general. Two primary goals of the profession are:

1) to help people achieve effective levels of social functioning across the life cycle and 2) to work towards societal changes that enhance the quality of life for all people, particularly those who are the most vulnerable and excluded in their respective societies.

The internationally accepted definition of social work is as follows:

“The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.”

BSW graduates are eligible for registration with the Alberta College of Social Work (ACSW), the regulating body for social work in Alberta and with other provincial regulating bodies in Canada. In order to use the ‘social worker’ designation, practitioners must be registered with ACSW. For further information about professional regulation, please contact the ACSW through their web site: www.acsw.ab.ca

Social work is a profession of “many faces,” with practitioners working in a variety of settings and with diverse groups of people. For example, some social workers prefer to work with micro-oriented client systems – individuals, families and groups. Others work with larger, macro-oriented client systems in organizations, communities and social policy contexts. Social workers can work in public institutions such as child welfare, hospitals or prisons. They can also work in non-profit and for-profit agencies and organizations providing services such as crisis, in-home support, counselling and case management to families, persons with disabilities, the elderly; for example. On a larger scale, graduates can practice in community development activities such as advocacy, social planning and community-based service delivery designed to enhance social well-being and achieve social justice for a variety of population groups, locally and globally.

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Social workers also work in multidisciplinary or administrative teams and help other

professionals to include the person-in-environment perspective in health and welfare services. Social workers also work for community-funded services to improve social well-being for client groups or engage in community development activities such as advocacy, planning and

community economic development to advance social justice and fairness for all people. Other practice opportunities can be found in health care, long-term care, home support, corrections and hospital settings.

SAR MSW Program Summary

From our Southern Alberta Region location, the Faculty of Social Work uses a blend of educational delivery formats to provide a two-year (part-time) Master’s program to BSW graduates. Combining online learning formats with on-site block, weekend programming, the Southern Alberta Region MSW is accessible to students living outside the city and to those maintaining employment while pursuing graduate education. While the program is delivered on a part-time schedule, students are eligible for government funding as full time students.

The Southern Alberta Region program leads to the MSW degree with a Clinical Social Work Practice specialization. The Clinical specialization is designed to help students develop advanced competence in intervention with individuals, families and groups. It also encourages a critical analysis of the interaction among personal, social and environmental factors in the problems clients bring to the attention of social workers. In addition to the focus on practice methods, students have opportunities to extend their knowledge of the fields of service within which those methods are applied.

The information contained in this handbook focuses on the Masters programs offered from the Southern Alberta Region. Students interested in information about Masters programs offered by the Faculty in Calgary or in Edmonton, or via our Distance MSW program, should visit the Faculty’s web site or contact a Student Advisor in the region they are interested in

attending. Faculty of Social Work programs are also described in the University of Calgary’s academic calendar; the calendar is the definitive source for all information related to students’ academic programs.

Students are admitted into the Southern Alberta Region MSW program in cohort groups. As members of a particular class, students complete courses with their cohort over the two year period. Prospective students should be aware that missing a course in the sequence may result in a delay of graduation of up to two years and extra fees.

Students may opt to complete either a course-based or thesis-based MSW. Students in the thesis route conduct original research and prepare a document that is orally defended in front of an examination committee. Students who intend to proceed to doctoral studies and/or who anticipate a career requiring advanced program evaluation or research skills often select the thesis route.

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The MSW program is a program of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary. As such, the policies and procedures of the Faculty of Graduate Studies pertain to students in our MSW program. Information regarding the Faculty of Graduate Studies is available at

http://grad.ucalgary.ca.

MSW Program Delivery

The MSW program delivered from Southern Alberta Region uses a blended-learning format. Blended learning involves the purposeful integration of internet information, and

communication technologies in teaching and learning strategies, along with classroom-based instruction.

The Southern Alberta Region MSW program uses the following communication and information sharing tools:

 D2L (a web-based course tool package)

 Adobe Connect, (a web-based audio and graphic communication program), and

 face-to-face classroom instruction at the Lethbridge campus.

Some courses are offered completely online and some combine online and regular face-to-face instruction. Although the proportion of classroom to web-based instruction varies by course, students should be prepared to attend classes in Lethbridge three times per year over weekends in August, October and February.

