Associate of Arts – Social Work

Social workers have a vital role in our society. They help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to effectively function in our society. If you are empathetic, understanding, able to work in difficult situations, and have a desire to help others, you can have a fulfilling career in social work.

Program Completion Requirements

The Associate of Arts – Social Work Associate Degree consists of courses primarily focused on social sciences and humanities. Completion of the two-year Associate Degree prepares you for competitive admission into Year 3 in a Social Work degree program at many BC and Alberta institutions.

This pathway provides the first two full years of study towards a four-year degree. All Social Work courses are taken in the final two years of study.

To view program completion requirements and individual course information, visit our Academic Calendar.

_{Note: The Academic Calendar is currently set to display program information for the 2026/27 academic year. To view other years, choose from the sort feature contained within the Academic Calendar.}

This program starts in September and January each year. Part-time students applying in the Spring semester should select University General Studies as their program when applying.

We recommend you meet with an Education Advisor for course selection.

View Program Planning Form

View or download the a pdf version of the program outline

Admission Requirements

Complete all of the following (one English and one Math):

Earned a minimum grade of C+ (65%) in at least 1 of the following:
- ENST 12 – English Studies 12
- ENFP 12 – English First Peoples 12
- ENGL090 – English – Provincial Level
Earned a minimum grade of C+ (65%) in at least 1 of the following:
- CS 11 – Computer Science 11
- CS 12 – Computer Science 12
- FOM 11 – Foundations of Mathematics 11
- FOM 12 – Foundations of Mathematics 12
- PREC 11 – Pre-Calculus 11
- PREC 12 – Pre-Calculus 12
- CALC 11 – Calculus 11
- CALC 12 – Calculus 12
- GEO 12 – Geometry 12
- STAT 12 – Statistics 12
- MATH080 – Mathematics – Advanced Level
- MATH090 – Mathematics – Provincial Level
- MATH101 – Finite Mathematics 1 (3)
- MATH111 – Business Mathematics (3)
Some courses within the program have course requisites. Refer to the academic calendar and course outline when selecting courses. Students can complete any required requisites before or after admission into the Associate of Arts Degree.

Tuition and Fees for Domestic Students

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

Year 1

Application Fee:	$30.00
Tuition:	$3,725.70
Lab Fee:	$85.38
Student Association Fee:	$69.00
Bus Pass Fee:	$88.80
Health and Dental Fee:	$240.00

Year 2

Tuition:	$3,419.46
Lab Fee:	$85.38
Student Association Fee:	$69.00
Bus Pass Fee:	$88.80
Health and Dental Fee:	$240.00

_{*Tuition and Fees for domestic students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook costs or supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}

Tuition and Fees for International Students

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

Year 1

International Application Fee:	$100.00
One-time International Education Fee:	$100.00
Tuition:	$16,340.70
Lab Fee:	$85.38
Student Association Fee:	$69.00
Bus Pass Fee:	$88.80
Health and Dental Fee:	$240.00
Guard.me Insurance:	$270.00

Year 2

Tuition:	$15,569.70
Lab Fee:	$85.38
Student Association Fee:	$69.00
Bus Pass Fee:	$88.80
Health and Dental Fee:	$240.00

*_{Tuition and Fees for international students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook and supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}

_{Refer to: International Education Fees Schedule for 2026/27 tuition.}

Career Info and Pathways

A Social Work Pre-Major can get you on the path toward a fulfilling career making a positive difference in the lives of people in need. Some careers you can work toward include:

Social / Community Service Worker *
Instructor of Persons with Disabilities
Social Worker *
Manager in Social, Community, or Correctional Services *
Other Professional Occupations in Social Science
Social Policy Researcher, Consultant, or Program Officer
Government Manager – Health and Social Policy Development or Program Administration
Therapist in Counselling or Related Specialized Therapies

* High Opportunity Occupation

Associate of Arts – Social Work – Transfer Information

Block Transfer

To Institution	Program
Royal Roads University	Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies _{Note: A student or students must meet all other entrance criteria as per the program admission requirements on the Royal Roads University website.}	Transfer Agreement

Individual Course Transfer

Notes:

No single course can be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements 60 credits of first- and second-year courses.
A course is defined by the subject for which it is granted transfer credit at SFU or UBC or UNBC or UVic.
An Arts course is defined to be any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Arts degree at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
A minimum of 18 credits in Arts must be at the second-year level in two or more subject areas. A second-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 200-level or higher level at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.

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