Social Services diploma
First Nations option
Focus on a career in First Nations Human Services:
Why take the Social Services diploma First Nations option?
What type of career can I expect?
Why take this program at UFV?
What do I need to get in?
What type of courses will I take?
I'm interested. What's the next step?
I'm not sure if I want to earn my diploma. Can I take some courses anyway?
How much does it cost? Can I afford to take this program?
Once I complete my diploma, what are my options for future study?
What sort of support will I get?
Sounds good. What do I do now?
I'm not sure that this program is for me. Can I speak with someone about my options?
Why take the Social Services diploma — First Nations option?
Our program is designed to prepare aboriginal students or those with strong ties to aboriginal communities, to work with First Nations people to enhance their self-reliance both on and off reserves. Working from a Stó:lõ perspective, as a graduate of the First Nations option, you will work with individuals and groups on several issues that affect aboriginal communities. Those issues may include child and sexual abuse, substance abuse, family violence, wellness issues, and economic development. As First Nations people assume more responsibility for their child welfare, health care, and education services, the demand will grow for First Nations social service workers, namely graduates of this program, to provide services to the community in a culturally appropriate fashion.
This 62-credit program will provide you with direct employmentrelated skills while at the same time giving you up to one and a half years of credit towards your Bachelor of Social Work degree at UFV. If you are interested in becoming a professional social worker, this program will allow you to develop skills and seek employment as a First Nations social service worker before you embark on a professional degree. Given the nature of employment in this field, we expect this program will be of interest to mature students who will bring their wealth of life experience with them. Prior learning assessment will be available to determine if those life experiences may be equated to an academic credit.
What type of career can I expect?
This diploma program will prepare you for a wide variety of careers in many different fields. Some examples that you’ll be qualified for once you’ve earned your diploma include community service worker, teacher’s aide, social work assistant, mental health worker, family support worker, and seniors’ support worker. You might also find work in agencies such as aboriginal counselling services, aboriginal friendship centres, alcohol and drug treatment centres, aboriginal court services, other aboriginal agencies, and settings in health care, correctional justice, employment services, family services, and education. Many grads find
jobs through their fieldwork placements, which are carefully selected for employment potential. However, completion of the program does not guarantee that you will find the job of your choice immediately upon graduation.
Why take this program at UFV?
You have ambitious career goals. We realize that. The Social Services diploma with a First Nations option can be tailored to suit your future education plans. Not only will the program provide you with employment-related skills, it will also give you the opportunity to earn up to 54 credits towards your
Bachelor of Social Work at UFV. So if you’re interested in becoming a professional social worker you’ll be able to develop skills and gain employment as a First Nations social service worker before you venture on to earn your degree.
Throughout this program, the main goal is to provide you with the specific skills and knowledge needed to work with First Nations communities on issues of concern to First Nations people. At the same time, you’ll acquire skills and knowledge to work with non-First Nations individuals, groups, and communities.
What do I need to get in?
You’ll need your B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent (ABE Provincial, Advanced, or GED). If you’re a mature student and have at least three university-transfer credits that apply to the program, then you do not require a high school transcript.
To qualify for the program you must:
- be physically and emotionally prepared to undertake this program of studies
- be willing to undergo a criminal record check
- meet the prerequisite for CMNS 155 (e.g., Composition Placement Test score of 48 or better, C+ or better in ENGL 081 or 091, or C or better in ENGL 099, 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.
Your suitability for the program will by assessed by a point rating system. Points are awarded for past academic education, all work or volunteer experience (social services or other), your demonstrated writing ability, two reference letters, a personal statement, and how well you do during a group interview. The
group interview generally consists of four to six students and two Social Services department members. You will have an opportunity to discuss your career goals and your knowledge of the field. You must also demonstrate appropriate interpersonal and life skills. Admission will be granted on a first-qualified, first-served basis to those scoring above the required threshold and who have completed a successful interview.
What type of courses will I take?
This is a suggested outline for your studies; however, you can take courses in any order as long as the prerequisites for each course are met.
First Year/Semester I :
CMNS 155 Communications for Human Services
or ENGL 105 The Reading and Writing of Prose
FNST 101 Stó:lõ Nation Development
SOWK 110 Intro to Social Services
First Year/Semester II :
ANTH 111
or ANTH 112
First Nations in BC: Traditional Cultures
Aboriginal Peoples in BC: Contemporary Issues
PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology I
HSER 120 Intro to Interpersonal Communications
Second Year/Semester III :
HSER 129 Practicum Seminar
HSER 200 Counselling Skills
SOC 101 Intro to Sociology
Elective (See electives in the Social Services diploma section of the UFV calendar)
Second Year/Semester IV :
HSER 130 Practicum I
SOWK 210 Intro to Social Welfare
FNST 102 Stó:lõ Traditional Ways of Healing and Helping
Third Year/Semester V (Summer) :
HSER 229 Practicum II Seminar
Third Year/Semester VI :
FNST 201 Aboriginal Communications: Stó:lõ World View
HSER 230 Practicum II
Elective Group A — data manipulation requirement;
see Electives in the Social Services diploma section of the online UCFV calendar
Third Year/Semester VII :
FNST 202 Stó:lõ Social Structure
HSER 250 Integration of Social Services Theory and Practice
CMNS 251 Professional Report Writing
I’m interested. What’s the next step?
Check out our online
calendar. Make sure you read the information about the Social Services diploma — First Nations option carefully. Visit the
download centre and download the appropriate application forms. You can then either mail your complete application, along with the documents listed in the calendar and the $45 processing fee, to any UFV campus or centre on or transmit it through the Internet at
www.pas.bc.ca.
If you plan to start in the Fall semester, deadline for submissions is Jan. 31. Applications received after this date will be considered if there is still room in the program.
I’m not sure if I want to earn my diploma. Can I take some courses anyway?
Of course. If you wish to take some of the courses without enrolling in the program, or before you formally apply, you may register for any courses for which you meet the prerequisites. It’s important to note, however, that program students are given priority for courses.
How much does it cost? Can I afford to take this program?
It’s best to check out our online
calendar and go to the Fees and Other Costs section. Keep in mind that textbooks and additional supplies will cost more. It’s worth a visit to the UFV financial aid and awards office, which facilitates the disbursement each year of about $12 million in federal and provincial student loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships, and awards to UFV students. A helpful
budget planning worksheet is available.
Once I complete my diploma, what are my options for future study?
As a graduate with the First Nations option, you may be able to ladder up to 54 credits towards UFV’s Bachelor of Social Work program. If you are intending to apply for your BSW, you must complete a human development course such as PSYC 250 or SOWK 225 and an introductory statistics course like PSYC 110 or MATH 104.
You can ask for more information from the Social Work and Human Services department regarding other BSW entrance requirements.
Other related courses that might interest you include:
- Family Dynamics (HSER 283)
- Human Development (SOWK 225),
- SW Practice with Groups (SOWK 301)
- Substance Misuse Issues (SOWK 394).
What sort of support will I get?
Plenty. For more information about support and student services at UCFV, visit
www.ufv.ca/studentservices and learn about the broad range of services designed to help you learn about and adjust to the university environment. You can also enjoy the services of S’olh Shxwlèlí — the Aboriginal Resource Centre. Aboriginal students from Stó:lõ territory, as well as from other territories, are an important part of UFV’s student population.
S’olh Shxwlèlí means “our places” in Halq’emeylem. Cultural activities, which are open to all students, include luncheons, circle meetings, Elder visits and gatherings, workshops, and many other events both on- and off-campus. Learn more by contacting UFV’s Aboriginal Access Coordinator Shirley Hardman, by
phone at 604-702-2615 or by email at
shirley.hardman@ufv.ca.
Sounds good. What do I do now?
Visit
www.ufv.ca/advising/prospective/enroll for a step-by-step process to becoming a UFV student. Have specific questions? Contact the school of Social Work and Human Services directly at by calling 604-702-2623 or 604-864-4631. You can also contact the program advisors: email Carol Oddy at
carol.oddy@ufv.ca or Eleanor Masecar at
eleanor.masecar@ufv.ca.
I’m not sure that this program is for me. Can I speak with someone about my options?
Absolutely! We want to hear from you. If you’re unsure of your direction, contact Student Services at 1-888-504-7441 to arrange a tour, attend a Becoming a Student info session, connect with an educational advisor, or arrange for career counselling. Also, feel free to contact the school of Social Work and Human
Services directly by calling 604-702-2623 or 604-864-4631.
