Master of Social Work Qualifying Year
The Master of Social Work Qualifying Year (MSWQY) provides students who have an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work with the foundation knowledge and skills required to complete the McGill School of Social Work MSW (Non-Thesis) program. The MSWQY is a two-term 30 credit sequence of in-class courses and a field internship designed to prepare students for the MSW (Non-Thesis) program.
Potential applicants should note that as a stand-alone sequence of courses, the MSWQY is not equivalent to a BSW, and students are not conferred a certificate or degree upon completion of the qualifying year alone. Upon successfully completing the MSWQY, students are eligible for admission to the McGill School of Social Work MSW (Non-Thesis) program, which is a CASWE accredited social work program giving graduates the OTSTCFQ recognized title of Social Worker.
Educational Objectives
- Understand the historical, theoretical, social, and policy context of social work.
- Develop introductory skills in practicing social work with individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Understand population groups in need, institutional structures, and policy initiatives and processes.
The MSWQY is provided at the 㽶Ƶ downtown campus only; they are not offered via distance or online education.
The language of instruction in the classroom is English, however, students are expected to be functional in French (comprehension, spoken, and written) for the field placement component of the program.
The McGill School of Social Work is a member of and the ).
For those wanting to practice social work in Québec, please note that Québec law requires candidates seeking admission to the professional social work order of Quebec (OTSTCFQ) to demonstrate a working knowledge of the French language. For more information, please see our Social Work in Quebec page.
Because the MSWQY is a qualifying year and not a graduate program, students do not have access to graduate funding and are not eligible for the “Bourse Perspective” during their qualifying year. Once they enter the MSW program students will have access to the regular funding for MSW students.