Social Service Worker (SSW) is an innovative two-year program designed to guide you in developing the knowledge, values and skills to work directly with a wide range of people confronting the full breadth of social issues and challenges. You will learn to identify and understand systemic barriers that can impede access to social and economic justice in today's society, and work with those most affected to break down those barriers.

Students will examine the expanding professional roles and responsibilities of Social Service Workers in large urban centres and within a rapidly changing society.

In addition to the theoretical models, methods and skills of social service work practice, you will learn about:

• group facilitation
• allyship and anti-oppressive practice
• counselling skills
• social change and proposal development
• social innovation
• mental health
• substance use and addiction

Apply to this program if you:

• have strong interpersonal skills and comfort working with people and groups
• are committed to working toward a more just and equitable society
• are committed to examining the dynamics of power and oppression
• are committed to examining yourself and your social location
• are seeking to work with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities

Many of the Social Service Worker faculty have professional experience with:

• marginalized communities
• institutional health and social service organizations
• federal, provincial and municipal governments
• research and initiatives in social innovation
• a range of not-for-profit organizations and agencies
• direct practice with individuals, families, groups and communities

FAST-TRACK OPTION

There is a one-year Social Service Worker full-time option available to graduates of a baccalaureate program in disciplines such as psychology, sociology, women’s studies, environmental studies, education and cultural anthropology at a university. Students with degrees from other disciplines may be considered if they successfully completed a minimum of 6 relevant social science courses.

This fast-track option is also open to graduates of a college diploma program including:

• Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate
• Child and Youth Care
• Community Worker
• Behavioural Science Technician
• Recreation Management in Gerontology
• Early Childhood Education

In preparation for the field placement, students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.

Find a complete list of degrees and diplomas considered for admission to the Social Service Worker (Fast-Track) (C135) program.

SSW Pathways to BSW and MSW

In 2016, President Anne Sado signed Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Indigenous Education Protocols, which reaffirms the importance of structures and approaches required to address Indigenous peoples' learning needs and support self-determination and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities.

In response to this and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, the Social Service Worker program is committed to developing the capacity of its students to work with the Indigenous individual, families, groups and communities. The Social Service Worker program would like to acknowledge the support of Indigenous Education and Services and Negahneewin Council who have helped the faculty with this process. The Indigenous Learning Outcomes are guiding the embedment of Indigenous learning into the curriculum.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned delivery of this program starting in September 2020 will be online with limited access to field placement experiences.

PLEASE NOTE: In response to this evolving situation, the delivery, learning activities and evaluation methods may be further modified mid-semester.

Learners will require access to high-speed internet, a computer with a built-in or external web camera, a microphone and Google Chrome or Firefox as a web browser.

Social Service Worker(SSW) is an innovative two-year program designed to guide you in developing the knowledge, values and skills to work directly with a wide range of people confronting the full breadth of social issues and challenges. You will learn to identify and understand systemic barriers that can impede access to social and economic justice in today's society, and work with those most affected to break down those barriers.

Students will examine the expanding professional roles and responsibilities of Social Service Workers in large urban centres and within a rapidly changing society.

In addition to the theoretical models, methods and skills of social service work practice, you will learn about:

• group facilitation
• allyship and anti-oppressive practice
• counselling skills
• community development and proposal writing
• social innovation
• mental health
• substance use and addiction

Apply to this program if you:

• have strong interpersonal skills and comfort working with people
• are committed to working toward a more just and equitable society
• are committed to examining the dynamics of power and oppression
• are committed to examining yourself and your social location
• are seeking to work with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities

Many of the Social Service Worker faculty have professional experience with:

• marginalized communities
• institutional health and social service organizations
• federal, provincial and municipal governments
• research and initiatives in social innovation
• a range of not-for-profit organizations and agencies
• direct practice with individuals, families, groups and communities

In 2016, President Anne Sado signed Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Indigenous Education Protocols which reaffirms the importance of structures and approaches required to address Indigenous peoples’ learning needs and support self-determination and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities.

In response to this and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, the Social Service Worker program is committed to developing the capacity of its students to work with the Indigenous individual, families, groups, and communities. The Social Service Worker program would like to acknowledge the support of Indigenous Education and Services and Negahneewin Council who have helped the faculty with this process. The Indigenous Learning Outcomes are guiding the embedment of Indigenous learning into the curriculum.

FAST-TRACK OPTION

There is a one-year Social Service Worker full-time option available to graduates of a baccalaureate program in disciplines such as psychology, sociology, women’s studies, environmental studies, education and cultural anthropology at a university. Students with degrees from other disciplines may be considered if they successfully completed a minimum of 6 social science courses.

This fast-track option is also open to graduates of a college diploma program including:

• Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate
• Child and Youth Care
• Community Worker
• Behavioural Science Technician
• Activation Co-ordinator/Gerontology
• Recreation Management in Gerontology
• Early Childhood Education

In preparation for the field placement, students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.

Find a complete list of degrees and diplomas considered for admission to the SSW C135 fast-track program.

SSW Pathways to BSW and MSW