Social Service Worker

Courses

Social Service Worker-2024/2025

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1
WRIT-1094Reason & Writing 1 for Community Studies3
This course will introduce Community Studies students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking.
BSCI-1247Group Development & Practice3
Group Development and Practice is designed as an experiential learning opportunity aimed at developing students' knowledge and understanding of human behaviours within groups, with a focus on the role of 'self' in group dynamics and processes. Students will learn and apply Prosocial Theory Core Design Principles to develop skills related to effective individual and group functioning in essential areas such as; communication, decision making, and conflict resolution.
SOCW-1057Foundation to Community Building2
This course will provide the student with an introduction to community resources and capacity building and apply that knowledge through a community mapping project. Students will learn about the diversity of resources that make up a community through exploration of; Individual Capacities/Assets, Local Associations & Organizations, and Local Institutions. Through the community mapping experience, students will be able to identify local resources & services, recognizing the strengths/assets, challenges/gaps and the impact on individuals, families, and neighbourhoods which they will present to their class bringing awareness of the resources throughout the local community. Students will also become familiar with the SSW Program Manual expectations & requirements through review of the SSW Program Manual.
SOCW-1058Social Welfare Systems3
This course is designed as an introduction to present Social Service and Welfare Policy in Canada. It will investigate the social, legal and humanitarian origins of social policy and the implications for social service work will be examined. Federal, provincial and municipal statutes, regulations, policies and practices will be considered and analyzed. This course will also examine service delivery models, funding issues as well as demographic and legislative trends that have an impact on social policy.
SOCI-1006Sociology for Social Service Workers3
This course introduces students to the basic sociological concepts and major perspectives as a means of understanding society and social issues. The course will acquaint students with the social processes of socialization, social interaction, collective behaviour, social and cultural change, social stratification, and deviance and social control. Finally, the course will lay a foundation for evaluating and conducting research on current social issues.
PSYC-1130Psychology for Social Service Workers3
This course will introduce the student to classic theories of personality and various approaches to understanding personality development. Students will explore how to apply theories of personality to explain various aspects of human behavior and learn how different approaches are applied in the Social Work/Social Service Worker field.


Group 2
TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE:
(MINIMUM GRADE C)
SOCW-1059Counselling 13
This course will introduce students to the basic foundational counselling skills, recognizing the diverse and multicultural milieu of the individuals and communities we serve. Through experiential learning opportunities, students will actively learn and practice introductory interviewing and basic counselling skills required for developing effective professional relationships in the Social Services Field. Students will have the opportunity to actively practice and demonstrate the application of their skills utilizing feedback, critical analysis, self-evaluation, and reflective practice by conducting individual interviews.

Level 2
Gen Ed - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course.
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1
COMM-3082Communications for Community Studies3
This course, designed for students who plan to work in the field of Community Studies, focuses on professional written and verbal communication skills. Students learn to prepare a variety of work-related documents. In addition, students learn about research methods and documentation formats. The principles of effective writing - organization, grammar, style, clarity, and tone - are reinforced throughout the course. The goal of the course is to prepare students for the communication tasks and considerations they will encounter in the Community Studies workplace in order to meet the needs of employers and/or the communities they will serve.
RSCH-1002Ethical Principles-Research & Evaluation3
This course will provide students with the opportunity to practice the principles of research and evaluation necessary for the Social Service field. Additionally, they will be introduced to the basic skills necessary to assist in fundraising for small agencies.
SOCW-1060Professional Practice-SSW2
This course will prepare students for the forthcoming field placement process and practice experience. Through examination of the program's SSW Field Placement Manual, students will have a comprehensive overview of the requirements and expectations needed to be 'field placement ready' and how to conduct themselves professionally in the field placement setting. Students will learn about SMART goals and how to apply them directly to the Ministry's 9 Vocational Learning goals for the SSW Program in preparation for the Applied Skills Contracts required in their upcoming field placement.
SOCW-1052Social Work With Families-Intro2
This course will introduce students to the diversity, complexity, and uniqueness of families through a multicultural lens. Students will explore their own experience of family and reflect on how it can influence their role when working with families in the field. Through the process of completing an individual Ecomap and Genogram, students will develop an understanding of the processes, dynamics, roles, and functions of families in social and cultural contexts. Students will be learning about the Indian Act, highlighting historical and current challenges this legislation has on Indigenous families.
SOCW-1061Human Development & Social Work3
From a Canadian perspective, this course will examine development and behaviour across the lifespan according to the normal human growth and development trajectory. How cultural contexts and experiences influence development will be discussed. Some problems and issues experienced across the lifespan will be explored and major theories of development will be reviewed.
EDUC-3017Strategies for Effective Communication3
This course is designed to support students' success in Level 2 of the Social Service Worker diploma program and to prepare them to function well in their social work field practice. Emphasis will be placed on the acquisition and mastery of program-specific written and oral skills, critical thinking, and effective interprofessional communication skills.


