New Bachelor of Social Work Program Taps Into Experiential Learning

Over 200 students entered Trent’s new Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program this fall at the University’s campuses in Peterborough and Durham, starting their journey toward making a difference in local communities. Through the development of clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the awareness of social justice issues, the next generation of social workers will answer the call of the local agencies that need them.

Dr. Tara La Rose joined Trent this fall to spearhead the program at the Durham campus. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in post-secondary education to her new role, including 12 years of direct social work practice in areas ranging from homelessness to domestic violence.

“Trent’s commitment to community-based scholarship and experiential education, as well as the University’s renowned International Development, Indigenous Studies and Environment Studies programs, all tap into a number of emerging trends in social work education and practice,” Professor La Rose said. “This unique combination of resources suggests Trent has the capacity to deliver a B.S.W. program that will play a significant role in advancing the profession in a number of greatly needed areas.”

“The new Bachelor of Social Work program is an excellent addition to Trent’s wide-ranging program options and comes as a response to high demand for university level education in this field,” said Joe Muldoon, head of Trent University Oshawa. “The program will be especially successful in the Durham Region, one of Canada’s most socially and economically diverse communities in close proximity to the largest metropolitan area in the country.”

Expanding Academic Programs Meet New Demands

Bachelor of Social Work is one of several new programs to be launched at Trent this year. To meet the needs of incoming students and the demands of an increasingly diverse workforce, dynamic new programs have been added to the academic line-up at both the Peterborough and Durham campuses.  Programs launched in 2014 include:

Human Resource Management, Postgraduate Certificate
Offered exclusively at Trent University Durham, Oshawa Campus, this new program, launched earlier in 2014, provides a university-level focus on human resource skills and encourages students to understand and question the evolving nature of how companies organize and lead people.

Kinesiology, B.HSc.
Offered in partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), the Kinesiology program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to become a kinesiology practitioner, able to prescribe individualized exercise programs to improve or maintain the health, functional capacity and well-being of a range of healthy and clinical populations. trentu.ca/kinesiology

COMING IN 2015:

Communications and Critical Thinking B.A.*
Another exclusive program to Trent University Durham, this interdisciplinary program will provide students with the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills that are sought-after in employees within a world of rapid technological, cultural and social change.

Water Sciences B.Sc.
Students will address contemporary water and aquatic challenges from multiple perspectives, gaining the skills needed to provide solutions for clean water, food, energy, recreation, climate regulation and waste assimilation.

Masters of Educational Studies
The M.Ed. program will gear itself toward education professionals and those students who wish to pursue academic and leadership careers in medical or nursing education, environmental education, intersecting areas of psychology and education, and social work.

*pending Ministry approval