Technology Requirements

Students will be required to access courses online, as described above, and to utilize resources offered through the University of Calgary website, including library resources that will allow you to download journal articles and, in some cases, electronic texts and to have access to a

personal computer and network connections capable of supporting these functions. The E-Learning homepage for the University of Calgary at http://elearn.ucalgary.ca provides information about the software used in the delivery of online programs at the university.

Program Summary

Students with an undergraduate social work degree complete ten half-course equivalents for the MSW degree, six core courses, one practicum, and three options. The courses and an example of how they may be scheduled are listed in Table 2.

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8 | P a g e Table 2: An Example of Possible Course Scheduling – MSW: Clinical Specialization Curriculum

Year 1 Year 2

August – Residency 5 days Orientation and begin courses

August – Residency 5 days or 9 days if option course taken as well

Admin Day and begin face-to-face coursework October – Residency 3 days

Continue face-to-face components of courses

September – December Complete course online September – December

Complete course work online

October – Residency 3 days

Continue face-to-face components of courses January - April

Work on courses online

January – April Work on courses online February – Residency 3 days

Face-to-Face coursework

February – Residency 3 days Face-to-Face coursework May – July

Option course online Capstone exit requirement

525 hours of practicum must be completed during the two years as well

Courses Required

SOWK 651 Policy as Context for Clinical Work SOWK 653 Comparative Approaches to Change SOWK 657 Clinical Social Work Applications SOWK 659 Evidence and Clinical Practice SOWK 696 Practicum full course (525 hours)

SOWK 697 Diversity, Oppression and Justice Three Social Work Options

Thesis Route

Students in the program may apply for the thesis rather than the course-based route to the MSW. Thesis students complete the same requirements as course-based students (described above) with two exceptions:

1) thesis students require two research courses, and; 2) thesis students will take only two option courses.

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Students in the thesis route are assigned an interim faculty advisor upon admission to the MSW program. Before the end of the first year, the student selects a faculty member as permanent thesis supervisor. The student works with his or her supervisor to design, obtain ethics approval for, and complete the research involved in the thesis. The student submits the completed thesis to his or her examination committee. The committee is composed of the supervisor and at least two other examiners, one of whom must be external to the Faculty of Social Work. Prior to the oral examination, each committee member prepares a report evaluating the thesis. The oral examination of the thesis involves questions of the student by each committee member and cannot exceed two hours. At the end of the oral examination, the committee makes a recommendation regarding whether the thesis and oral defence are acceptable or

unacceptable. If the committee determines that both are acceptable, revisions to the thesis might still be required. If the committee determines that the thesis and/or the oral defence are unacceptable, the committee must indicate whether a write of the thesis and/or either a re-take of the oral examination or a withdrawal from the Faculty of Graduate Studies is

recommended.

A full description of the Faculty of Graduate Studies thesis requirements and the oral examination is provided at http://grad.ucalgary.ca/current/usefulinfo#88.

MSW Field Education

The practicum is integral to graduate education in social work; it is a core component of the MSW curriculum and a degree requirement for all students. A primary responsibility of the Office of Field Education is to ensure that students are provided with agency-based experiences that maximize opportunities for learning and practicing social work at an advanced, specialized level. To meet this responsibility, the Office of Field Education relies on relationships with a large number of affiliated agencies/organizations and professional social workers who provide field opportunities and educational supervision to University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work graduate students.

The Advanced Practicum is required of all students in the MSW program. The purpose of the course is to develop students’ existing social work knowledge and skills to a specialized level. The practicum promotes integration of the theory and skills students learn in the classroom with their professional practice and social work identity. The Advanced Practicum course requires students to complete 525 placement hours. The student receives on-site supervision from an experienced agency-based registered social worker.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MSW program in Edmonton must meet the following requirements: • A BSW degree.

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• A grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, based on the last two full years of the undergraduate degree (consisting of a minimum of 20 half-course equivalents).

• Proficiency in the English language.

Applications are considered competitively according to the following criteria: • Potential for success in graduate education as indicated by previous education

• Social work skill level, indicated by previous social work experience (paid or volunteer). • Endorsement from dependable sources, indicated by two letters of reference, one of which is from an academic referee.

