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Social Work Diploma
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The development of a Diploma of Social Work from BQFNC is the result of several years of experience in being a delivery site for social work programs from other colleges and universities in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.  The Blue Quills Diploma program is designed to prepare students for generalist social work practice, committed to addressing issues of social justice and oppression, and founded on Indigenous knowledge and practice.  Students examine both Indigenous and western paradigms, explore the environments that have shaped their own development, and identify helping and healing practices that flow from both world views.

Through this intensive two-year program, students develop both personally and professionally and integrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgment necessary to be effective social workers in a variety of settings such as child protection, family services, addictions, community development, community development, justice, schools, hospitals and more.

The Blue Quills Diploma program provides a unique model that addresses:

• The Indigenous world-view;

• Relationships with all things;

• Effects of colonization (and resulting lateral violence);

• De-colonizing the mind and developing anti-oppressive practice;

• Traditional and cultural knowledge towards strong self-identity.

This program is built upon the themes: study of self, self in helping relationships, self as change agent and self as leader.  The structure of the program is iterative rather than linear – it progresses in a spiral that adds a little with each thematic repetition rather than building lockstep.  The outcomes of this process are social workers intimately connected with the issues of community, vested with vision, grounded in knowledge of themselves, and equipped with the resources required for social action and advocacy.

Transferability:

Blue Quills First Nations College is working with the Alberta College of Social Workers, Alberta Learning, University of Calgary and other stakeholders to ensure that the BQFNC Social Work Diploma meets all provincial standards and licensing requirements.  Our Graduates will be eligible for registration as social workers and be able to transfer into BSW degree programs within Alberta.

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Admission requirements:

• English 30 or assessed equivalency

• Three letters of reference

• Personal written statement

• Employment/work history

• Relevant human service work or volunteer experience

• Child Welfare Prior Involvement Check* (required at time of practicum)

• Criminal Record Check* (voluntary)

*these are not used to de-select individuals from their interest in social work education but to identify individuals who have these histories, to explore life changes since these events were documented, and to encourage an applicant’s commitment to seek pardon on criminal records or to resolve matters arising out of prior child welfare involvement.  Students need to be aware that these may also limit practicum placement and employment opportunities in the field of social work, if not addressed.

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COURSES:

SOCIAL WORK BLOCK (14 courses)

• SWK 100 Foundations of Social Work

• SWK 110 Cree Identity and Worldview (see IYIS 101)

• SWK 200 Interpersonal Communication (see COMM 200)

• SWK 205 Counselling: A Generalist Perspective

• SWK 210 Introduction to Social Policy

• SWK 215 Social Issues: Understanding Addictions

• SWK 220 Community Healing and Development

• SWK 300 Practice with Groups

• SWK 320 Practice with Organizations

• SWK 350 Family Relationship Development (see FAM 350)

• SWK 141 First Year Practicum (300 hours)

• SWK 241 Second Year Practicum (400 hours)

• IYIS 114 Cree Language Immersion

• IYIS 300 Cultural Camp: Traditional Teachings

UNIVERSITY TRANSFER (minimum 9 required)

• ENG 275 Introduction to Essay Writing or ENG 255 Introductory Composition AU

• FAM 300 The Family Life Cycle

• HLTH 301 Health and Healing in the 21st Century

• IYIS 210 Iyiniw (Native) Studies: Historical Impacts

• IYIS 220 Iyiniw Studies: Contemporary Issues

• IYIS 310 History of Native Education in Canada

• PSYCH 101 Psychology as a Natural Science or PSYCH 102 General Psychology

• SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology

Plus one of either:

• SOC 300 Inequality & Social Stratification

• COMP 125 Introduction to Computer Applications

• Elective 3 credit course

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      Feathers by Silverhawk Creations   Last updated 05/01/2009