CBU Launches Bachelor of Social Work Program

Cape Breton University has launched a new Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program and is currently accepting applicants for the Fall 2023 semester. Designed to prepare the next generation of social workers with practice-ready skills to address social and systemic inequities, this program will use a trauma-informed lens to position graduates for success in the ever evolving field of social work. 

“At Cape Breton University, we recognize the pressing socio-economic crises and ever-growing need for social work services, especially in remote areas,” says David Dingwall, CBU President and Vice-Chancellor. “We are excited to offer the Bachelor of Social Work, and prepare the next generation of students for these in-demand roles with a focus on culturally safe practices and care.”

The 16-month program, pre-accredited through the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE), will be delivered full-time, on campus, with the exception of two field practicums. In addition to the foundational knowledge of environmental impacts of health, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and decolonization of social work practice, students will also be exposed to a variety of topics such as generational dimensions of poverty and addiction as well as advocacy and social justice work for marginalized and underrepresented communities.

“The establishment of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Cape Breton University is an incredible accomplishment,” says Cynthia Conley, Director BSW, CBU. “We are excited and eager to provide educational content with a strong foundation in social justice to future social workers who will work to foster community wellness and resiliency, toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and advocate for change in systems that affect people from all generations.”

The accelerated program structure will give CBU graduates a competitive edge in the workforce, allowing them to practice sooner than graduates from other programs. As part of the program’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the department strives to have a minimum of 20 per cent applicants who identify as Indigenous and/or African Nova Scotian admitted into the program.

Those looking to apply to the program can do so by visiting cbu.ca/apply. To learn more about the program, visit cbu.ca/socialwork.