Director's Message

The SSW is committed to social justice. Our curricula, research, community involvement and other scholarly work, reflect this commitment. I would invite you to peruse our Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles.

The SSW offers Bachelor (BSW) and Master (MSW) degrees in Social Work.  Committed to innovating our programs, since September 2001 we have offered our BSW and MSW programs in two delivery modes, on campus here at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and nationally on line via distance delivery. Using distance education technologies via the Internet, we continue the tradition of making our degree programs accessible, while providing a high quality educational experience for our students.  If you are interested in applying to our programs, I would invite you to visit the area of our website that profiles both our BSW program and MSW program.

We also offer an extensive, self-sustaining program of continuing education, providing certificate programs, short courses, and in-house training. Please visit Continuing Education  for more information on current programs and workshops.

Our SSW student group is a diverse and very active group involved in school committees, research projects and community initiatives.   We currently have more than 400 students studying in both the BSW and MSW programs on a full and part-time basis in both delivery modes.  We also have over 500 individuals participate in programs offered by our continuing education program each year.

The SSW is dedicated to increasing diversity in our school community.  The school has had an affirmative action admissions policy in place since the mid-1970s and makes special effort to accommodate the diversity of its student population.  The SSW also has a Diversity and Equity Committee which our students, faculty and staff are actively involved in.  In September 2005, we welcomed a cohort of Mi'kmaq and Maliseet social work students in a joint initiative with St. Thomas University's School of Social Work.

We have a dynamic and active group of faculty engaged in teaching, research and community service. Research areas cover such diverse issues including homelessness, racial violence and health, aboriginal health, pathways to resilience, poverty, elder abuse, addictions and harm reduction work. I would encourage you to visit the individual faculty profiles pages to learn more about what we are doing.

The SSW has a staff of committed individuals working with students, faculty and others at Dalhousie University and with wider social work community to ensure that our programs and other activities are successful. 

We are also very fortunate to have an active alumni group who support the School.  The alumni support the SSW in its education and professional development programs, promoting networking among graduates, faculty and students, organizing educational and social events and assist in fund-raising.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our school.

Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, C.M.
Director