A Social Service Worker assists individuals who are experiencing a social and personal challenges. Acknowledging the root causes may be societal in nature, resulting from the social determinants of health such as marginalization, oppression, stigma, colonization, and intergenerational trauma. Having acquired knowledge of human behaviour and development, the worker, through supportive counselling helps empower service recipients to make positive change that effects individuals, groups, and communities. The SSW uses helper skills to empower individuals in obtaining resources that may enable them to improve upon their existing strengths. Services may include financial aid, counselling and life skills supports. Practical is experience acquired through simulation, case studies, applied learning, field trips, skills practice, role play, and field placements. This allows the graduate to practice skills and methods of helping through case management, group, or community outreach. A Social Service Worker may specialize in a particular field such as health, welfare, family services, immigration, employment, children’s services, education, gerontology, community outreach, addictions, mental health, income supports, or correctional services.
“One of my faculty members connected me with Celebrate the Hero, and I’ve never looked back. The program gave me so much, and I am committed to staying connected and giving back whenever I can.” – Britini Barton, Social Service Worker 2012 Assistant Director & Programs Manager, Celebrate the Hero
Program Facilitator, Canadian Mental Health Association
Family Support Worker, Children’s Aid Society
Residential Staff, Bayfield Treatment Centres
Coordinator for Social Service Programs, Community Care for Seniors
Social Services Caseworker and Employment Counsellor, Ontario Works
Is it for you?
Does this sound like you? Students who thrive in social service work are:
Passionate about helping others.
Seeking new challenges.
Able to draw strength from their own life experiences.
Interested in opportunities for personal growth.
Experiential learning
Incorporate theory and practice with extensive group work.
Develop essential skills in human relations, interpersonal communication, needs assessment and critical thinking.
Practise interviewing and counselling skills in a soundproof lab with a two-way mirror for observation and feedback.
As well as faculty instruction, the opportunity to learn from guest speakers working in probation and parole, crisis shelters, seniors' facilities, Ontario Works and other community agencies.
Rate your strengths and areas of greater focus with ongoing self-assessment.
Outstanding faculty make the difference
Learn with dedicated, caring faculty with front-line experience in a variety of human service settings.
Professors with backgrounds in child protection, prevention programming, addiction, corrections, social services and family counselling continue to work in their fields, bringing the most up-to-date industry knowledge and practices to the classroom.
Find the right job experience for your career path, working with our dedicated SSW placement coordinator.
Our program has a learner-centred approach. The staff values you, the student, first and foremost. We recognize and appreciate that you enter the program with many talents and abilities acquired from a variety of previous work and life experiences. We will work with you at building a learning community that is based upon trust, acceptance, and cooperation. We encourage you to help other students as this contributes to a positive learning environment and to your success in the program. You are encouraged to take responsibility for your learning and to become self-directed.
Courses
Courses listed below reflect the SSWP program of study.
First Year - Semester One
COMM1048 College Writing Skills
This course focuses on writing and research skills required for successful completion of college-level studies. The course will promote development and improvement of research and writing skills that can be applied to students’ chosen programs of study.
PSYC1015 Development Across the Lifespan
This course is designed for the learner to examine human development across the lifespan, including the impact of genetics and environment on developmental outcomes from conception to death. The learner will be able to identify biological, cognitive, and psychosocial variables that impact the capacity for resilience and growth of individuals, families, and communities. The learner will identify and evaluate strategies to meet the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families, and communities in adherence to social service worker standards of practice.
SSWP1000 Relational Approach to Awareness
This course is designed for the learner to develop the capacity to plan and implement anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice in responsive programs and services that meet the diverse needs of all individuals, groups, families, and communities, including the capacity to work with indigenous communities while respecting their inherent rights. This is a structured learning experience that is designed to facilitate the examination of intrapersonal and interpersonal self-awareness and the acquisition of knowledge and comprehension. The learner will develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care in an ever-changing and diversified world.
SOCI1007 Sociological Foundations of Social Service Work
This course is designed for the learner to examine the diverse needs and experiences of all individuals, families, groups, and communities in the context of social policy, political/social/historical, and economic systems. The learner will be able to identify and address their impact on service delivery in adherence to the social service worker standards of practice.