• Preparedness for graduate level social work education, as indicated by a study plan. The plan should be approximately 5 pages and should describe the applicant’s educational goals and career expectations. Thesis applicants should provide an additional statement (approximately 5 pages) describing the research problem they hope to investigate and preliminary ideas about methodology.

Applicants must submit an application fee, $100 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, $130 (CDN) for international students. Applicants should consult the University of Calgary, Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for full details to ensure that they meet the minimum requirements for admission. The calendar can be accessed inline at

http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/calendar.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submission of complete applications for the MSW program in the Southern Alberta Region is January 31 for September admission. Application information and forms are available on the Southern Alberta Regions Faculty of Social Work web site at

http://fsw.ucalgary.ca/southern-alberta/prospective-students/msw/admission-info

Advance Credit

Applicants must make advance credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to raise the grade point average for admission purposes. Advance credit may be granted for not more than the equivalent of three half-courses.

Graduate Awards and Scholarships

Eligibility for Graduate Scholarships is based on 4 major criteria:

1. Your program – Social Work

2. Type of degree – Master’s course-based, Master’s thesis-based or Doctoral 3. Registration status – full-time or part-time

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11 | P a g e MSW course-based and thesis-based students may be eligible for:

1. Program Recommended Graduate Awards 2. Faculty of Social Work Awards

3. Graduate Awards Competition (GAC)

1] Program Recommended Graduate Awards

There is no application form required for these awards as your supervisor or a faculty member in Social Work would normally nominate you. You cannot nominate yourselfbut you could coordinate with your supervisor/faculty member if you are interested in being nominated. A one-page statement from the student and a Letter of Support from the supervisor/faculty member are the required documentation, both of which must be submitted directly to the Student Services office in the Faculty of Social Work.

Please note that the deadline date for nomination submissions (includes one page statement from student and letter of support from a faculty member) to the Faculty of Social Work is November 10.

The announcement about the Program Recommended Graduate Awards is made in early October via the faculty’s mailing lists. No late submissions are accepted. The FSW Graduate Scholarship Committee adjudicates all the applications and puts forward one name for each award to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship Office. The Faculty of Graduate Studies will inform all award winners via email.

It is imperative that you read the Terms of Reference for each of the Program Recommended Graduate Award to determine your eligibility. More information about these awards can be found in the Graduate Awards Database:

https://iac01.ucalgary.ca/FGSA/Public/PublicHome.aspx

List of Program Recommended Awards:

 Albert Comanor Memorial Graduate Social Work Scholarship

 Jocelyn Monsma Selby Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 M. Lilian Dick Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 Mavis Marteinson Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 RBC Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 James Gripton Doctoral Scholarship in Social Work

 Iain Cullen Ramsay Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 Ruth Hilland Graduate Scholarship in Social Work

 Alla Palagina Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Social Work For more information, see:

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12 | P a g e 2] Faculty of Social Work Awards

The Faculty of Social Work awards are open to all undergraduate (BSW) and graduate students in the Faculty of Social Work. The awards are:

 Recognition of Excellence in Student Leadership

 Recognition of Excellence in Field Practicum

 Clarice Chodak Recognition of Excellence in Social Action

 Iain Cullen Ramsay Recognition of Excellence in Personal Achievement

The competition is announced in early March and the deadline for nominations is March 31. Nominations must be submitted by the deadline to the Student Services Office in Calgary.

Recognition of Excellence in Student Leadership is awarded annually to a maximum of five students whose activities have contributed to significantly enhancing the educational experiences of students in the Faculty of Social Work. Recipients’ leadership may be formal (e.g., through involvement with student governance) or informal (e.g., through organizing social action or educational activities).

Recognition of Excellence Award in Field Practicum is awarded annually to a maximum of five students whose activities and achievements in practicum have been outstanding in a placement that has occurred during the current academic year. This Recognition of Excellence

acknowledges that while students are intended to be learners in their practica, they may also contribute meaningfully to their clients’ (individuals, groups, families, communities,

organizations) lives.

Clarice Chodak Recognition of Excellence in Social Action is awarded annually to a maximum of five students who demonstrate a commitment to social justice, civic engagement, and

volunteerism through actions against racism, anti-Semitism or other forms of injustice.

