Laurier's Bachelor of Social Work program receives national accreditation

March 24, 2020

The Bachelor of Social Work program in the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University has received its first accreditation from the Canadian Association for Social Work Education – Association canadienne pour la formation en travail social (CASWE-ACFTS).

The eight-year accreditation, awarded by the CASWE-ACFTS Commission on Accreditation, has no conditions, meaning the program met all national standards, rare for a program seeking its first accreditation.

“We are very proud of our Social Work program at Laurier,” said Dawn Buzza, dean of the Faculty of Social Work. “The fact that we received our accreditation with no conditions solidifies our reputation as an excellent professional and experiential program in Canada.”

Social work programs across Canada receive CASWE-ACFTS accreditation when they meet national standards that promote excellence in social work education and practice. The process includes an in-depth review of every aspect of a program, as well as a self-study report, site visit and interviews with students, staff, faculty and community partners.

The Social Work program at Laurier “has a young, productive faculty team, a well-developed curriculum consistent with the core learning objectives, and a robust field education program,” said CASWE-ACFTS co-chair Patricia MacKenzie in the decision notice. “The faculty has a very positive image in the larger Brantford community and is to be commended for taking a collaborative approach to develop and deliver a program of excellence for undergraduate students seeking a BSW in this region.”

The period of accreditation for the program is until January 2028.

Laurier’s Bachelor of Social Work program incorporates a social work curriculum with humanities, arts and sciences to promote holistic student learning and provides immersive study opportunities through field placements.