Group 2
TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE:
(MINIMUM GRADE C)
SOCW-1062Counselling 23
This course builds on introductory counselling skills with an emphasis on expanding active listening, relationship building and empowerment techniques. Students will learn how to appropriately apply counselling skills in the context of a structured interview. Students will be expected to work in small groups and pairs to practice and illustrate their learning. Learning outcomes will emphasize a student's ability to demonstrate self-awareness and understanding of potential impacts on clients within a counselling and Social Service Worker role. This learning is necessary for students to demonstrate as they prepare for field placement.

Level 3
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1
SOCW-3021SSW Practice & Intervention2
This course is designed as a co-requisite to Social Service Work Field Practice: SOCW3004. Through individual reflective exercises, group discussions, group facilitations, and application to field placement experience, students will focus on the theory & practice of the Ministry's 9 Vocational Learning Goals. Students will also be applying these skills in developing & evaluating the MTCU Goals using SMART Goals and completing the SOCW3004:Fall2016 Applied Skills Contract for evaluation of their application. This process prepares students for the expectations of the OCSWSSW's required annual Continuing Competence Program (CCP).
FLDP-3050Social Work Field Practice 18
The field practicum offers students the opportunity to implement and practice the skills and theory taught in the classroom. To enhance skills and to facilitate integration of theory and practice the student is monitored by an agency supervisor who works in consultation with a faculty advisor.
SOCW-3030Social Work Assessment With Families3
This course has been designed to deepen students' understanding of social service work with families by building on the information learned in SOCW1052 and SOCW1033. Students will learn fundamental skills to assess family functioning, intervention planning, and the importance of documentation. This course will focus on using family centered and strengths based approaches to work within a variety of family forms, definitions, and experiences. Learning will be facilitated through the application of foundational concepts to case studies and activities, which are intended to stimulate critical thinking and support the integration of theory and practice.
SOCW-1054Social Work in Mental Health 13
During this course, service provision approaches to mental health will be explored. Students will become knowledgeable about types of mental health problems, their causal factors, symptoms, and options for assessment and treatment.
SOCW-1053Community Organization & Development 13
This course offers an overview of community development principles, processes and practices with an emphasis on experiences of community organizing in North America. Students will become acquainted with the effects of larger social forces on undertaking social justice work at the community level and be introduced to practical models for community empowerment and social change in relation to a variety of issues and contexts. Students will have the opportunity to experience community-based learning about effective participatory action research methods.


Group 2
TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE:
(MINIMUM GRADE C)
SOCW-3036Counselling 33
Building on Counselling 1 & 2, this course will familiarize the student with key concepts, techniques, goals and the development of client/counselor relationships with emphasis placed on working with resistance. The student will examine various theoretical approaches to counselling and practice skill development within each counselling model.

Level 4
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1
SOCW-3032Analysis of Social Interventions3
This course is designed to further students in their critical analysis of social issues and problems through the examination of interventions designed to address them. Students will consider strategies of intervention, the role of stereotypes and ideology in treatment, the unintended consequences of social intervention, and the roles of ethics and evaluation. The impact of social interventions will be investigated through critical analysis of current responses to racism, violence against women, poverty, youth and family issues, crime, welfare and capitalist economics in Canada. The development of social empathy in society will also be explored.
SOCW-3031Social Work in Mental Health 23
This course is a continuation of Social Work in Mental Health 1. During this course, students will become more knowledgeable about types of mental health problems (not previously covered in Social Work in Mental Health 1). Selected topics from the previous course will be revisited in order to explore assessment and intervention at a deeper level. Assessment approaches will be explored through the DSM classification system and the strengths-based perspective.
FLDP-3051Social Work Field Practice 28
Social Work Field Practice 2 offers students the opportunity to further implement and practice the skills and theory taught in the classroom and developed in Social Work Field Practice 1. The student will be expected to perform their duties equivalent to an 'entry level' position by the completion of this course. To enhance skills and to facilitate integration of theory and practice, the student is monitored by an agency supervisor who works in consultation with a faculty advisor (college supervisor).
SOCW-3037Community Organization & Development 23
Community development is a process of building communities for purposeful action directed by the desire for social equality. This course will further expand the learnings students acquired in Community Organization & Dev. 1, focusing on principles and practices of community organizing and social change. It will provide students with a greater understanding of theories, methods & models of community work. Students will be provided with the opportunity to further their knowledge of community development principles, processes and practices to ignite community participation in practical community-based interventions.


Group 2
TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE:
(MINIMUM GRADE C)
SOCW-5003Group Facilitation & Counselling-Adv3
This course builds on previous counselling courses and the group development & practice course. The focus is on developing group facilitation skills by integrating traditional group and counselling theories, concepts, and processes, actively applying these strategies and techniques to demonstrate effective application of theory through experiential learning exercises, feedback, and evaluation.

Gen Ed - Electives
Take 3 General Education Credits -
Normally taken in Level 2

Program Residency
Students Must Complete a Minimum of 21 credits in this
program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency
requirement and graduate from this program

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