COURSE CURRICULUM

The Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at Sheridan is structured to equip students with the essential knowledge and practical skills required for a successful and compassionate career in healthcare. In the first semester, students build a strong foundation through seven core courses totaling 22 credits. These include Essential Communication Skills, where students develop effective interpersonal and professional communication abilities, and PSWs in Health Care, which explores the evolving role of personal support workers within the Canadian healthcare system. In Fundamentals of Care and Client Care Skills Lab, students gain hands-on training in essential daily care routines, while Foundations of Relational Practice and Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment deepen their understanding of emotional intelligence, empathy, and cognitive conditions. A general education elective rounds out the semester, offering broader learning opportunities. In the second semester, students advance their skills with a focus on specialized care and real-world application. Courses include Palliative Care, Supporting Clients with Acute and Chronic Illnesses, and Supporting Children with Special Needs and their Families, which address the diverse and evolving needs of clients across the lifespan. Two clinical placements — Long-term Care and Community — provide immersive, supervised experiences that allow students to apply classroom knowledge in real healthcare settings. These placements, arranged by Sheridan, often lead to employment opportunities and offer critical exposure to the realities of PSW roles. With a total of 31 program credits and over 300 hours of clinical practice, students graduate fully prepared to enter the workforce with confidence, empathy, and competence. The curriculum blends theory, lab-based simulation, and on-site clinical experience to ensure students develop not only technical proficiency but also the relational and emotional skills essential to providing high-quality, person-centred care in a variety of healthcare environments.