NU announces Bachelor of Social Work

Students interested in helping others with a degree in Social Work have a new program to choose from, Nipissing University is launching a new Bachelor of Social Work.Students can enroll in the new Bachelor of Social Work for Fall 2015. The new program will be offered through the Faculty of Applied and Professional Studies.
The four-year degree is designed to provide a professional social work experience for students entering from high school, as well as college transfer and mature students.  The program is grounded in principles of social justice, with a particular emphasis on the historical and contemporary position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.  Graduates will be self-reflexive and knowledgeable practitioners with a solid background in the realities of northern and rural contexts.  The Bachelor of Social Work features a 700-hour practicum at its core, designed to develop practical skills and the integration of theoretical knowledge with practice.
A degree in social work offers a broad range of career opportunities and settings, including public agencies, private businesses, hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, private practices, police departments, courts and countless other interesting workplaces. Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. They work as managers, supervisors, educators, therapists, legislators and administrators and serve at all levels of government.
Nipissing’s Bachelor of Social Work was approved for funding by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities on March 4, 2015. It had previously received approval by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance.
“Social Work is a much sought-after degree option that we are asked about by prospective students on a regular basis,” said Dr. Harley d’Entremont, Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research at Nipissing.  “This degree significantly enhances the current offerings that Nipissing provides to students. We are confident that it will prove to be a popular choice and will aid enrolment growth.”
“The new Bachelor of Social Work will be attractive to employers, in the North Bay region and beyond, who have reported that they find it challenging to recruit staff with the necessary skills and education for positions in the social work field,” said Dr. Rick Vanderlee, Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Professional Studies. “This degree is also a nice complement to many of existing programs, such as Social Welfare, Sociology, Child and Family Studies, Gender Equality and Social Justice and Nursing.”