Timing
- Full-time: Students can finish the MSW Non-Thesis Program (45 credits) in three terms (Fall, Winter, Summer and/or Fall, 15 credits per term). Generally speaking, the MSW Thesis Program takes two years, and the MSW/BCL/JD takes a minimum of 4 years.
- Part-time: Students in the MSW Non-Thesis and MSW Thesis programs have up to 5 years to complete the program. Those registered part-time have up to 5 years; from the point of being registered full-time, students have up to 3 years to complete the program. Please see McGill Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies Time Limitations for more information.
Areas of Practice
The School of Social Work at McGill University prepares graduates for specialized professional practice in one of two areas: “Practice with Individuals and Families” and “International, Community, and Policy Practice”.
Students in all MSW Programs (except for the MSW/BCL/JD program) choose one of these areas of practice during the application process as this will guide their complementary course selection, and connection to an advisor.
To view a sample of the course timetable, click here.
Program Requirements & Required Courses *
* These requirements apply to students entering the MSW program as of Fall 2024. Students from previous entry cohorts follow the program requirements that were previously in place.
MSW Non-Thesis Program Requirements (45 credits)
Required Courses (24 credits)
NOTE:
All courses are taught in English. Students who prefer to complete their assessments in French are entitled to do so. Please note that while not a prerequisite for admission, possession of a working knowledge of the French language is important for students who are planning to do their field placement in Quebec. Otherwise, students will need to make an arrangement for their field placement to be completed outside of Quebec. Those seeking admission to the Professional Order in Quebec and did not receive their high- school education in Quebec will be required to pass a French language exam for entry into the profession in this province.
Complementary Courses (21 credits)
21 credits of 500- or 600-level courses; up to 6 credits in total may be taken outside the School of Social Work course offerings with advisor approval.
Complementary Courses by Area of Practice
Students are encouraged to select complementary courses from their primary MSW area of practice. They are also encouraged to take at least one course from the secondary area of practice, and may elect to take courses listed in the transversal list of courses.
MSW Thesis Program Requirements (45 credits)
Required Courses (33 credits)
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits of SWRK 500- or 600-level courses; up to 6 credits in total may be taken outside the School of Social Work course offerings with advisor approval.
MSW Non-Thesis/BCL/JD Program Requirements (132 credits)
Students usually take four years to complete the MSW/BCL/JD program. Students enrolled in the joint program typically begin by completing the first year of the law program. In subsequent academic terms, they combine law and social work credits. *SWRK 691 fulfills the minimum writing requirement for the BCL/JD.
A joint Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) with integrated Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) program is offered by the School of Social Work and the Faculty of Law.
Students complete 45 credits for the M.S.W. degree and 87 credits for the integrated B.C.L. and JD degrees for 132 credits.
Required Courses (30 credits)
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
Students complete 15 credits of SWRK 500- or 600-level courses. A total of 6 graduate-level credits may be taken outside the School of Social Work course offerings with advisor approval.
Plus 87 credits from the Faculty of Law. For the BCL/JD requirements, please refer to the MSW/BCL/JD Program Requirements Page.
Master of Social Work (MSW); Social Work (Non-Thesis) — Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits)
The Graduate Option in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet degree requirements in Social Work and wish to take 6 credits of approved coursework to focus on gender, sexuality, feminist, and women's studies and issues in feminist research and methods.
Required Courses (12 credits):
Complementary Courses (18 credits):
3 credits from the following:
WMST 602 Feminist Research Symposium (3 credits) OR
3 credits of WMST at the 500- or 600-level OR
3 credits of 500- or 600- level courses in another department or discipline approved as a complementary course to the Option in Gender and Women's Studies by an MSW advisor in the School of Social Work.
15 credits of 500- or 600-level courses selected from the School of Social Work. These complementary graduate level courses are preferably selected from your area of practice (e.g., individuals, families, and groups, OR international, community, and policy practice), or from the transversal list courses.
You may take up to two graduate level courses outside of the School at McGill or at another accredited university with your advisor’s written approval. When considering what complementary courses to take, you may consider ones that are relevant to your field placement.
Required Field Courses (15 credits):
Intensive Advanced Field Placement (450 hours)
Advanced Field Seminar (SWRK 665) – delivered remotely
Field placement will take place as an intensive block placement between the months of May and August. Students will be in their field placement 4 days per week for approximately 16 weeks OR 5 days a week for approximately 13 weeks to complete the required 450 hours of field placement.
When in field during these months, students must register to take two field courses: SWRK 664 (Intensive Advanced Field Placement) and SWRK 665 (Advanced Integrative Seminar). The former is worth 12 credits and consists of 450 hours of field, and the latter is worth 3 credits and will be offered remotely.
Master of Social Work (MSW); Social Work (Thesis) — Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits)
The Graduate Option in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet degree requirements in Social Work and wish to take 6 credits of approved coursework to focus on gender, sexuality, feminist, and women's studies and issues in feminist research and methods.
Required Courses (9 credits):
Thesis Option: 27 credits
*No fieldwork or field placement option credits in the Thesis option
Complementary courses: 6 credits
3 credits from the following:
WMST 602 Feminist Research Symposium (3 credits) OR 3 credits of WMST at the 500- or 600-level OR 3 credits of 500- or 600- level courses in another department or discipline approved as a complementary course to the Option in Gender and Women's Studies by an MSW advisor in the School of Social Work.
6 credits of 500- or 600-level courses selected from the School of Social Work. These complementary graduate level courses are preferably selected from your area of practice (e.g., individuals, families, and groups, OR international, community, and policy practice), or from the transversal list courses.
Practice with Individuals and Families
Students in this area of practice are encouraged to register for the following complementary courses:
The curriculum of the following complementary (transversal) courses covers both areas of practice:
International, Community, and Policy Practice
Students who identify “International, Community, and Policy Practice” as their area of practice are encouraged to register for the following complementary courses:
The curriculum of the following complementary (transversal) courses covers both areas of practice: