Social Services diploma
The Social Services diploma program is
a two-year, 62-credit program (combining practical
skill-development and university-transfer courses) that
prepares you to work at the para-professional level in social
service occupations. Typical jobs include financial assistance
worker, community service worker, teacher aide, residential
service worker, special education assistant, case aide,
activity worker, seniors supervisor, home support coordinator,
social work assistant, mental health worker, and family support
worker.
The program also provides an
opportunity for students preparing for professional degrees to
acquire practical job-related skills while earning
university-transfer credits.
Transfer
More than half the courses in the
Social Services program are transferable. Students are advised
to check the BCCAT website (www.bccat.bc.ca) for specific
transfer credit. The amount of transfer credit you will receive
depends on your choice of courses.
Students wishing to challenge a Social
Services course must have their application for challenge
approved by the department. Students wishing to transfer credit
from another institution should contact the Admissions and
Records office for more information.
1. Secondary
school graduation or equivalent (ABE Provincial, Advanced or
GED). Mature students, 19 years or older, who have completed at
least three university- transfer credits that apply to the
program at the time of application do not require a high school
transcript.
2. You
must be physically and emotionally prepared to undertake a
program of studies.
3. You
must be willing to undergo a criminal records check.
4. You
must have a CPT score of 48 or better (or C+ or better in
English 081 or 091, or C or better in ENGL 099, 105, or CMNS
155 or equivalent course in writing skills), or an A in English
12, Literature 12, or Technical Professional Communications 12.
An LPI essay score of 30 (level 5) is considered equivalent to
a CPT score of 48.
5. Personal
suitability of applicants will be assessed using a point rating
system. Points are awarded for past academic education, all
work or volunteer experience (social services or other),
demonstrated writing ability, reference letters, personal
statement, and the group interview. Admission will be granted
on a first-come, first-qualified, first-served basis to those
scoring above the required threshold and who have completed a
successful interview.
6. The
group interview generally consists of four to six student
applicants and two SWHS department members. Applicants should
be prepared to discuss their career goals and knowledge of the
field, and are expected to demonstrate appropriate
interpersonal and life skills.
Note: Students with a post-secondary CGPA of less than 2.0 will not normally be admitted to the
program. A GPA of 2.0 is required for practicum placement. You
must be at least 19 by October 31 prior to the semester you
take HSER 129. Practica are scheduled for the second semester.
1.
Submit the application fee along with your UCFV application for
admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office.
Application forms are available from any A&R or Student
Services office. See the
Program Charts for a complete list of
application dates and general information.
Additional documents required for a
complete application:
• proof of B.C. secondary school
graduation or equivalent (see entrance requirements).
• a Composition Placement Test
(CPT) score of 48 or better, or documentation (official
transcript or test score) of the equivalent (see entrance
requirements).
• official transcript (or interim
transcript) from all other previous post-secondary institutions
showing grade/course achievement.
• an additional application
information form detailing all your past work and volunteer
experience and education (include social service related and
other).
• a personal statement indicating
why you want to enter the program and what has brought you to
make this career choice. Please refer to the kinds of
experiences you have had in this field, either paid or
volunteer.
• two recent satisfactory letters
of reference from past employers, teachers, or volunteer
supervisors who can comment on your suitability to work with
people in the social services field should be included with
your application package. These must be on reference forms
available from the SWHS department, or original, signed letters
on letterhead addressing the criteria on the reference forms.
2. Only
those who submit complete applications and score the minimum
required points will be called for a group interview. Should
you not receive notification by April 1, contact Admissions and
Records.
3. Upon
admission to the program you will be provided with registration
information. A deposit is required when your register (see the
Fees and Other
Costs section). This money will be
applied to the tuition fees and is not refundable. Final
payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of
classes.
If the program is full, qualified
students will be placed on a temporary wait list. If you meet
the entrance requirements and a space becomes available before
September 1, you will be contacted. After September 1 the
waitlist is void.
In cases where interim transcripts are
submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon
completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of
entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in
August.
Continuance in program
Students are required to complete a
minimum of 62 credits, and at least 50 percent of these must be
completed at UCFV.
A GPA of 2.0 (C average) is required
for practicum placement and graduation. Please note that
entrance requirements for the Social Work degree program
stipulate a minimum GPA of 2.75.
All core courses (SOWK 110, 210; HSER
120, 200) must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Students who are not making satisfactory progress may be
required to withdraw from the program. Unsatisfactory progress
includes:
• having been placed on academic
warning for inappropriate classroom conduct
• failing two or more core courses
in one semester
• failing a required course twice
• failing to make the required
grade in a core course twice, and/or
• failing a practicum
• failing to maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Students may elect to take this
program on either a part- or full-time basis; however, students
are expected to do a practicum in the second semester of their
first year. In order to fill that requirement, students must
have completed SOWK 110; HSER 120, HSER 129, and CMNS 155 or
ENGL 105. Students who are unable to complete these courses in
the first semester in the program should postpone their
application to the program until they have taken some of the
above courses as General Studies students. Taking these courses
does not guarantee you will be accepted into the program.
Students have a maximum of four years to complete the program
requirements that were in place when they entered the program.
Students wishing to work with children
or the mentally or physically challenged are encouraged to
acquire a Class IV driver’s licence and a Standard First
Aid certificate. They should include HSER 196 as a recommended
elective. In addition, keyboarding and computer skills are
considered useful skills by most employers and practicum
agencies.
Fees and additional costs
Fees stated are in effect for 2005/06
and are subject to change for 2006/07.
Tuition fees for most full-time
students are about $2,000 per semester (based on enrolment in
five courses or 15 credits). Books and additional supplies cost
approximately $150 per course. See the
Fees and Other
Costs section for more information.
There will also be other expenses such
as travelling to practicum sites and field trips.
Workload and classroom expectations
Full-time students should be prepared
to spend about 20 hours per week in class, and about 20 to 35
hours outside of class in independent learning. Full-time
students take five or six courses each semester. During the
winter semester, full-time students take three courses, plus a
six-credit practicum. The practicum requires two full days in
the field and students must make themselves available during
this time. In addition to the field work, practicum students
must attend a weekly 80-minute practicum seminar.
Acceptance into the program does not
guarantee practicum placement. If you are not 19 before October
31, we may not be able to place you. Placement into a practicum
will be at the discretion of the instructor. A GPA of 2.0 is
required for practicum placement. You will be individually
assessed during the first semester as to your readiness for the
practicum, in terms of skills, attitudes, and knowledge. The
ability to pass a criminal records check is a prerequisite for
most placements and suitable appearance is necessary. A valid
driver’s licence and access to an automobile is required
for most practica.
Students must register for seminars
and practica on their assigned campus as practica will be done
in that region; students are not guaranteed the practicum of
their choice.
Students currently working in the
field, or with significant work experience, may be able to
challenge the second practicum. Regulations concerning
challenge opportunities are covered in the first-term courses
HSER 129/229. Challenge options are to be discussed with the
instructor.
Dates and locations
Admission to the program is for the
September semester only. The program year is from September
through April. Part-time Social Service diploma students may
enroll in any available social services course provided they
meet the stated prerequisite and there is space. Part-time
students may not be able to access courses in sequence. General
Studies students and students in other programs may be able to
enroll in some social service courses if they meet the stated
pre-requisite and there is space.
The diploma program is offered at both
the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses. You must indicate on
your application form which campus you wish to attend.
Acceptance into the program on a specified campus does not
guarantee that all your non-SWHS courses will be available on
that campus. Students are expected to complete required SWHS
courses and practica at the campus to which they are admitted
to (i.e., Chilliwack students will complete required SWHS
courses and practica in Chilliwack; Abbotsford students will
complete required SWHS courses and practica in either
Abbotsford or Mission). While efforts are made to ensure
adequate reserved seats, students are not guaranteed seats in
courses (including core courses) and may not be able to access
courses in sequence. It may not be possible to complete the
program in two years or as planned.
