3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	Ottawa Travail social (4 ans) OUAC OFT Remove	McMaster Wilson College Leadership and Civic Studies I OUAC MWC Remove	McMaster Social Sciences I OUAC ML Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80%	83–87%“A minimum of mid-80s is required for consideration. Admission is by selection.”Admission by selection — the real bar may sit above this	80–87%“Low-to mid-80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of ENG4U, FRA4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	FRA4U or ENG4U	English 4U	English 4U * Completion of Advanced Functions 4U and Calculus & Vectors 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Economics. * Completion of Calculus & Vectors 4U and Biology 4U are strongly recommended for students interested in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Yes OUAC Application Deadline: January 15, 2027 To be considered, you must provide a completed supplementary application Usually closes before January 15	Marks only
Co-op	No	No	Available
Degree	—	—	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Social Work, BSW
First-year intakewhere published	90	60	950
What you study	Social Policy Social Work	Interdisciplinary Studies Politics Social Policy	Anthropology Economics Health Informatics Human Geography
What it is	You study how to help people and communities solve social problems by combining practical social work skills with an understanding of policy and systems. This four-year program prepares you to work directly with clients — individuals, families, or groups facing poverty, abuse, mental health challenges, or other hardships — while also learning how social policies shape these issues. It suits people who want hands-on helping work but also care about the larger systems and laws that affect people's lives.	This program combines study of political systems, social policy, and leadership theory across multiple disciplines to prepare you to understand and influence how communities and institutions work. It differs from a straight political science degree by explicitly weaving in civic engagement and practical leadership skills alongside theory. It suits students who want to think critically about social problems and are drawn to roles in government, non-profit work, or community organizations.	Social Sciences I is a first-year entry point where you explore human behaviour, society, and social systems through subjects like economics, sociology, anthropology, politics, and social work. Unlike a specialized program, you sample multiple disciplines before declaring a focus, letting you discover which area — from international development to health policy — matches your interests. It suits students curious about how societies work and drawn to understanding people and social issues from different angles.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	criminology geography political science psychology sociology
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	University of Ottawa on OUInfo	McMaster University on OUInfo	McMaster University on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.