Through a transformative curriculum grounded in social justice, decolonization, Indigenization and cultural humility, anti-racism, human rights, intersectional analysis, environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and critical perspectives on social welfare, Trent’s social work students develop a strong foundation of direct practice, critical thinking skills, leadership, and social responsibility. Our vision is to produce highly qualified, ethical social workers who are passionate, practical, prepared, and professional by teaching them various theoretical approaches, research methods, critical thinking skills, and applied practice. As evidence of this overarching objective, successful graduates from the Bachelor of Social Work program at Trent will:
• Understand broad political, ethical, economic, environmental justice and policy debates impacting the social work profession and practice.
• Identify and analyze examples of cultural, economic, environmental, and social injustices in Canada and internationally.
• Be critically informed advocates for social, cultural, environmental, and economic justice who utilize critical theoretical frameworks to work towards emancipatory change systems of oppression, poverty, colonization, racism, exclusion, isolation, violence, and trauma.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the development of the modern welfare state, Canadian social policies that address inequity and other social problems, and institutional structures that contribute to or ameliorate inequity.
• Become aware of different worldviews that inform social work practice and research (e.g., Indigenous, (post)positivist, interpretivist and transformative).
• Be able to critically evaluate social and scientific research in service of social work practice.
• Be informed ‘consumers’ of research knowledge and understand, design, and potentially conduct research using a variety of methodologies/ approaches (e.g., Indigenous, statistical, transformative research, program evaluation, etc.).
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the following concepts and their application to the practice of the social work profession: culture; ethnicity; class; gender; Indigeneity; identity and social location; dignity; diversity; equity; and oppression/privilege.
• Be able to work collectively with and advocate on behalf of marginalized populations (e.g., Indigenous, Black, other racialized, Queer, Francophone Ontarians, (dis)abled, aging and economically marginalized peoples), with complex barriers to accessing justice, housing, and mental well-being supports.
• Develop the ability to engage and communicate effectively in individual, family, group, and community interactions.
• Demonstrate necessary professional oral and written communication skills.
• Develop and demonstrate critical self-reflexive knowledge and skills.
• Develop assessment, intervention, and leadership skills, regarding individual, family, group, and community interaction.
Please reference the Academic Calendar (www.trentu.ca/calendar) for the most up to date information on the BSW program and admissions policies.