Field of Study (FoS) Frequently Asked Questions

This page is specifically for students in the Two-Year MSW program. Students in the Advanced standing programs choose their Field of Study when applying to the program.

The Selections Form is now open.

Please complete by 10am on February 3, 2025.

• Why do I need to select a FoS?

  FoS is a requirement for the MSW degree.  It will give you the priority access to designated FoS required courses during course enrolment periods. It will also filter practicum opportunities on the PAS system.

• Where can I get information on each FoS?

  Our website provides info for each field:

  • Children and their Families
  • Human Services Management & Leadership
  • Mental Health & Health
  • Social Justice & Diversity
  • Social Work in Gerontology

• How do I select my FoS?

  Selections are submitted in late January each year for the Two-Year MSW students using an MS Office Form. For 2025, the 2025 Field of Study Selection Form will open on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 8:00am and close on Monday, February 3, 2025 at 10:00am. Utoronto credentials will be required to access the form.

• Are there caps on each FoS?

  There are no caps during the selection period, and it is not done as a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, you will have until January 31st to make your decision. However, after that time, once the allocations are made and recorded on ACORN, space does become limited as we begin admitting students for the 2025 intake who also have FoS allocations.

• What electives do I need after choosing my FoS?

  Students in Children and their Families, Human Services Management & Leadership, Mental Health & Health, Social Justice & Diversity require TWO elective courses. These can be taken from:

  • MSW elective courses (those not designated for any specific FoS requirement)
  • FoS required courses, that have space remaining after the courtesy period of enrolment
  • Other Master-Level course within University of Toronto with permission from the instructor of the course, the unit and from our FIFSW registrar’s office. Undergraduate courses are not permissible.

  Students in Gerontology require ONE elective course, that must be from the collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course list of approved electives

• What if I change my mind?

  Students who wish to request a change in Field of Study after the selection period must do so by April 15, 2025 by completing a separate form. Please email the Registrar’s Office for access to the form. Students must provide an acceptable rationale for this change. Field of Study change requests will not be accepted after April 15, 2025 . Students who request a change in Field of Study will be placed on a waiting list, which will remain active until June 30, 2025. Admittance to a new Field of Study from the waitlist will be determined based on availability and waitlist order at the time of initial request. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the Practicum Office to verify alignment between their desired Field of Study and practicum prior to requesting a change.

• Can I get more information on FIFSW courses?

  Course descriptions can be found on our website.

  The Summer 2025 Timetable  is also currently available on our website.  While the Fall/Winter timetables will be posted later in the spring, you can refer to the 2024-25 ones as a general guideline of when and what courses are offered.  Please note that all required courses in each MSW Field of Study are offered each year, although the session in which a given course is offered may vary from year to year. Individual elective courses are offered based on instructor availability and may not be offered each year.

  Course syllabi are intellectual property and thus not widely shared online or by email. However, we do retain physical copies in the Main Office for in-person viewing. Students are welcome to come by the office during our regular business hours to view the syllabi. Keep in mind that the syllabi are to remain in the Main Office, and photographs or copies are prohibited.

• When do I start taking courses toward my FoS?

  As long as all prerequisites are met (such as completing first year courses), you can begin taking electives and FoS courses as early at Summer 2025, for which course selections will open in mid-March. Fall and Winter course selections will open in June.

• Where can I go to get more guidance?

  Info sessions

  Year 1 MSW students are invited to attend a general Field of Study (FoS) information session, followed by individual FoS info sessions. The individual FoS sessions will be held via Zoom and will be recorded.

  If you are unable to attend an information session, or if you need information that was not covered in an information session, feel free to reach out to the Field of Study Coordinator.

  Field of Study	FoS Coordinator	Date	Time	Location
  General Session for all Fields		Tuesday January 7	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	in-person only; 371 Bloor Street W, Room 114
  Mental Health & Health (MHH)	Professor Keith Adamson	Monday January 13	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Zoom, link to follow
  Gerontology (GER)	Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson	Tuesday January 14	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Zoom; Meeting ID: 824 3833 6793
  Human Services Management and Leadership (HSML)	Professor Micheal Shier	Tuesday January 14	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Zoom, Meeting ID: 863 8354 9546 Passcode: 315819
  Social Justice and Diversity (SJD)	Professor Stephanie Begun	Monday January 20	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Zoom; Meeting ID: 865 4984 0556, Passcode: 858461
  Children and their Families	Bryn King	Tuesday January 21	12:15 PM – 1:15 PM	Zoom; Meeting ID: 875 6285 3167, Passcode: 188283

  Student Ambassadors

  Students may directly reach out to the following Ambassadors by logging into FIFSW Peerpal and sending a question through the platform’s messaging system. 

  • Mental Health & Health (MHH): Bernie Yeung, Brandon Malamis, Alex Ouellette Zuk
  • Children and Their Families (CF): Noah Yan, Erin Mattes
  • Gerontology (GER): Rebecca Wong
  • (Human Services Management and Leadership (HSML): Fatima Formuli

  Ambassador Office Hours

  Beginning January each Ambassador will hold regular “office hours” via Zoom. The schedule will be posted on Connect after the holiday break.