Master Of Social Work Program

Tuition is 17,401 USD per year, and the application deadline for the Oct 2027 intake is Jul 8, 2027.

Situated on the historic grounds of the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School, this program offers a uniquely immersive learning environment where students may study alongside Residential School Survivors and their descendants. This context provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with the realities of colonization, self-determination, and decolonization within a contemporary social work framework.

Designed specifically for BSW graduates, the curriculum centers on critical, anti-oppressive, and anti-colonial practice. It is tailored to address the distinct social welfare needs of Northern, rural, and remote regions, preparing practitioners to navigate health services and child welfare systems in settings that differ significantly from urban centers. Through a multi-centric lens, the program explores the intersections of race, gender, disability, and Indigenous knowledge to dismantle systemic barriers.

Distinctive Pedagogical Approach

• Cross-Cultural & Critical Lens: A deep focus on the social and political construction of theory, challenging practices that have historically contributed to social erasure.
• Multi-centric Perspectives: Integration of Anishinaabe worldviews, critical feminist theory, queer and trans studies, and anti-Black/anti-Indigenous racism frameworks.
• Community-Embedded Learning: Developed in close consultation with local Sault Ste. Marie employers to ensure graduates are equipped to meet the growing demand for social workers across public, clinical, and community-based sectors.

Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, founded in 1967, is a close-knit campus with around 2,000 students that emphasizes undergraduate teaching and community engagement. Its regional setting provides a supportive environment for study and outdoor living, while academic programs focus on liberal arts, sciences, business and applied disciplines. The university is known for personalized learning, small class sizes and high faculty accessibility—qualities that suit students seeking direct mentorship and hands-on experience.

Curricula are designed to connect classroom learning with local and regional opportunities, including co-op experiences, internships and community-based projects. Faculty collaborate with local industry and Indigenous communities to provide experiential learning that builds employability and civic awareness. Student services support academic advising, career planning and research opportunities, helping learners translate study into practical outcomes.

International students are welcomed into a compact, friendly campus where support for arrival, housing and integration is prioritized. Campus clubs, volunteering and outdoor recreation make it easy to build connections beyond the classroom. For prospective students who value individualized attention, meaningful community ties and a learning environment that bridges theory with real-world application, Algoma offers a focused and supportive option in northern Ontario.