Program outline
For complete details on courses see
the
Course
descriptions section.
Social Services diploma
First Year
Semester I
Course Title Credits
CMNS 155 Communications for Human
Services
or ENGL 105 The Reading and Writing of Prose 3
or ENGL 105 The Reading and Writing of Prose 3
SOWK 110 Intro to Social Work &
Human Services 3
HSER 120 Intro to Interpersonal
Communications 3
HSER 129 Seminar 1
PHIL 110 Morality and Politics 3
PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology I 3
Total 16
Semester II
Course Title Credits
HSER 130 Practicum I (2 days/week) 6
HSER 150 Approaches to Helping:
A Theoretical Overview 3
A Theoretical Overview 3
SOC 101 Introductory Sociology 3
Elective (See Note1) 3
Total 15
Second Year
Semester III
Course Title Credits
SOWK 225 Human Behaviour and the
Social
Environment 3
Environment 3
HSER 200 Counselling Skills 3
HSER 229 Seminar 1
HSER 283* Family Dynamics (or
semester IV) 3
Elective (See Note1) 3
Elective (See Note1) 3
Total 16
Semester IV
Course Title Credits
CMNS 250
Report Writing for Business, Information
Technologies, Social and Services 3
Technologies, Social and Services 3
HSER 230 Practicum II (2 days/week) 6
SOWK 210 Intro to Social Welfare 3
Elective (See Note1) 3
Total 15
Program total 62
* Students must complete HSER 283, which
is offered on alternating campuses.
Note on electives: Students will take
four electives in their diploma program. The electives are
divided into two groups:
Group A: Data manipulation requirement
(choose one):
• Biology 105, 111, 112
• Chemistry 100, 101
• Economics 101, 102
• Math 104, 105, 106, 110,
111, 112, 115, 116, 125
• Computer Information
Systems 100, 110 or BUS 160
• Geography 101, 102, 201,
202, 251, 253
• Computing 100, 150
• Physics 101, 103, 104
• Psychology 110, 202, 210,
220
• KPE 163, 170, 270
Group B: Other electives (choose three):
The remaining electives can be chosen
from the following university transfer disciplines, but no more
than two electives can be from the same discipline (with the
exception of FNST courses): adult education, anthropology, art
history, biology, chemistry, child and youth care, computing
science, criminology, economics, English, geography, history,
kinesiology, languages, Latin American studies, media and
communications, philosophy, physics, political science,
psychology, sociology, theatre.
Students may also choose their elective
courses from the following:
• FNST 101: Stó:
lõ Nation Development
• FNST 102: Stó:
lõ Traditional Ways of Healing and Helping
• FNST 201: Aboriginal
Communities: Stó:lõ World View
• FNST 202: Stó:
lõ Social Structure
• HSER 160: Introduction to
Gerontology
• HSER 190: Introduction to
Community Support
• HSER 192: Supporting Skills
Development
• HSER 195: Relationships and
the Community
• HSER 196: Personal Care for
the Handicapped
• INCS 392: Immigration and
Social Integration: the Indo-Canadian Experience
• SOWK 301: Social Work
Practice with Groups
• SOWK 394: Substance Misuse
Issues
Note: Students intending to apply to
the BSW program need to include the following electives: PSYC
110 or MATH 104 (or equivalent introductory statistics), plus
three qualifying university-transfer arts and sciences
electives.
Please contact the School of Social
Work and Human Services regarding appropriate arts and sciences
electives.
Note: UCFV cannot guarantee that all
courses can be scheduled as outlined. Students may take courses
in any order as long as individual course prerequisites are
met; however, students should note that taking courses out of
the recommended sequence may result in delay of program
completion.
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