Country: Canada
Duration: 2 Years
Program Level: Diploma
Country: Canada
Duration: 2 Years
Program Level: Diploma
George Brown College has been preparing Social Service Worker graduates to be agents of and allies for change and social justice in diverse communities for nearly 20 years.
The Social Service Worker diploma program combines in-class learning with field experience to teach theoretical models, approaches to practice, group facilitation, mental health supports, social innovation, and anti-oppressive practice.
This is an approved education program by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
Develop the knowledge, values and skills to work directly with a wide range of people confronting the full breadth of social issues and challenges with the two-year Social Service Worker (C119) diploma program.
If you have strong interpersonal skills and are committed to working toward a more just and equitable society and examining the dynamics of power, oppression, and social location, this program is for you. Graduates are prepared for roles in a variety of agency settings, including mental health, homelessness, poverty, substance use and addictions, long-term care, criminal justice, crisis supports, and settlement and immigration.
You will examine social service workers’ expanding professional roles and responsibilities in large urban centres and other communities. In addition to learning the theoretical models, methods, and skills of social service work practice, you will study and develop skills in the following:
You will also gain real-world experience with a supervised year-long field placement. In preparation for the field or clinical placement, students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.
Many Social Service Worker program faculty have professional experience in the following areas:
George Brown College is a signatory of Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Indigenous Education Protocols, which reaffirms the importance of structures and approaches required to address Indigenous peoples’ learning needs and support the self-determination and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities.
In response to this and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, the Social Service Worker program is committed to developing the capacity of its students to work with Indigenous individuals, families, groups, and communities. The faculty acknowledges the support of Indigenous Education and Services at George Brown College and the Negahneewin Council at Confederation College, who have helped them with this process. The Indigenous Learning Outcomes guide the integration of Indigenous learning into the curriculum.
As a student in this program, field education will provide you with a significant learning opportunity. In year two, you will have the chance to participate in a year-long field experience with a community agency for approximately 600 hours. While in placement, you will be supervised by qualified professional practitioners.
George Brown maintains relationships with agencies operating in a wide range of institutional and community-based settings throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Assisted by our field placement co-ordinator, field faculty and GBC career services, students are supported to secure their own placement experience that reflects their interest
NOTE: In compliance with the requirements of our field partners, all students in this program are encouraged to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check before commencing their field placement. These reference checks, which can take up to four months, are done to protect the clientele of these agencies who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law. The fees for the reference checks vary by region and must be paid by the student. Students are responsible for ensuring that the check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).” The Social Service Worker (SSW) program will assist students in applying for the vulnerable sector check once they begin the program.
Students without a clear Vulnerable Sector Check may find that their choice of placement is limited. Students in this situation are encouraged to work with the field education coordinator to identify placement opportunities that do not require the Vulnerable Sector Check. Students are also encouraged to inquire and apply for Suppression and Destruction of Record or Record Suspension (formerly known Pardon) at their specific regional police services in order to prepare for their future career or employment. For more information, please visit the Clinical Pre-placement website.
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
| language proficiency Testing Program | Diploma/Certificate Programs |
Postgraduate Programs and Fast-track/ Bridges** | GBC Degree Programs* |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Brown English for Academic (EAP) Program | Level 8 | Level 9 | Level 9 |
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each skill band | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each skill band | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each skill band |
| TOEFL | 80 (online) minimum 20 in each skill band | 88 (online) minimum 22 in each skill band | 84 (online) minimum 21 in each skill band |
| MELAB | 80 | 85 | 85 |
| PTE (Academic) | 54, overall minimum 50 in each skill band |
60, overall minimum 55 in each skill band |
60, overall minimum 55 in each skill band |
| CAEL | 60 (overall) | 70 overall (writing 60) | 70 overall (writing 60) |
| Cambridge English Exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) | 169 or more (with no individual skill below 162) | 176 or more (with no individual skill below 169) | 176 or more (with no individual skill below 169) |
| George Brown Admissions Test (Mature applicants only) | Available | Available | Not Available |
CAD35,810.00 Approx.
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Program Level | |
| Duration | |
| School |
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Living Costs | $11,800 - $15,750/Year |
| Application Fee | $100 - $200 |
| IELTS Requirement | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Work Opportunities | Yes; Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (up to 3 years) |
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7880 Keele St. Unit 206,
Concord, ON, Canada L4K 4G7
