COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Work Diploma at MacEwan University requires the completion of 76 credits over two years, combining academic coursework with practical field placements to prepare students for professional practice in social work. In the first year, students build foundational knowledge through courses such as Analysis and Argument, Introductory Psychology, and Sociology, alongside core social work courses including Social Work Philosophy and Ethics, Introduction to Social Work Practice and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and Social Work Practice Methods I. Students also engage in field placements, gaining hands-on experience in social service settings, while learning to work effectively with families, children, and adolescents. Complementary courses in literature and a non-social work elective provide broader academic enrichment. In the second year, students advance their skills with courses such as Group Work, Social Work Practice Methods II, Mental Health, Trauma and Addictions, and Social Policy and Anti-Oppressive Practice, alongside Community Practice Methods and Social Work Methods IV. Field placements continue throughout the second year, allowing students to apply theory to practice, develop professional competencies, and cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making skills. The integration of academic rigor and experiential learning equips graduates to enter the workforce as competent, compassionate, and culturally aware social work practitioners, ready to support individuals, families, and communities in diverse social service contexts.