Iain Cullen Ramsay Recognition of Excellence in Personal Achievement is awarded annually to a maximum of five students whose commitment to education in social work has been

demonstrated by inspirational attitudes and behaviors in class, practica, and/or relationships with other students. This award is intended to honor excellence that may not be indicated through traditional means such as grade point average or participation in formal student governance activities. Students may demonstrate outstanding personal achievement through, for example, coping with significant personal or academic challenges while in the program or inspiring other students through particularly compassionate or empowering activities.

The Recognition of Excellence (ROE) awards are available to all Faculty of Social Work students at the University of Calgary, regardless of location, year in program or status. Students may receive the Recognition of Excellence in more than one year in a multi-year program.

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Each recipient will receive a plaque from the Faculty of Social Work indicating the date and name of the honor. Normally, the plaques are presented during the June Convocation

Celebration, and recipients’ names are added to a permanent commemorative plaque in The Faculty of Social Work.

3] Graduate Awards Competition (GAC) (http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/opportunities/gac)

These competitive awards are administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. There is an online application form and required documentation that must be submitted as a complete package to Student Services Office in Calgary. Bursary applications must be submitted directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship Office by the deadline date indicated in the application. No late submissions will be accepted.

If you access the Graduate Awards database through your portal, you will have access to a filtered list of awards available to you, based on your program type and registration status. A number of competitive awards are classified under “Special Awards and Bursaries.” Check the Terms of Reference to determine the competition type, the requirements and the application deadline. Examples of awards that are under the “Special Awards and Bursaries” category include: Captain Nichola K.S. Goddard Memorial Graduate Scholarship; CFUW/Calgary Graduate Scholarship in Social Work or Social Sciences (Canadian Federation of University Women); Doreen F. Wilson Legacy Graduate Award; Lorne and Pat Gordon/YWCA of Calgary

Graduate/Undergraduate Award; and the Harry and Laura Jacques Bursary.

MSW thesis-based students and full-time Foundation students may also be eligible for: 4] Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship

The Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship applies only to MSW students who reside in Alberta and have an Alberta mailing address listed in their Student Centre. The Faculty of Graduate Studies determines who the eligible candidates are for this particular scholarship. All successful candidates will be asked to submit an application which will be sent to you via email by the Faculty of Social Work. The application must then be returned to the Faculty of Social Work for processing. No one, including yourself, can nominate you for this particular scholarship. For more information visit: http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/opportunities/university_awards This award is open to all second-year full-time Master’s students who are:

 Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents and

 Alberta residents

 Must have completed the first year of a Master’s program as a full-time student (with 6 half courses completed over the fall and winter terms), and are registered full-time in the second year of the same Master’s program

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Students who enter into the first year of another program will not be eligible. Students who do not proceed directly into the second year of study will also not be eligible for this award. Students are not entitled to receive this award and the Arts Graduate Scholarship for the same period of study.

MSW thesis students may also apply for:

5] Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (QEII) – Master’s Level

The Master's QEII is open to qualified graduate students who are or will be, at the time of tenure, registered in a full-time Master's program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Candidates must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents and a resident of Alberta. Students whose awards begin in May are expected to carry out a full-time research program during the summer months. This award cannot be held in addition to funding from a major award.

The application form will be sent to MSW thesis students at the end of February and the deadline to submit the application to Student Services in the Faculty of Social Work is March 15. Learn more about this award

at: https://iac01.ucalgary.ca/FGSA/Public/SpecificAward.aspx?AwardID=3367

6] SSHRC and CIHR

MSW thesis students are encouraged to apply for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) or the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) external awards. For more information visit:

http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSM-BESCM_eng.asp

Applications are submitted electronically through the Research Portal, which opens on September 1. The application deadline is December 1.

You can find out more about SSHRC and CIHR on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website: http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/tricouncil

Graduate Awards Database (https://iac01.ucalgary.ca/FGSA/Public/PublicHome.aspx)

If you are a registered graduate student at the University of Calgary, you can access the

Graduate Awards Database directly through the MyUofC portal. Entering the database via your portal will allow you to view a filtered search of graduate awards based on your program of registration and allow you to save this information to your favorites list in your browser. Once

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in the portal, go to Student Services and Registration/Graduate Studies/Graduate Student Scholarships. You can view the Terms of Reference for each award to determine your eligibility. Check the Graduate Awards Database on a monthly basis to determine what Scholarship and Award competitions are available and which ones you are eligible to apply for. Check the application deadline dates and make sure you submit all required documentation to the appropriate office by the deadline date.

