Master of Social Work (MSW) — University of Windsor

Program status: Active — CASWE-accredited program with both on-campus and Working Professionals (online/weekend) tracks

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Not required. SpaceCat cannot leverage her high CASPer score here — Windsor does not use CASPer.

2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the last 20 courses (~10 full credits / ~60 credit hours, approximately the last 2 years). The minimum is 73% (B). Taking 10 strong new half-courses would replace half the window and substantially shift SpaceCat’s effective GPA. Taking the full 20 would fully reset it — roughly one full year of additional coursework. A GRE/MAT score is recommended for applicants below 73% and could strengthen a borderline application. SpaceCat must also confirm her BA is a 4-year honours degree (three-year degrees do not qualify).

3. Experiential / written advantage: Windsor requires an MSW Personal Statement and a Professional Experience Form, but does not publish specific word limits or detailed prompts for the on-campus track. The Working Professionals track requires a Study Plan / Research Interest Essay. The written components are less extensive than programs like U of T (5x400 words) or Dalhousie (8 pages), limiting how much SpaceCat can showcase experiential depth in writing. However, the holistic review emphasizes professional experience, and SpaceCat’s shelter work maps directly to “helping profession” and “social service setting” categories. For the Working Professionals track, the 2,500-hour / 3-year requirement should be easily met. There is no interview.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - Working Professionals program requires proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or employment eligibility. All practicum placements must be in Ontario. No specific provincial quotas mentioned. - Not confirmed from available sources. The tuition estimator offers separate categories for “

5. Overall assessment: Strong fit — The Working Professionals Regular Track is particularly well-suited — online weekend delivery, holistic admissions review, strong valuation of work experience, and no CASPer/interview. The main concerns are (1) confirming the 73% GPA floor is met, (2) confirming the BA is a 4-year honours degree, and (3) planning for the 13-week practicum leave from employment.

Quick Facts

• Institution: University of Windsor, School of Social Work (Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences)
• Program name: Master of Social Work (MSW) — Regular Track (non-BSW); also Advanced Standing (BSW holders), MSW/JD Dual Degree, and Working Professionals tracks
• Degree granted: MSW
• City, Province: Windsor, Ontario
• Program type: Regular Track (non-BSW) for applicants with a 4-year honours degree in a related discipline; Advanced Standing for BSW holders
• Duration:
• On-Campus Regular Track: 20 months / 5 consecutive terms (September start)
• On-Campus Advanced Standing: 12 months / 3 terms (May start)
• Working Professionals Regular Track: 32 months / 8 terms (September start)
• Working Professionals Advanced Standing: 16 months / 4 terms (September or January start)
• Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only. No part-time option — the course sequencing is “highly prescribed” and cannot be altered. The Working Professionals track is classified as full-time despite weekend delivery. Source
• Language of instruction: English
• Delivery format:
• On-Campus: In-person, Monday–Friday daytime
• Working Professionals: Online via Zoom, alternating weekends — Fridays 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturdays 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Source
• Intake frequency: Annual (On-Campus Regular Track and Working Professionals Regular Track: September); multiple intakes for Advanced Standing tracks
• Start date(s):
• On-Campus Regular Track: September
• On-Campus Advanced Standing: May
• Working Professionals Regular Track: September
• Working Professionals Advanced Standing: September or January
• Application deadline(s):
• On-Campus Regular Track (September 2026): January 15, 2026 Source
• On-Campus Advanced Standing (May 2026): November 15, 2025 Source
• Working Professionals (Fall 2026): February 1 (per Graduate Studies page); portal currently closed for Fall 2026; Winter 2027 deadline is July 1, 2026 Source Source
• Application system: UWinsite (iApply system) — applicants create an account at the graduate application portal. Current/former UWindsor students must create a separate application account (UWin ID credentials do not work). Source
• Supplementary application portal: Documents uploaded via UWinsite Student after initial application
• Program URLs:
• On-Campus: https://www.uwindsor.ca/socialwork/386/master-social-work-program-options
• Working Professionals: https://www.uwindsor.ca/msw/
• Future Students: https://future.uwindsor.ca/master-of-social-work
• Accredited: Yes — fully accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS). CASWE holds reciprocal recognition with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Source

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: 73% (B average) based on the last two years of the qualifying degree. Source
• Competitive GPA (if known): Not publicly disclosed. The university states that “possession of the minimum requirements does not ensure admission.” GRE or MAT is recommended for applicants with a GPA below 73%. Applicants with 80%+ GPA are eligible for scholarship consideration. Source Source
• GPA calculated on: Last 2 years of full-time study (last 20 courses) from the qualifying degree. For Regular Track, this is the most recent 4-year undergraduate degree. Source
• Number of credits in GPA window: Last 20 courses (approximately 10.0 full credits / 2 years of full-time study)
• GPA scale used: Percentage (Ontario scale: 73% = B)

Prerequisites

Prereq source URL: https://www.uwindsor.ca/socialwork/579/msw-campus-application-frequently-asked-questions

Prior Degree Requirement

• Minimum degree required: 4-year honours undergraduate degree from an accredited university (for Regular Track). Three-year degrees do not qualify. Source
• Completed degree required? Yes — must have graduated.
• Degree field restrictions: Must be in a “related discipline” — the program does not specify exactly which fields qualify, but social sciences and humanities degrees are typical. Any 4-year honours degree is eligible for the Regular Track.

