Lakehead University Application Guide
At MSW Helper we are on a mission to help you apply to Master of Social Work programs with confidence. Once of the ways we help is through our school specific application guides.
Today, I will be reviewing the Lakehead University MSW application process. If this is a school you are applying to or thinking of applying to, then stick around! This post will speak to the Lakehead MSW program deadlines, what documents are required, and how to respond to the personal statement prompts!
Lakehead University MSW program
The Lakehead University program offers an advanced, generalist program that prepares future social workers to support a variety of populations in many different settings. This includes individuals, families, and communities in rural or urban locations. Lakehead also offers its MSW program at either the Thunder Bay campus or its new southern campus in Orillia, Ontario, giving applicants the option of where to complete their degree.
Advanced Program
Lakehead is unique in that this university offers only an advanced standing stream, meaning that you can only enter the program if you already hold a BSW degree. Don’t worry, if you want to apply to Lakehead and hold a degree from a different discipline, Lakehead also offers a condensed post-degree BSW program.
Full-time vs. Part-time
This program is offered on a full-time, in-person basis, with only a few spaces available for part-time enrollment. Depending on the speed and flexibility with which you want to complete your program, this might be important to note. If completing the program on a full-time basis, the program should take 12 months to complete.
Thesis or Project track
Given the generalist nature of the program, Lakehead offers students the option to enrol in the thesis or project track in their MSW degree. These tracks allow students to focus their education in a specific area and allows flexibility with the length of project students complete. The thesis stream does not require students to complete a social work internship; however, in the project stream, students are required to complete their designated internship.
Internship
Exceptionally, the Lakehead program offers flexibility in the internship structure, meaning you could complete this concurrently with coursework or as a block placement at the end of your coursework. Depending on your goals and how you want to structure your MSW program, this school offers plenty of options to gear your schooling towards your own interests.
Specialties
In addition to this thesis or project track, this program also offers students the option to specialize in either Gerontology or Gender and Women’s Studies. It’s important to note that although the Gerontology stream is offered on both campuses, the Gender and Women’s Studies specialty is only offered at the Thunder Bay campus. If you are interested in applying to one of these areas of focus, be sure to fill out and submit the specialization form with your application!
Supervision
Lakehead encourages prospective students to meet with MSW faculty whose research aligns with their own. This is because the school aims to match students with supervisors for the program. On your Graduate Application form, you will need to state who your prospective supervisor is, so this is important to reach out to faculty (at your desired campus) well in advance!
Lakehead MSW Admission Requirements
In order to apply to the Lakehead University MSW program, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
Must hold a 4-year BSW degree from an accredited school, with a B average overall
Complete one full credit in a research course
Scores from the Test for English Foreign Language must be submitted for applicants whom English is a second language
Lakehead MSW Application Deadline:
The Lakehead MSW application is due by no later than February 1st each calendar year.
Application Process
Like all schools, the Lakehead University application process is unique, so let’s go over what exactly is required to apply to this program!
Lakehead Graduate Application form
Supplemental information form
References: two references, one must be academic (with the ability to speak to the applicant’s research ability), and the other should speak to the applicant’s direct social work experience
Study plan: clearly lays out a topic for in-depth study related to the chosen practice concentration
Specialization form (Gerontology or Gender and Women’s Studies) if applicable
All official, post-secondary transcripts
Official proof of BSW degree
Completing the Study Plan
As part of the application process, applicants are required to write a 3-6 page study plan that provides an overview of what the student wishes to explore in their graduate studies. The study plan serves as a sample of your academic writing abilities, and should therefore be written according to APA guidelines.
Lakehead University provides five prompts to guide your responses, and they note that these questions should be used as a guideline for forming your overall study plan.
1. What is your topic of interest or preferred area of practice for specialization? How does your topic of interest or preferred area of practice connect to a research area of one or more of the Faculty members (refer to faculty practice and research interests)?
2. Carefully read the description for your choice of the MSW project and practicum or thesis tracks. Describe the topic of your project or thesis and how you would plan to do this academic study. Situate your topic and proposed research question in the existing literature and identify the gap in knowledge you wish to address.
3. For project and practicum track: What is your preferred field of practice for specialization? What kind of field practicum placement would you prefer? How does this contribute to your previous practice experience?
For thesis track: What type of research are you interested in conducting? How does this contribute to your academic learning goals and future career?
4. How do you see your topic area, practicum and project or thesis as forming an integrated educational experience?
5. Your study plan must include a projected timeline for completion of the program. Include information about:
Hours of employment (if relevant);
Your plan for completing a practicum (if in project and practicum track);
Whether you are requesting a graduate assistant position;
Schedule for completing courses and when the project or thesis will be completed.
Here are some resources to help you get started on your Study Plan:
Conclusion
The Lakehead University MSW program prides itself on offering students flexibility to gear their MSW education to fit their own interests. Students have multiple opportunities where they can choose where to focus their attention through this schooling. This includes their chosen project or thesis, their practicum, and the various generalist coursework available. If you are a student who is looking for some flexibility in your degree, this program might just be the best fit. Remember, there are a few parts of this application that might take a little bit more time than most. I advise you to start looking at the different faculty and their research interests as soon as possible, so you can reach out and secure a supervisor well in advance of the February 1st deadline. As a past Lakehead graduate myself, I’m sure you will soak up all of the rich learning this school has to offer!