Consult with a faculty member regarding any scholarships or awards that you would like to apply for (Competitive Awards) or to be nominated for (e.g., Program Recommended Graduate Awards, Faculty of Social Work Awards).

The Graduate Calendar, available online at the following link, also has detailed information on Awards and Financial assistance:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/grad/current/awards-and-financial-assistance-for-graduate-students.html\

NOTE:

 Scholarship values may not remain at the level currently posted in the Graduate Awards Database.

 All scholarship correspondence to students is electronic. Please ensure that your email address is correct and current at all times, in your Student Centre.

Student Loans

The U of C Student Awards and Financial Aid web site has many links to helpful related sources. To go directly to the Alberta Government web site to learn about student loans, visit:

http://alis.alberta.ca/ec/fo/studentsfinance/about-loans.html

Please notify the Financial Aid Office at UofC ([email protected] or 403 210-7625) if you have questions about your loans or if you have applied for a student loan and have not received payment by the date fees are due. Please do this at least one week before fee deadline to avoid penalty.

Online University of Calgary Services

MyUofC

Allow you to access University web applications, D2L, airUC (wireless access), webmail, and IT Tools/Utilities.

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16 | P a g e D2L (Desire to Learn)

CBLC has some on-line delivery of coursework students will need to familiarize themselves with the following website: http://elearn.ucalgary.ca/desire2learn/home/students

Degree Navigator

http://www.ucalgary.ca/dn/

Use Degree Navigator to check to ensure you are meeting course requirements for

convocation. Students are strongly encouraged to check their degree requirements through the Degree Navigator at least once per session. If you think Degree navigator is not showing correct information, please contact the advisor through [email protected].

Course Evaluations – USRI

http://www.ucalgary.ca/usri/node/125

Course evaluations can be completed on-line prior to the end of the semester. Evaluations are anonymous, only collated results are given to instructors, and instructors do not have access to the results until after the final grades have been posted.

Student Center

You can check for any balance you have outstanding to the University, register in courses, check courses you have completed, grades received, apply for awards and Letters of Permission, and request official transcripts.

Application for Degree

Access your Student Centre to apply to convocate. For details and deadlines for convocation, please see http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/gradsteps.

Library Access

Each community has specific requirements for how students will access the site College library. On the first day of classes, the site coordinator will provide information about access on-line and hard copies from the library. Students will make extensive use of the research database including e-journals these can be found at: http://library.ucalgary.ca/services/libraryconnection

Course Registration

Follow these steps to register for your social work classes: 1. Go to My UofC. Log in using your eID and password.

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3. Under Academics, click ‘Add’

4. Select the academic term and click ‘Change’ 5. Click on ‘Search for classes’ (or ‘browse catalog’)

6. Use the drop down menu to find the course subject (SOWK = social work), enter the number if you know it (e.g., 201) and click on ‘Search’

7. When you find the class you’re looking for, make sure that it is offered in Lethbridge (Edmonton and Calgary courses are all listed in the same section).

8. Click on the green ‘Select Class’

9. After ensuring you selected the right class, click on ‘Next’, ‘Proceed to Step 2 of 3’, ‘Finish Enrolling’

10. You can double check your status by clicking on ‘My Class Schedule’ CBLC Handbook 2012/13

International Students

International students planning to do undergraduate work at the University of Calgary should be aware that most scholarship programs require Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status. However, the government of Canada does support a number of programs designed to assist individuals who wish to study in Canada on a student visa. These programs are usually organized through agencies of the individual's own government and prospective students are encouraged to explore these possibilities.

