COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Service Worker program provides a comprehensive and practical learning experience that prepares students for a career supporting individuals, families, and communities in navigating life’s challenges. In the first semester, students develop foundational professional practice and communication skills, while exploring the principles of social welfare, group dynamics, diversity, and anti-oppressive practice. Courses such as Professional Practice Skills and Working in Teams and Groups allow for practical skill development in real-time through labs and interactive learning. In the second semester, the focus shifts toward deeper clinical and community-based work, including assessment, intervention, and planning through Clinical Practice Skills. Courses like Working with Indigenous Peoples and Community Health and Development deepen students’ understanding of systemic barriers and cultural safety, while Social Policy and Interprofessional Collaboration explore the broader structures impacting practice. Semester three emphasizes direct service skills, including counselling, trauma-informed care, and working with vulnerable populations such as those facing addiction, mental health challenges, or interpersonal violence. Courses like Interviewing and Counselling Skills and Preparation for Placement help students integrate learning through simulations and self-reflection. The program culminates in a 15-week, 500-hour fieldwork placement and a monthly seminar in the fourth semester, offering students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. Students gain practical experience in diverse social service environments, supported by faculty and workplace mentors. This final stage allows them to consolidate their learning, build confidence, and develop as ethical, culturally aware professionals prepared for frontline social service roles. Throughout the program, students are challenged to reflect critically on their own social location, develop professional competencies, and approach their work through an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens. The curriculum is rooted in social justice and equity, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to advocate for and support diverse populations facing systemic and personal adversity.