Education and Social Work Menu
Bachelor of Social Work Admissions
The BSW program admits approximately 70 full- and part-time students to TRU and 30 students to NVIT each fall. There are separate application packages for the TRU and NVIT programs. Students are admitted to the Bachelor Social Work program at Year 3 and must have 60 credits of university transferable coursework (typically Humanities and Social Sciences) to enter the program. Students with 54-57 credits may be considered.
The BSW program views diversity as a strength and seeks to make the social work profession more representative of the population it serves, particularly BIPOC people (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour). The program recognizes that there are institutional processes and societal barriers that prevent some applicants from gaining equal access.
Given the program's commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice, 25 percent of program seats are reserved each year for students from equity-denied groups including, but not limited to: Indigenous people (Aboriginal, First Nations, Metis, Inuit); Persons from racialized and/or ethnic minority groups; Sexual and/or gender minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, non-binary, intersex, queer, questioning); and, Persons with disabilities. Program data demonstrate the majority of applicants to the BSW program are cisgender women (who may or may not belong to the other equity-denied groups). In the context of the BSW program, cisgender woman identification alone does not qualify for seats reserved for equity-denied groups.
Students admitted to equity allocated/reserved seats must meet all other requirements for admission to the BSW program.
Start Date
All admitted Social Work students will begin their program studies in September.
Academic requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program, applicants must have 60 credits of transferable coursework. The credit requirements for admission can be met by:
- General university studies: 54-60 credits. This must include 3 credits of academic English composition (ENGL 1100 at TRU) or 6 credits of English literature, and SOCW2060 (formally SOCW200A) and SOCW2120 (formally SOCW200B or equivalents.)
- Combined Human Service Program and general university courses: At least 54 credits. This must include 3 credits of academic English composition (ENGL 1100 at TRU) or 6 credits of English literature, and SOCW2060 and 2120 or equivalents, and a completed and approved Human Service Worker/ Social Work Certificate or Diploma with a GPA of at least 2.67 (B‐) Students with a certificate or diploma may receive up to 12 discretionary credits.
- Students entering with less than 60 credits will take more than two years (or four full-time semesters) to complete the BSW degree.
To obtain credit for entry to the BSW Program a minimum GPA of 2.33 (C+) on general university coursework is required.
Applicants are advised that the BC Government requires a criminal record search as a condition of field placement.
Credit for up to 25% (15 credits) of the BSW degree may be granted through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). To be eligible for PLAR assessment, students must be admitted to the BSW program. To be awarded PLAR credit, applicants must demonstrate how their skills, knowledge and competencies match the learning offered in course(s) for which they seek credit.
As part of the admission process, you will be expected to supply an admission statement in which you express your ideas, experience and expectations about social work. Details concerning the admission statement will be supplied after application.
Application deadlines
Applications for fall 2025 will open October 1, 2024.
Please contact the NVIT Admission Office toll free, 1-877-682-3300 or e-mail info@nvit.bc.ca for application deadlines for the NVIT BSW Program.
Admission decisions
Admission to the TRU BSW Program is limited. Applicants with the highest ratings on grade point average, related experience, and the admission statement are offered admission first.
Early admission decisions for applications received prior to January 15 will be made in February. All other decisions will be made in April for the September program start date.
Registration for 3rd year students occurs in June. All new admitted students start classes in September.
Admission procedures
Individuals applying to the TRU BSW program must complete the TRU Bachelor of Social Work Admission Statement.
Complete and submit your Statement after you have applied so that it can be added to your application file.
Questions regarding admission can be directed to TRU Admissions:
Admissions
Thompson Rivers University
805 TRU Way
Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8
Tel: 250-828-5036
Email: admissions@tru.ca
Individuals applying to the NVIT BSW program must complete an NVIT BSW Admissions package. Applications to the NVIT BSW program are available from the NVIT Admission Office at each campus:
NVIT Admission Office, Merritt Campus
4155 Belshaw St.
Merritt, BC V1K 1R1
Tel: 250-378-3300
Fax: 250-378-3332
NVIT Admission Office, Vancouver Campus
200 - 4355 Mathissi Pl.
Burnaby, BC V5G 4S8
Tel: 604-602-9555
Fax: 604-602-3400
Toll free: 1-877-682-3300
Email: info@nvit.bc.ca
Program requirements
- Completion of the TRU BSW degree requires 120 credits of study, including a minimum of 60 credits in social work
- Students in the TRU BSW program must maintain a sessional grade point average of 2.33 (TRU), or they may be required to withdraw from the program.
- Students are required to adhere to the BCASW Code of Ethics during their participation in this program.
- A criminal record check is a pre-practicum requirement. Please be advised that a criminal record may limit practicum placement and preclude program completion.
- Provincial legislation requires that TRU collect criminal record checks of all new BSW students. Please be advised that a criminal record may limit course work and assignment opportunities.
- Internet access to the World Wide Web may be required of students in some social work courses, and for correspondence within the BSW Program.