SSWP1010 Theory of Relationship Development
This course is designed for the learner to develop respectful, collaborative, and interpersonal relationships to work effectively in a team-oriented social service environment. The learner will be introduced to the theory of group work using an experiential approach. The structured learning experiences will enable learners to develop their group skills and become productive members of a team. The learner will be able to identify strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession.
GNED1100 Becoming a Global Changemaker
This Loyalist College graduate attributes course will help shape your perspectives, broaden your understanding of important issues affecting our societies today, and equip you with invaluable knowledge and skills that will inform your ability to influence your community in a meaningful and impactful way. By exploring topics such as cultural competency, Indigenous education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, health and wellness, and ecological literacy, you'll be equipped with a powerful toolkit that extends far beyond the classroom.
First Year - Semester Two
COMM1055 Diversity, Marginalization & Oppression
This course will enable students to recognize the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families and communities and identify change strategies that promote social and economic justice and challenge patterns of oppression and discrimination.
ETHI1017 Ethical Considerations & Professional Development
Students will be exposed to the knowledge, skills and values associated with practice in an agency setting. Students will also be assisted in the process of selecting a field practicum which responds to each individual's interests and needs. Students will examine the role of a professional social service worker within the context of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Students will develop appropriate professional decision-making skills through the lens of the Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Students will develop professional career readiness through job search plans, job interview skills and preparation of career search documentation.
COUN1030 Foundational Concepts in Interviewing & Counselling
This course is designed to help participants recognize the need to develop and maintain professional relationships, identify strengths, resources and challenges of individuals, families, groups and communities to assist them in achieving their goals.
COMM1078 Professional Communications
This course is designed for the learner to develop effective communication skills that include collection and documentation of information accurately. The learner will be able to communicate professionally in written, digital, verbal and non-verbal ways, in adherence to the social service worker standards of practice.
Prerequisite: COMM 1048
PSYC1005 The Mental Health Continuum
Students examine the causes of abnormal behavior, psychological factors and physical illness as well as major psychological disorders. This course is not intended to help students solve behavioural or emotional problems requiring professional assessment and response.
Prerequisite: PSYC 1015
This course focuses on progressive learning of communication and supportive counselling skills. A programmed approach to advance development of interview skills is combined with the use of digital recording and self-assessment. Topics covered include learning to structure a full counselling interview, understanding the skills required, and the ability to assess competencies and plan improvement strategies.
Prerequisite: COUN 1030
SSWP2006 Case Management
This course focuses on the case management skills required for the field of social service work. Students will learn the roles and responsibilities associated with client service delivery, and will demonstrate standard case management practices from intake to file closure. Grounded in an empowerment-based approach, this course will examine the complexities of providing support to and planning with service recipients. This includes a review of the legal and ethical requirements of social service workers.
SSWP1002 Delivering Human Services
Students will learn to broker and advocate for appropriate access to resources to assist individuals, families, groups and communities through the creation of professional networks, while identifying current social policy, relevant legislation and political, social and/or economic systems and acknowledging their impacts on service delivery.
WKPL2073 Field Practicum 1
This course will provide learners with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of social service work through an in-depth inquiry into the types, breadth and requirements for specific placements within the SSW field through a robust collaborative planning process with the placement coordinator and faculty. In a supervised environment, students will begin to explore opportunities to execute critical professional performance elements, such as in-person assessment, advocacy, collaboration
and documentation, all within the OCSWSSW scope of practice.
Prerequisite: COMM 1078
SOCI2005 Working with Families
Participants will examine the multiple variations in family structure and the changing role of the Canadian family in today’s society. Various styles and problems of modern family living will be explored using current literature and personal life experiences. The course will focus on issue and personal awareness and implications for service delivery using family-centred and strength-based approaches.
Second Year - Semester Four
SSWP2010 Building Community Capacity
This course is about community development and promoting social change and social justice. Learners will learn about social activism and how individuals and movements have had major positive impacts in changing oppressive practices. Learners will be able to identify community needs and gaps in service, design a program to address the need and write a formal funding proposal.