Supplementary Requirements

• CASPer: Not required
• GRE: Optional but “recommended for international graduates and applicants with GPA below 73%.” Not required for applicants meeting the 73% minimum. Source
• Interview: Not mentioned in any admissions materials
• Resume / CV: Required as part of the Professional Experience Form
• References:
• On-Campus program: Two referee evaluations required: one academic reference and one employer/volunteer/placement reference. All references due by the application deadline. Source
• Working Professionals program: Three letters required: (1) current supervisor from employment, (2) a helping professional (social worker, nurse, teacher, placement supervisor, etc.), (3) academic reference if graduated within 5 years, OR an additional supervisor reference. Source
• Volunteer / work experience:
• On-Campus Regular Track: “Relevant work, volunteer, or practical experience” required; no minimum hours specified. The FAQ states that even “volunteer work that was only a day here and there should be included.” Source
• Working Professionals: Minimum 2,500 hours in a helping profession or social service setting required at time of registration. Additionally, minimum 3 years of social service work experience required. Source
• Language proficiency: TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.0, Pearson 68 (for non-native English speakers). Source
• International applicants (Working Professionals): Must provide proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or employment eligibility in Canada. Source
• Employer letter (Working Professionals): Letter of Support (if employed) confirming the employer will release the student for class attendance AND a 13-week practicum leave. If unemployed, part-time, contractual, or self-employed, a Letter of Agreement is required instead. Source

Written / Personal Components

On-Campus Program:

Source

Working Professionals Program:

Source

How Applications Are Evaluated

The program uses a holistic review process. The FAQ emphasizes that relevant volunteer or work experience strengthens applications, “particularly when more closely related to social work it is.” Applicants should articulate in their personal statement how professional experience “contributed to your motivation and skill development relevant to social work.” No specific weighting of components is disclosed. Source

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Residency restrictions or quotas: Working Professionals program requires proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or employment eligibility. All practicum placements must be in Ontario. No specific provincial quotas mentioned. Source
• Out-of-province tuition differential: Not confirmed from available sources. The tuition estimator offers separate categories for “Domestic Ontario” and “Domestic Outside Ontario,” suggesting a potential differential. SpaceCat is an Ontario resident, so this is not a concern. Source

Cost

• Tuition (total program, approximate):
• Specific per-term tuition amounts are not publicly listed on the university website. The university directs all prospective students to the online Tuition Fee Estimator: https://www.uwindsor.ca/finance/fee-estimator
• Working Professionals Regular Track: 8 terms of tuition payments over 32 months
• Working Professionals Advanced Standing: 4 terms of tuition payments over 16 months
• On-Campus Regular Track: 5 terms over 20 months
• Third-party sources estimate approximately $22,000–$23,000 CAD annually for domestic students, but this figure is unverified and may include ancillary fees.
• Admission deposit: $500.00 required upon acceptance. Source
• Additional fees:
• Textbooks and course materials: not included in tuition
• Police Records Check: student’s responsibility (required for practicum)
• Financial aid notes:
• OSAP: Available for Ontario residents (program is classified as full-time, making students eligible for full-time OSAP)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS): Available for eligible applicants
• Lifelong Learning Plan: RRSP withdrawals permitted for education costs
• Employer tuition reimbursement: The program encourages students to explore employer-sponsored education benefits
• Tax credits: Full-time students in an accredited program qualify for education-related tax credits
• Scholarships: Applicants with 80%+ GPA are eligible for scholarship consideration Source
• Source

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: Approximately 25 students per cohort (estimated from available sources; not officially confirmed for each track separately)
• Acceptance rate: Not publicly disclosed for the MSW program specifically. The university overall has a ~65% acceptance rate, but the MSW program is significantly more selective given the small cohort sizes and hundreds of applicants.
• Number of applicants: “Hundreds” of applications received per intake (not further specified). [Source — general university data]

