COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Service Worker – Gerontology program is a two-year diploma designed to prepare students to support older adults in maintaining independence and improving quality of life within diverse healthcare and community settings. In the first semester, students build foundational skills through courses such as Communicating Across Contexts, Introduction to Aging, Gerontology Field Work Seminar, Sociology: A Practical Approach, Interpersonal Communications, and Anti-Oppressive Practice, combining hybrid and in-person learning to develop strong communication and critical thinking abilities. In the second semester, students focus on applied skills through Gerontological Group and Activation Techniques, Interviewing and Assessing Older Adults, The Retirement Home Industry – Overview and Skills, Integrative Field Work Seminar, Gerontology Field Work, and Therapeutic Program Planning, gaining practical experience in real-world settings. The third semester emphasizes specialized knowledge with courses in Therapeutic Interventions for Dementia, Integrative Field Work Seminar, Gerontology Field Work, Volunteer Program Management, and Service Coordination and Advocacy, alongside general education to enhance professional competencies. In the final semester, students explore Death, Dying, Grief and Bereavement, participate in Integrative Field Work Seminar and Gerontology Field Work, and complete Community Practice, consolidating theoretical learning with extensive experiential practice. The program integrates in-person, hybrid, and online delivery to cultivate interpersonal skills, ethical decision-making, and holistic, strength-based approaches, ensuring graduates are fully prepared to serve older adults effectively in multidisciplinary teams.