Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Calendar - 2011/2012
Canadian Excellence
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary  Waterloo Lutheran Seminary  Master of Divinity - Master of Social Work Program 

Master of Divinity - Master of Social Work Program

This program is offered jointly by Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and the Faculty of Social Work. It integrates the curricula of both programs in such a way that a student can fulfil the requirements in four years (excluding, in the case of MDiv-MSW students, any time required by a student's church for internship) and graduate with two degrees. This program is particularly valuable for those who are interested in positions of leadership in the social agencies of the church and the community at large. Such positions would include special ministries in a hospital, prison, leisure or counselling centre setting, placements in social work agencies which work closely with the church, and occupations in groups which are involved in broad-based programs of leadership development and community renewal. Because the completion of the joint program results in the receipt of both the MDiv and the MSW degrees, persons graduating from the joint program are also qualified to apply for other positions within the fields of social work and church ministry.

The combined MDiv-MSW program normally involves two years of registration in the Seminary and two years of registration in the Faculty of Social Work. Students pay fees and are only eligible for scholarships, bursaries and awards applicable to the program in which they are registered.

There are a limited number of positions in the joint MDiv-MSW program. Normally no more than six students are admitted to the program in any particular year. Therefore, it is desirable to apply for admission to this joint program at the earliest possible date (see the FGS admissions site for dates).

Additional Information
 
Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited Canadian university, or the equivalent;
  • A record of scholarship, documented by transcripts, which indicates a minimum average of B in the final year of the bachelor degree program, or an average of B in the final year of full-time academic work beyond the bachelor's degree;
  • A social science background which includes four credits in social science, a half-credit course in research methodology in either psychology or sociology, and a half-credit course in statistics (or one full credit which is equivalent to both of these half-credit courses). An applicant who has the necessary B standing and is thereby academically eligible, but does not have the necessary prerequisite courses, must complete all the prerequisites prior to beginning the program. Additional courses required for admission to the MSW program, that are completed after the requirements for the bachelor's degree have been met will be calculated into the final year GPA. To be considered for admission, the recalculated GPA must be at least a B average;
  • Evidence of personal suitability. The assessment is made by Laurier and the Seminary, based on the applicant's autobiographical statement, personal references, and pre-admission interview with selected representatives of the co-ordinating committee of the MDiv/MTS-MSW program.

 
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Program Requirements

Students in the joint program simultaneously take courses in the Seminary and the Faculty of Social Work. The program normally follows the pattern of study listed below. Each student is required to complete satisfactorily the courses listed below (or their equivalent) for their selected degree in the Seminary and one of three areas of concentration in the Faculty of Social Work: (1) Individuals, Families and Groups [IFG], (2) Community Policy, Planning and Organizations, or (3) an integrated program combining (1) and (2) above. Students in the MDiv degree will also be required to fulfil their church's internship requirements. Continuance of students in the MDiv degree after the first term is contingent upon their obtaining and maintaining endorsement as acceptable ministry candidates by the church of which they are a member. Descriptions for the courses listed below can be found in the general course listings for the Seminary and the Faculty of Social Work.

Note: A limited number of MSW students may receive approval to do a thesis. Thesis students are exempt from two electives and one concentration course.

 
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