Bachelor of Northern Social Work (BNSW) at Yukon U
Yukon University has offered a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in partnership with the University of Regina for over 30 years. This partnership, initiated as Yukon College, has supported over 225 students to graduate with a locally informed BSW degree.
In 2020, Yukon College transitioned to a Yukon University. Recently the 2023-2028 YU Academic Plan identified the UR/YU BSW as a priority for ‘home-grown’ degree development. To that end we are now moving towards the development of its own BNSW – Bachelor of Northern Social Work.
While the University of Regina has been an excellent and supportive partner, the time has come to develop a “made-in-the-Yukon” BSW degree that is rooted in the north and grounded in the unique context of social work practice in the Yukon and working with Yukon First Nations.
As part of this degree development process, we are seeking input from various groups across the Yukon, including Yukon First Nations, students and alumni, non-government organizations, social workers, Yukon government, and employers.
The faculty members and the development of the new degree is fundamentally influenced by 1973’s Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, YU’s Breaking the Dawn Reconciliation Framework, and the 2023-2028 YU Academic Plan. Most importantly this process is accountable to the inalienable right to self-determination of all 14 Yukon First Nations.
Our degree development process ultimately requires approval from the Senate and Board of Governors of Yukon University, as well external accreditation from the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE). The degree development from start to finish will be a 3-to-4-year process.