COUN2023 Counselling for Social Service Work
Building on skills gained in previous counselling courses, the student will enhance their awareness of the conscious use of self in a professional helping relationship while focusing on advanced skills of problem and strengths assessment, intervention, evaluation and termination. A programmed approach for learning more in-depth communication skills is enhanced with the use of VTR equipment, peer and faculty feedback.
Prerequisite: COUN 2022
WKPL2074 Field Practicum 2
This course will provide learners with an opportunity to extend their existing knowledge of placement through an in-depth inquiry into the types, breadth and requirements for specific placements within the SSW field through a robust collaborative planning process with the placement coordinator. In a supervised environment, students will continue to explore opportunities to execute critical professional performance elements, such as in-person assessment, advocacy, collaboration
and documentation, all within the OCSWSSW scope of practice.
Prerequisite: WKPL 2073
SOCI1008 Social Engagement & Advocacy
This course supports the development of an inclusive practice framework for social service workers including social policy, law and a range of problem-solving methods that promote human rights, social justice and social cohesion.
Many universities across Canada and abroad will provide credit recognition for your diploma studies at Loyalist. The following is a list of agreements that are currently in place. There are many more options, and new agreements are added annually. Contact your university of choice to make individual arrangements. Click here for more information about university transfer agreements.
Algoma University — B.A.; B.B.A.; B.Sc.; Bach. Computer Science
Athabasca University – Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Studies
Brock University — B.A. (Honours) Psychology or Women's and Gender Studies
Carleton University – B.S.W.; B.A.
Conestoga College — Bach. Community and Criminal Justice
Davenport University – B.A. Health Services Administration
Griffith University – Bachelor of Human Services; B.S.W.
Institutes of Technology Ireland
Lakehead University — B.S.W. (Honours)
Laurentian University — B.S.W.; Bach. Gerontoloty; Bach. Native Human Services
Laurier Brantford – any honours program
Nipissing University — B.A.
Ryerson University – B.A. Disability Studies; B.S.W.
Seneca College — Bach. Interdisciplinary Studies
University of Guelph – B.A.Sc. (Honours) Family and Community Social Services
Ontario Tech University —B.A. (Honours) Forensic Psychology or Legal Studies; B.A. Adult Education and Digital Technology
University of Waterloo — various*
Wilfrid Laurier University — various*
University of Windsor — B.A. (General or Honours); B.A. (Honours) Disability Studies; B.S.W.
York University — various*
*Various potential degree pathways. Please confirm details with the receiving institution.
How much will it cost?
Approximate costs (2023 – 24)
Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08
Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,308
Total: $4,030.08
Additional Program Costs: Approximately $200 - $250
Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc. Some placements may require transportation, a valid driver’s licence, and/or access to a motor vehicle.
*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies.
Bursaries and financial assistance
Loyalist has a number of scholarships, bursaries and academic awards available to students. Our Financial Aid Office can help you explore your options, or assist you with a student loan.
Admission requirements
Required academic preparation
OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND
Standard First Aid and Level “C” CPR certification.
Current criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.
Prospective students with special needs or limitations that may affect their practicum/field placement or potential employment opportunities are encouraged to discuss their program and career goals with faculty prior to admission.
Strong computer and communication skills (written and oral) are critical.
You must be prepared for full-time studies and placement, and a heavy workload. The program is academically and emotionally demanding. The field of social service work requires proficiency in time management and stress management
Prior learning assessment and recognition
Applicants with work experiences or other types of non-credentialed learning may be eligible for credits at Loyalist. Graded credits (as opposed to exemptions) are granted. Click here for more information about our assessment and credit challenge process.
International students
Click here for information about how to apply, international student fees and more.
Campus News
LOYALIST COLLEGE AWARDED NSERC FUNDING FOR INTERGENERATIONAL HOME SHAR...
Belleville, Ontario, May 19, 2020 – Loyalist College has been awarded a $359,793 grant through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Innov... Read More
LOYALIST COLLEGE SIGNS ARTICULATION AGREEMENT WITH TRENT UNIVERSITY
Belleville, Ontario, April 7, 2016 — Loyalist College is pleased to announce that it has signed an articulation agreement with Trent University that will give eligible Social Service Worker diploma... Read More
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Belleville, Ontario, May 19, 2020 – Loyalist College has been awarded a $359,793 grant through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Innov... 