Courses
Social Service Worker (Fast Track)-2026/2027
| Level 2 | ||||
| Gen Ed - Take two 3 credit General Education elective | ||||
| courses | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
Group 1 | ||||
| SOCW-1044 | Community Resources | 2 | ||
| 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 London community. Students will also become familiar with the SSW Program Manual expectations & requirements through review of the SSW Program Manual. | ||||
| BSCI-1248 | Group Dynamics | 3 | ||
| This experiential course introduces Social Service Worker students to the theory and practice of group development and group dynamics, with a strong emphasis on learning through active participation in their own ongoing small groups. Students will engage in structured group work and reflective experiential learning opportunities that position them as group members first, allowing them to directly experience and critically analyze group processes from a participant perspective. Through this immersion, students will explore working effectively in a group, developing self-awareness through discovering themselves, expressing ideas clearly, and listening for deep understanding. The course also focuses on collaborative problem solving, preparing for and contributing to meaningful discussions, and progressively guiding and leading group interactions. Particular attention is given to building cohesive, inclusive groups and developing practical strategies for managing and transforming conflict. By experiencing, reflecting on, and applying group concepts within their own groups, students will develop the insight, empathy, and practical skills required to effectively facilitate and lead groups in professional social service settings. | ||||
| SOCW-1055 | Community Development & Social Change 1 | 3 | ||
| 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. | ||||
| SOCW-1036 | Community Mental Health 1 | 3 | ||
| This introductory course, will explore mental health social service work practice. Students will be introduced to mental health policy framework and mental health law in a Canadian context. Students will become knowledgeable about types of mental health problems, risk and protective factors, impacts and needs of clients, and options for evidence-based assessment and treatment. Students will learn foundational skills for writing a Social Work Assessment and Treatment Plan. | ||||
| SOCW-3033 | Social Work With Families | 3 | ||
| This course has been designed to deepen students' understanding of social service work with families and the impact of society's expectations of families as well as the impact of social structures on families. The content assumes that the student has a basic understanding of diverse family structures, family culture and beliefs, family dynamics, and human development across the lifespan. 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-1042 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 | ||
| This course is designed as a critical introduction to current 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. | ||||
| FLDP-1028 | Field Preparation | 1 | ||
| This course is designed to prepare students for the field placement component of the Social Service Worker (SSW) Fast Track program. Students will engage in a detailed review of the SSW Field Placement Manual to gain a comprehensive understanding of the expectations, responsibilities, and professional standards required to be placement ready. Emphasis will be placed on developing professional conduct within field settings and aligning personal learning goals with sector expectations. Students will be introduced to the SMART goal framework and will learn how to effectively apply it to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities' 10 Vocational Learning Outcomes for the SSW program. This foundational work will support the development of Applied Skills Contracts and set the stage for a successful field placement experience | ||||
Group 2 | ||||
| TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE: (MINIMUM GRADE C) | ||||
| SOCW-1038 | Counselling | 4 | ||
| This course will provide the student with basic counselling tools and strategies used in Social Service Work practice. The student will be encouraged to explore and develop their own style in conducting a helping interview, appropriate for social service settings. Students will work in small groups, role play scenarios to demonstrate their learning of the skills. The learning is necessary for students as they prepare of field placement. | ||||
| Level 3 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
Group 1 | ||||
| SOCW-3009 | Critical Analysis of Social Intervention | 3 | ||
| This course is designed to further acquaint students with critical analyses 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-3010 | Social Service Field Practice 1 | 6.4 | ||
| 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 (college supervisor). | ||||
| RSCH-1003 | Ethical Research & Evaluation | 3 | ||
| 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-3013 | Community Development & Social Change 2 | 3 | ||
| 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 CD & Social Change SOCW 1055 as well as Community Resources SOCW1044, 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. | ||||
| SOCW-3014 | Community Mental Health 2 | 3 | ||
| This course is a continuation of SOCW-1036 Community Mental Health 1. Students will build on their knowledge of types of mental health problems, risk and protective factors, impacts and needs of clients and options for evidence-based assessment and treatment. The DSM classification system, strengths-based perspective, mental status exam and risk assessment screening will be explored at a deeper level. Students will be required to demonstrate a culmination of their knowledge in mental health and social service worker practice by completing a Social Work Assessment and Treatment Plan connected to their Field Placement | ||||
| SOCW-3034 | Practice & Intervention | 2 | ||
| This course supports students in their field placement experience by assisting them in applying theory to practice, and making connections through their Applied Skills Contracts (ASC). There is an emphasis on ethical practice and professional standards required both in the field and for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Through experiential learning activities, group discussions, and individual reflection, students will explore the realities of the social service workplace. | ||||
Group 2 | ||||
| TAKE THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY COURSE: (MINIMUM GRADE C) | ||||
| SOCW-5002 | Counselling-Adv | 3 | ||
| This course furthers the learning of Counselling, SOCW1038, which in conjunction with Field Practice, SOCW3010, is designed to integrate theoretical and practical dimensions of Social Service Work. It will emphasize the applications of learned methods of intervention with populations at risk in the community and encourages the development of the student's own eclectic approach. | ||||
| Level 4 | ||||
| Gen Ed - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course | ||||
| Take the following Mandatory Course: | ||||
| FLDP-3053 | Social Service Field Practice 2 | 6.4 | ||
| Social Service Field Practice II offers students the opportunity to further implement and practice the skills and theory taught in the classroom and developed in the prerequisite course SOCW 3010. 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 college supervisor. | ||||
| Gen Ed - Electives | ||||
| Take 9 General Education Credits - Normally taken in Levels 2 and 4 | ||||
| Program Residency | ||||
| Students Must Complete a Minimum of 16 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program | ||||