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

• Total required hours: 450+ hours per practicum placement (900+ total for the Regular Track with two placements; 450+ for Advanced Standing with one placement). Each placement runs 13 weeks minimum, Monday–Friday. Source
• On-Campus Regular Track structure:
• Foundation Year Practicum: 6 credits, 450 hours, four days/week
• Advanced Practice Internship: 6 credits, 450 hours, four days/week Source
• Working Professionals practicum: Students must take a 13-week leave from employment for full-time placement. A Friday evening online seminar (7:00–9:00 PM) runs concurrently during placement. Source
• Placements guaranteed? The university arranges placements through 600+ Ontario agency affiliations. Students should not contact placement sites directly. Source
• Place-of-employment placements: Possible — “some students may complete placement within their own workplace” with Field Learning Specialist approval. Source
• Location restrictions: All placements must be in Ontario — “no out-of-province field placement will be considered.” Placements can be arranged in the student’s home community within Ontario. Source

Curriculum (On-Campus Regular Track)

Year 1 — Foundation Curriculum: - Fall: Social Policy Analysis, Communication Skills, Research Methods, Values/Ethics (4 courses) - Winter: Social Justice, Practice with Individuals/Groups/Families/Organizations (5 courses) - Spring/Summer: Field Integration Seminar + Foundation Practicum (450 hours)

Year 2 — Advanced Curriculum: - Fall: Advanced Direct/Indirect Practice, Policy Analysis, Child Welfare or Health & Aging (elective), Program Evaluation (5 courses) - Winter: Advanced Internship Seminar + Advanced Practice Internship (450 hours)

Specialization options: Child Welfare or Health & Aging (elective choice in Year 2). Source

Theoretical framework: Ecological systems perspective. Source

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: No licensing exam in Ontario. Graduates of CASWE-accredited MSW programs are eligible to register directly with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as a Registered Social Worker (RSW).
• Professional memberships: Graduates eligible for Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) and Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) membership. Source
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — CASWE accreditation is recognized across Canada.

Reputation & Notes

• Working Professionals track is a distinctive feature — few Ontario MSW programs offer a fully online, alternating-weekend format specifically designed for working professionals. This makes Windsor particularly attractive for applicants who cannot leave employment for a traditional full-time program.
• Cohort-based model — students in the Working Professionals track attend with the same cohort throughout, creating a supportive peer network of experienced professionals.
• Ecological systems perspective — the program’s theoretical framework emphasizes relationships between individuals and their environments across micro, meso, exo, and macro levels.
• Windsor location — proximity to the U.S. border and Detroit may offer unique cross-border placement or career opportunities. For Working Professionals, location is less relevant since classes are online.
• No credit for prior learning — the program does not grant course exemptions based on experience, meaning all students complete the full curriculum regardless of background.
• GRE optional but strategic — for applicants with a borderline GPA, a strong GRE score can strengthen the application. This is an option SpaceCat should consider if her GPA is near the 73% floor.
• Multiple tracks and intakes — the variety of program options (on-campus, working professionals, September/January starts) provides flexibility in timing and format.

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with the program:

• Exact per-term tuition amounts — the university does not publish these publicly; the fee estimator tool must be used interactively.
• Total program cost — cannot be calculated without per-term figures.
• Exact acceptance rate for MSW program — not publicly disclosed.
• Exact cohort size for each track — “approximately 25” is an estimate; may vary by track and year.
• Whether online prerequisite courses are accepted — the pre-approved list may include online options, but this is not confirmed.
• Whether a 4-year general BA (non-honours) qualifies — the requirement specifies “4-year honours degree”; SpaceCat must confirm her degree classification.
• Application fee amount — not specified in available materials.
• Fall 2027 Working Professionals Regular Track deadline — only Fall 2026 (closed) and Winter 2027 (July 1, 2026, Advanced Standing only) are listed.

Contact: - On-Campus MSW: gradsw@uwindsor.ca / (519) 253-3000 ext. 6096 - Working Professionals MSW: msw@uwindsor.ca - Source Source

Sources

• Official program pages:
• MSW Program Options (On-Campus)
• Two-Year Regular-Track MSW Program
• MSW On-Campus Application
• MSW On-Campus FAQ
• MSW for Working Professionals — Home
• MSW Working Professionals — Overview
• MSW Working Professionals — Program Overview
• MSW Working Professionals — Admission Requirements
• MSW Working Professionals — How to Apply
• MSW Working Professionals — FAQ
• MSW Working Professionals — Program Schedule
• MSW Working Professionals — Program Objectives
• MSW Working Professionals — Fees
• MSW Working Professionals — Financial Assistance
• Social Work — Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Future Students — Master of Social Work
• Official fee/tuition pages:
• Tuition Fee Estimator
• Fees and Charges
• Professional / regulatory:
• OCSWSSW — Register as a Social Worker
• CASWE-ACFTS Accreditation