Social Services diploma

The Social Services diploma program is a two-year, 62-credit program (combining practical skill-development and university-transfer courses) which 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.

Entrance requirements

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent (ABE Provincial, Advanced or GED). Mature students, 19 years or older, who have at least three university- transfer credits that apply to the program do not require a high school transcript.
• You must be out of high school for one year.
• You must be physically and emotionally prepared to undertake a program of studies.
• You must be willing to undergo a criminal records check.
• 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). An LPI essay score of 30 (level 5) is considered equivalent to a CPT score of 48.
• 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.
• 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. Practicums are scheduled for the second semester.

How to apply

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.  You are advised to mail in your application as it will receive priority over hand-delivered applications, based on the postmarked date. See the Admissions chart 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, and CMNS 155) 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.

Academic regulations

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. 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. 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 2003/04 and are subject to change for 2004/05.

Tuition fees for most full-time students are about $1,700 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.

Practicum regulations

Acceptance into the program does not guarantee practicum placement. 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 one of the two practica. Regulations concerning challenge opportunities are covered in the first-term courses HSER 129/229. Challenge options are to be discussed with the instructor. Normally, the student challenges the second practicum.

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

Semester II

Second Year

Semester III

Semester IV

* Students must complete HSER 283, which is offered on alternating campuses.

Note1: 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, 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. First Nations Studies courses (FNST 101, 102, 201, 202) also qualify as electives, and you may choose up to three FNST courses as electives for the diploma. Students may also choose one of their elective courses from the following social service electives for the diploma:

• 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
• SOWK 301: Social Work Practice with Groups
• SOWK 394: Substance Misuse Issues

Note 2: 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 3: 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.

Social Services diploma — First Nations option

This 62-credit program is designed to prepare aboriginal students, or those with strong ties to aboriginal communities, to work with First Nations people to enhance self-reliance of First Nations people and communities, both on and off reserves. Working from a Stó:lÇ perspective, graduates of the First Nations option will work with individuals and groups on issues of concern to aboriginal communities, including 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 to provide services to the community in a culturally appropriate fashion.

This program will provide students with direct employment-related skills while at the same time allowing them to earn up to one and a half years of credit towards a BSW at UCFV. Thus a student who is interested in becoming a professional social worker will be able to develop skills and seek employment as a First Nations social service worker before going on to a professional degree.

Emphasis in the program will be on providing specific skills and knowledge for working with First Nations communities on issues of concern to First Nations people and at the same time providing a working knowledge of the larger social scene since many of the First Nations option courses are also offered in the Social Services diploma program, students will be taking these courses together.

Given the nature of employment in this field, it is expected that the program will be of interest to mature students who bring with them a wealth of life experience. Prior learning assessment will be available to facilitate turning learning derived from experience into academic credit.

See Social Services diploma for information on Entrance Requirements, How to Apply, and program regulations. Students interested in this option should apply to the Chilliwack campus.

Program outline

The following courses are required, although the order and timing may vary.

First Year

Semester I

Semester II

Second year

Semester III

Semester IV

Third year

Semester V

Semester VI

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