Academic Advising Centre
This guide has been prepared with the information you need to successfully register for your first year at UFV. Please review the information provided on this page thoroughly before contacting your academic advisor with questions.
The Social Service Worker diploma is a two-year, 62-credit program that prepares graduates to work in social service settings and schools. Graduates work in community-based corrections, family support, Indigenous services, mental health, residential care, schools, settlement services, substance use, and women’s services.
The Social Service Worker diploma – Indigenous focus prepares graduates to work in social service settings and schools in culturally safe ways with Indigenous Peoples. Working from Indigenous perspectives, graduates will work with individuals, families, groups, and communities on issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples. As Indigenous Peoples assert their right to self-determination – particularly in the areas of child welfare, healthcare, and education services – demand will continue to grow for Indigenous social service workers to work in culturally safe ways with Indigenous communities. At the same time, students will develop an understanding of the social, cultural, and political context of Indigenous communities.
Both streams of the Social Service Worker diploma will provide students with employment-related skills while earning university-level credits towards a Bachelor of Social Work or other degree at UFV. Thus, a student who is interested in becoming a social worker will be able to develop skills and seek employment as a social service worker before going on to complete a degree. The number of transfer credits in each stream depends on students’ choice of courses. Consultation with an Academic Advisor is recommended.
Assessment of prior learning is available for qualified students.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
CMNS 125 |
Communicating Professionally to Academic and Workplace Audiences |
3 |
|
or ENGL 105 |
Academic Writing |
|
|
HSER 120 |
Interpersonal Communications for Human Services |
3 |
|
HSER 140 |
Introduction to Indigenous-Centred Human Services |
3 |
|
Elective or Indigenous Focus Course |
Elective Course or Indigenous Focus Course |
3 |
|
SOWK 110 |
Introduction to Social Work and Human Services |
3 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
HSER 130 |
Social Services Practicum I |
7 |
|
SOC 101 |
Introductory Sociology |
3 |
|
PSYC 101 |
Introduction to Psychology I |
3 |
| or PSYC 102 | Introduction to Psychology II | |
| Elective or Indigenous Focus Course | Elective or Indigenous Focus Course | 3 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
CMNS 251 |
Professional Report Writing |
3 |
|
HSER 200 |
Interview and Assessment Skills for Human Services |
3 |
|
SOWK 225 |
Human Behaviour and the Social Environment |
3 |
| or PSYC 250 | Introduction to Developmental Psychology | |
| SOWK 283 | Introduction to Social Work Practice with Families | 3 |
| Elective or Indigenous Focus Course | Elective Course or Indigenous Focus Course | 3 |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
HSER 230 |
Social Services Practicum II |
7 |
|
SOWK 210 |
Introduction to Social Welfare |
3 |
|
SOWK 297 |
Introduction to Mental Health and Substance Use |
3 |
|
Elective or Indigenous Focus Course |
Elective course or Indigenous Focus Course | 3 |
You can access a list of all approved and required courses for your program in two ways:
First time using MyGRADplan?
Visit MyGRADplan website to get login instructions and review tutorials. Specifically, you will want to learn about the 'What if' and 'Look ahead' features as they will be most helpful in your course planning.
Pick
4-5 courses per semester
Expect
15 hours per week in class
And at least
15 hours per week
for homework
This program is designed to be completed in 2 years. It is possible (and recommended) to take less than five courses in the first semester and stay on track for graduation if you take courses in the summer semester.
If you plan to take this program part-time for a total of four years, this will create a delay in practicum and graduation.
As part of the program, you also have two practicums to complete:
Note: You must complete prerequisites and submit the required documents to take practicum.
Questions about the practicum?
Visit the student practicum page or email hserinfo@ufv.ca.
Notes:
This program stream prepares you to work in social service settings and schools in culturally safe ways with Indigenous Peoples.
You will need to contact your Academic Advisor to declare the Indigenous Focus concentration if you did not indicate this on your program application.
This declaration will change some of the courses required to complete the program but both program streams require the completion of 62 credits.
Practicum orientation is held in June. If you do not receive an invitation, please email hserinfo@ufv.ca.
The School of Social Work and Human Services will also have a welcome gathering in the fall for your specific program. An invitation will be sent to your UFV student email.
Make sure to check your UFV student email regularly for updates.
Book an appointment with an academic advisor or email your questions to advising@ufv.ca.