PLEASE NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, field education experiences for the 2020/2021 academic year are subject to change without notice. For details regarding field education experiences for your program, please contact your program-specific Field Education Coordinator.
At the School of Social and Community Services, learning happens in these three zones:
- in the classroom
- during local field placements
- during international field placements
In the Classroom
During your time in-class you'll have the chance to build a foundation of knowledge that will help prepare you for working in the real world.
What have students told us about their learning in the classroom?
- Experiential learning and training offers students the chance to hone their employability skills.
- A dedicated faculty accompanied them on their learning journey.
- Engaging classes led to opportunities for deep, transformational learning.
- A diverse student body prepared them for their work in the field.
- Learning to think critically assisted them in finding problems and solving them.
- Build relationships with fellow students, faculty, field supervisors and agency professionals to enhance student learning and broaden employment network.
- A certificate or diploma put the finishing touches to their resume.
Local Field Placements
After successfully completing pre-requisite courses and providing a clear Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check, you'll have the opportunity to apply what you've learned in the classroom during a field placement.
Field placements provide a critical piece of your learning because they give you the chance to apply what you've learned in the classroom in a real-world environment. You also get invaluable on-the-job work experience and the opportunity to develop your own professional network with potential employers.
Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor Advocate
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | September - April | 3 days a week Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | 500 |
Career Development Practitioner
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | May - August | 3 days a week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 294 |
Child & Youth Care
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | September - April | 2 days a week | 448 |
| Year 3 | September - April | 3 days a week | 704 |
CYC Fast Track
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | July - August | 4 days a week | 224 |
| Year 2 | January - April | 4 days a week | 448 |
Community Worker
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | January - April | 2 days a week Monday and Tuesday | 224 hours up to 250 hours |
Social Service Worker
| Year | Term | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | January - April | 3 days a week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 336 |
Depending on the program, field placements are secured either by the Field Placement Liaison department or by the student themselves. Regardless of the structure, all students are supported in their placement search.
Please note: Before starting any field experience, students will be required to complete program-specific pre-requisite courses, and in most cases, a clear Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check. Please check with your program.
Our downtown location provides us with access to a number of community agencies that serve Toronto's diverse population. Students who have studied with us have had field placements with agencies such as:
- Woodgreen
- The Rekai Centre
- Good Foot Delivery
- Fred Victor
- John Howard Society
- Sistering
- PARC
- West Neighbourhood House
- SKETCH
- TDSB
International Field Placements
If you have dreams of studying abroad and meet the necessary requirements, you can apply to do a field placement in an international setting. Students from the School of Social & Community Services have done a field placement in Jamaica and India. Please note that requirements for each project vary and that international placements are not offered every year.
To be eligible, you'll need to:
- participate in information sessions when they are announced by faculty
- submit an application in response to a posting for an international field experience
- be in the final year of your program
- earn strong academic standing
- take part in a preparatory course prior to the trip
- participate in an interview conducted by the faculty who are involved with the project
- make a personal contribution to the costs of the experience, including airfare, housing and food
