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Ontario College Diploma
The Social Service Worker program combines academic study with practical experience to provide graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to work in the diverse and complex field of community and social services. The program focuses on the development of front-line interviewing and counselling skills that will prepare students to work with individuals and groups in a variety of social service settings, including group homes, women's shelters, addiction and mental health facilities, employment programs and services for seniors. In addition to theoretical models, methods and skills of social service work practice, you will receive extensive training in community organizing and development, crisis intervention, group work, and life skills methodology.
As a graduate of the Social Service Worker program, you will be eligible to register as a social service worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers: www.ocswssw.org
For information about meeting the grade 12 (C or U) English requirement please visit the English Language Proficiency Requirement page.
Program Admission Notes:
Note: Please do not send official transcripts by mail or fax. An electronic copy of your transcript can be emailed to us at ppladmissions@durhamcollege.ca with your program admission form.
Students are required to complete and submit this form to indicate that the program's admission requirements have been met.
Click to access the Program Admission Form
This form must be submitted and an Admission Acceptance Letter received prior to registering for any courses.
Students are required to print or save a copy of the Program of Study when beginning the program. This document contains critical details about program progression and graduation requirements specific to the academic year in which your program was started.
Click to access the Program of Study for the current academic year.
Students who began this program prior to the current academic year may contact the Professional and Part-Time Learning office at ppl@durhamcollege.ca or 905-721-3052 to obtain your Program of Study and graduation requirements.
General Education Electives: This program requires the completion of General Education Elective (GNED) courses in addition to core program courses.
Click to access General Education Elective Course Options
IMPORTANT NOTE:Some programs may have restrictions on the specific GNED courses that students are able to take to fulfill their program requirements. For Professional and Part-Time Learning students, these restrictions are identified on the link above. For those in full-time, day school programs, please consult your academic school for confirmation of any GNED restrictions for your program before registering.
This program contains three field placement courses. For details, including paperwork submission deadlines, please visit the Field Placement Page. For additional, program-specific field placement questions, please read the Social Service Worker Field Placement FAQs.
Please also be advised of the following:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be equipped to:
Potential career and industry options may include:
Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College's partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.
Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
Graduates interested in further professional development may be interested in the following courses/programs:
Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College's:
If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please visit the Professional and Part-Time Learning OSAP Eligibility webpage.