Prospective international students are strongly encouraged to contact the International Student Centre. The mandate of the Centre is to work with international students coming to the

university to assist with their adjustment to university and to Canada. Further information is available from:

International Student Centre University of Calgary

Room 275 MacEwan Student Centre 2500 University Dr. NW

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Phone: (403) 220-5581; Fax: (403) 289-4409 E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://www.ucalgary.ca/international/

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18 | P a g e Writing Expectations and Plagiarism

Students are referred to the section on plagiarism in the University Calendar:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/k-2.html

Plagiarism is an extremely serious academic offence. Plagiarism means using any source without clear documentation and/or referencing. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possible suspension or expulsion from the university. In academic papers you must document not only direct quotations but also ideas you’ve paraphrased from another source where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources. Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (www.efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have questions regarding how to document sources. Academic writing is to follow the APA (6th Edition) guidelines. http://www.ucalgary.ca/writingsupport/apa2008

Ethics

If a student is interested in undertaking an assignment that will involve collecting information from members of the public, he or she should speak with the course instructor and consult the CFREB ethics website (http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/forms/cfreb) before beginning the assignment.

Academic Appeals

A student who feels that a piece of graded term work has been unfairly graded may have the paper re-graded as follows: The student must discuss the work with the instructor within fifteen days of being notified about the mark. If not satisfied, the student should immediately take the matter to the head of the department offering the course who will arrange for a reassessment of the work within the next fifteen days. The result of that reassessment should be given to the student in writing. The reappraisal of term work may cause the grade to be raised, lowered, or to remain the same. Once regraded, that grade will stand and cannot be appealed again. There is no limit to the number of times that a student may request a reappraisal of term work. The student advisor is familiar with this process and can provide advice relevant to the issue. For more information: http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/i-4.html.

General Academic Requirements

Including academic probation can be found in the university calendar at:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/sw.html

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**It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with all University and Faculty Policies and Regulations regarding student conduct. Please refer to the following link:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/sw-3.html

Professional Suitability

Faculty of Social Work Code of Conduct

The study of social work practice places students in a position of special trust with professional social workers and their clients. The Faculty recognizes that social work education occurs both inside and outside the classroom and has the responsibility to ensure that its graduates are competent and ethical. A student's impaired judgment or non-academic misconduct may be grounds for determining whether the student should continue in the program, with or without conditions, or be dismissed from the Faculty of Social Work. See

http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/sw-2.html for further information. Non-academic misconduct link: http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/misconduct

The Alberta College of Social Workers abides by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics. Refer to the ACSW website for additional information;

http://www.acsw.ab.ca/.

Alberta College of Social Workers

The Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) is the regulatory body for the profession of social work in Alberta and is legislated under the Health Professions Act. ACSW ensures that Alberta’s social workers meet the regulations of the Health Professions Act, which includes mandatory registration and continuing competency activities.

Students can become members of ACSW for $75 per year. Student members receive

information and discounts on ACSW events, such as the Annual Conference. The ACSW website, at www.acsw.ab.ca, includes full information about registration, dates, yearly practice permits, and annual credits through conferences, education, and community service.

Once your BSW degree is complete, you will be eligible to be provisionally registered. Your BSW practicum hours (as long as you’ve been supervised by a Registered Social Worker) count toward the hours required for registration. Full RSW status will require additional practice hours under RSW supervision. Additionally, ACSW is in the process of implementing a

registration exam and additional information will be provided. A study guide and practice exam will be available when you obtain provisional registration.

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SAR Faculty & Staff Members

Patti-Jo Aiken

Administrative Manager / Student Advisor

[email protected]

Phone: 403.329.2794

Responsibilities: Advising Students interested in the Faculty of Social Work as well as students currently in our program with program planning. Working with faculty and sessional instructors in organizing courses and materials needed. Office management and administration. Dr. Betty Bastien Associate Professor [email protected] Phone: 403.220.5430 Toll-Free: 1.877.282.0667

Interests: Indigenous issues which include research,

intergenerational trauma, child welfare, language revitalization, indigenous education, and spirituality.

Dr. Betty Bastien is a member of the Piikani First Nation.

Currently, she teaches in the Faculty’s Southern Alberta region, working with students from both the Virtual Learning Circle and Learning Circle programs, and the International Indigenous

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Studies program. Her Traditional knowledge is situated in the Brave Dog Society and Thunder Pipe Carrier of the Blackfoot. Community service include; a recipient of the Women of

Distinction Award by the Lethbridge and District YWCA, Esquao Awards from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women and Profiled as a Leader in her Profession by The Advocate. Alberta College of Social Workers, (2009). Member Alumni Honor Society, University of Lethbridge in recognition of Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to the Community (2010).

