- Ontario university or college degree or equivalent in social sciences
Applicants with credentials from outside of Canada must provide a "course-by-course" credential assessment from a recognized agency such as WES (World Education Services) or ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service); including a Postsecondary English course or equivalent.
Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated) (SSIA)
About the Program
This accelerated one-year Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees program prepares you to succeed as a social service provider to support immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the fast-paced program, your success will be measured by your ability to grow, change and challenge your own beliefs. Based on a framework of equity, social justice and anti-oppression principles, this program will provide insight and understanding of migration trajectories and how to effectively aid clients with their settlement and integration processes.
To qualify for this accelerated program, you must have completed an undergraduate degree. Students with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences or a similar undergraduate degree will be given priority. This program consists of a seven-week, intensive summer semester starting in early May, followed by a regular academic year starting the day after Labour Day and concluding in mid-April.
Please note that due to the short duration of the first semester, this program does not qualify for OSAP funding (subsequent semesters are eligible). For more information, please contact Financial Aid.
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Diploma
Duration
3 Semesters (12 Months)
Starts
May
Program and Course Delivery
This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements.
Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:
- International and national migration policies
- Settlement counselling
- Case management
- Community development
- Advocacy
- Fundraising and proposal writing
- Program planning
- Development and evaluation
Work Experience
Field Placement
Students who meet all academic requirements will complete 400 hours of field placement during semesters three and four in a professional setting. Unpaid field placements will take place two days a week during each semester.
Your Career
When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:
- Settlement agencies
- Schools
- Refugee shelters
- Community centres
- Criminal justice system
- Women’s programs, shelters and agencies offering services for immigrant youth
Based on your skills, interests and professional background you will qualify to work as:
- Job search workshop facilitator
- Host program worker
- Settlement worker
- Housing worker
- School settlement worker
Program of Study
| Course Code | Course Name | Weekly Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| SSW102 | Anti Oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SSW212 | Interviewing Skills and Principles | 3 |
| WIR100 | Introduction to Immigrant and Refugee Policies | 3 |
| WIR147 | Field Seminar: Laws, Principles and Ethics | 3 |
| WIR208 | Introduction to Settlement Sectors | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SSW206 | Resiliency through the Life Span | 3 |
| SSW311 | Service Coordination and Advocacy | 3 |
| SSW312 | Supportive Counselling | 3 |
| WIR347 | Integrative Field Work Seminar | 3 |
| WIR357 | Field Placement | 4 |
| WIR377 | Non-Profit Funding and Grant Writing | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SSW201 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| WIR227 | Immigrant Families and Systemic Violence | 3 |
| WIR408 | Migration and Trauma | 3 |
| WIR447 | Integrative Field Work Seminar | 3 |
| WIR457 | Field Placement | 4 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:
- develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work.
- record information accurately and communicate effectively in written, digital, verbal and non-verbal ways, in adherence to privacy and freedom of information legislation, in accordance with professional and workplace standards.
- integrate a practice framework within a service delivery continuum, addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities at micro, mezzo, macro and global levels, and work with them in achieving their goals.
- plan and implement accessible and responsive programs and services, recognizing the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families and communities, and meeting these needs.
- examine current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, historical, and/or economic systems and their impacts for individuals and communities when delivering services to the user/client.
- develop strategies and approaches that support individual clients, groups, families and communities in building the capacity for self-advocacy, while affirming their dignity and self-worth.
- work from an anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice, recognizing the capacity for resilience and growth of individuals and communities when responding to the diverse needs of marginalized or vulnerable populations to act as allies and advocates.
- develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession.
- work with individuals, groups, families and their communities to ensure that service provider strategies promote social and economic justice, and challenge patterns of oppression, discrimination and harassment, and sexual violence with clients, coworkers and communities.
- develop the capacity to work with the Indigenous individual, families, groups and communities while respecting their inherent rights to self-determine, and to identify and address systemic barriers that produce ill-effects, developing appropriate responses using approaches such as trauma informed care practice.
Admission Requirements
Additional Information
Postsecondary English course equivalency can be demonstrated through one of the following:
- Completed postsecondary credential from an institution and country where English is the primary language spoken (Canada or one of the countries listed here)
- Successful score in a Seneca Pre-Admission English Test
After admission but before field placement, you must obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check.
International Student Information
International admissions requirements vary by program and in addition to English requirements, programs may require credits in mathematics, biology, and chemistry at a level equivalent to Ontario’s curriculum, or a postsecondary degree or diploma, equivalent to an Ontario university or college. Program-specific pre-requisite courses and credentials are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. To review the academic requirements please visit: Academic Requirements - Seneca, Toronto, Canada (senecapolytechnic.ca).
Pathways
As a leader in academic pathways, we offer a range of options that will allow you to take your credential further in another Seneca program or a program at a partner institution.
To learn more about your eligibility, visit the Academic Pathways web page.