Dr. Heather Coleman

Professor and Department Head

[email protected] Phone: 403.332.5279

I have been a member of the Faculty of Social Work of the University of Calgary for since 1992. I started out working in the Lethbridge Division and moved to the Calgary campus in 1994, where I remained until 2006. In 2006 I returned to the Southern Alberta Division. While on the Calgary campus, I served as BSW coordinator, Associate Dean of Students and Acting Director of Field Education.

My current teaching is in the area of family and clinical practice, research methods and field education. Since joining the Faculty of Social Work in 1992, I have taught over 30 courses at the BSW, MSW, PhD levels.

Dr. Donald Collins

Professor

[email protected]

Phone: 403.332.5273

Interests: Micro-skill training, field education, marriage counseling, family practice.

Dr. Don Collins started his professional social work career in 1972. He has practice experience in psychiatric social work, rural social work practice and family therapy.

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Collins has written a number of books in the area of field instruction as well as family social work practice. He has also published in the areas of clinical social work practice and social work education.

Upon completion of his PhD from the University of Toronto in 1984, Collins started with the Faculty of Social Work, Southern Alberta Region (Lethbridge), transferred to the Calgary campus in 1994 and has recently returned to the Southern Alberta Region in 2008. He is excited about the new MSW program in this region and plans to remain in this area.

Dr. Rachel Crowder

Assistant Professor

[email protected]

Phone: 403.317.2852

Interests: mindfulness and mindfulness-based modalities; spirituality in social work; empathy, compassion and self-compassion; feminist epistemologies, theories, subjectivities, ethics and praxis; gender and sexual diversity; social policy, social justice and community development.

Rachael Crowder joined the Faculty in July 2009 from Carleton University, Ottawa where she taught for five years. During that time she also facilitated feminist-based groups with moms and children who experienced violence, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy groups for adults dealing with stress, anxiety and depression.

Dr. Crowder’s current research interests include the effectiveness of providing a mindfulness program on-line with ‘helping’

professionals; the effectiveness of mindfulness for ameliorating and building resilience to burnout; and an investigation into the current use of contemplative pedagogy across faculties and disciplines at the University of Calgary.

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Senior Instructor

[email protected]

Phone: 403.329.2795

Dr. Linda Fehr is a Senior Instructor at the Faculty of Social Work’s Southern Alberta Region. From her office on the University of Lethbridge campus, she provides instruction within the

Lethbridge BSW & MSW programs and the Medicine Hat Learning Circles BSW program.

Linda’s teaching and learning interests are in experiential learning processes that are inquiry-based, collaborative, and cooperative; encourage critical thinking; and are student-oriented building upon student experiences, practice interests, and learning needs. Linda’s academic and research interests include social work education and social justice, anti-oppressive social work practice, field education, community service learning, distance learning, organizational development, and family practice.

Dr. Peter Gabor

Professor

[email protected]

Phone: 403.329.2386

Dr. Peter Gabor has been a member of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary for over 25 years, and since 1993 has held the rank of professor. He is an Associate Dean of the Faculty and Head of its Southern Alberta Region.

He holds a BA, BSW and MSW from McGill University and earned his PhD in social work from Arizona State University.

Prior to beginning his academic career, Gabor worked as a child and youth care worker and social worker, served as executive director of a residential children's centre and youth corrections facility, and held positions as a senior manager in the Alberta child welfare system.

Gabor currently teaches in the area of research methods,

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also taught many practice and field-based courses. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in face-to face, blended and on-line formats and is active as a workshop trainer.

Lorraine Letkemann

Instructor

[email protected]

Interests: Peace and conflict studies, international and community development, therapy, HIV/AIDS, and social work education.

Laurie Schaufert

Admin Support / Field Support

[email protected]

Phone: 403.329.2119

Responsibilities: Administrative support for the faculty, students and field coordinators.

Laurie welcomes students and visitors at reception and can direct all student inquiries.

FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK SOUTHERN ALBERTA REGION (SAR) MSW PROGRAM GUIDE