Social Service Diploma

School Dawson College
Method At the institution
Location Montreal
Type Diploma
Course fee By request

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Social Service Diploma

Objectives Social Service is a three-year program that prepares students for careers in human services or for further studies in social work at the university level (preparation for university may require additional courses). Social Service students are trained to work with individuals of all ages and with families, groups, and communities experiencing social problems. Among the skills you will acquire in the program are: * forming a helping relationship * conducting an interview * facilitating groups * carrying out psychosocial interventions with individuals or families * carrying out interventions with people in crisis * carrying out interventions in communities
Practical experience Throughout your three years of study, you will participate in training internships that will allow you to apply your skills in the field.
Academic title Social Service Diploma
Course description
Term 1
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
350-981-DW   Human Development   3 - 1 - 2   60

388-105-DW   Introduction to the Social Service Field   3 - 3 - 2   90
Description:   In this course, students develop an overview of the social service worker’s job functions and an understanding of public and community social service resources. Each student is introduced to one specific practice setting in preparation for the second term practicum.

388-106-DW   The Social Service Relationship   1 - 2 - 2   45
Description:   In this course, students begin to learn communication and interviewing skills as they study the dynamics of helping relationships. A focus is on understanding one’ s own communication style, attitudes and behaviours as a helper.

388-107-DW   Poverty and its Impact   3 - 0 - 2   45
Description:   In this course, students examine the social problem of poverty and gain an understanding of its impact on individuals and groups. Theories of causality are examined.

388-108-DW   Poverty and social Intervention   3 - 1 - 2   60
Description:   This course is a companion to Poverty and Its Impact. Using poverty as a theme, students will identify and analyze social policies and other social interventions designed to combat this social problem. Students gain a working knowledge of current social security programs in Canada and Quebec.

General Education
- 109-103-02 Health and Physical Education 1 - 1 - 1 30
- 603-101-04 Introduction to College English 2 - 2 - 4 60
- COMP 1 Complementary
Term 2
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
350-982-DW   Abnormal Psychology   3 - 0 - 2   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Louise Anne Jarrold teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-105-DW - Introduction to the Social Service Field

388-106-DW - The Social Service Relationship

388-107-DW - Poverty and its Impact

388-102-DW   Introduction to Intervention   2 - 1 - 2   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Marcia Dudkiewicz teaching section(s) 01
Shirley Watkins teaching section(s) 02
Martine Wizman teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-105-DW - Introduction to the Social Service Field
388-106-DW - The Social Service Relationship
388-107-DW - Poverty and its Impact
Description:   This course helps students to apply the knowledge and skills gained in first-year courses to a practice context. Students develop the ability to conduct beginning helping interviews and to assess individuals’ needs and resources using a social service theoretical framework.

388-104-DW   Fieldwork 1   2 - 4 - 1   90
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Marcia Dudkiewicz teaching section(s) 01
Denise Brend teaching section(s) 02
Martine Wizman teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-105-DW - Introduction to the Social Service Field
388-106-DW - The Social Service Relationship
388-107-DW - Poverty and its Impact
Description:   Students are exposed to actual practice in the social service field. Each student will have an opportunity to form a helping relationship with at least one individual. The fieldwork seminar is used to help students integrate theory and practice.

388-201-DW   Facilitating Groups   1 - 3 - 1   60
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Marcia Dudkiewicz teaching section(s) 02
Denise Brend teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-105-DW - Introduction to the Social Service Field
388-106-DW - The Social Service Relationship
388-107-DW - Poverty and its Impact
Description:   Students develop the skills of preparing, leading and evaluating various kinds of group meetings. Content includes rules for conducting meetings, how to animate a group leisure activity and techniques for conflict resolution.

388-218-DW   Addressing Social Problems   1 - 2 - 3   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Joy Moore teaching section(s) 01
Marcia Dudkiewicz teaching section(s) 02
Martine Wizman teaching section(s) 02
Prerequisites:   388-105-DW - Introduction to the Social Service Field
388-106-DW - The Social Service Relationship
388-107-DW - Poverty and its Impact
Description:   In this course, students critically examine societal responses to a variety of social problems. Some examples might be violence, addiction, homelessness, sexual assault or unemployment. Each student will demonstrate his/her ability to analyse a particular social problem.

General Education
- 109-104-02 Physical Activity 0 - 2 - 1 30
- 345-103-04 Knowledge 3 - 1 - 3 60
- 602-10_-03 French: Bloc A 2 - 1 - 3 45
- 603-102-04 Literary Genres 2 - 2 - 3 60
Term 3
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
387-903-DW   Multicultural Montreal   2 - 1 - 2   45
Prerequisites:   388-102-DW - Introduction to Intervention
388-104-DW - Fieldwork 1
388-201-DW - Facilitating Groups
388-218-DW - Addressing Social Problems

388-302-DW   Groupwork Intervention   2 - 2 - 2   60
Prerequisites:   388-102-DW - Introduction to Intervention
388-104-DW - Fieldwork 1
388-201-DW - Facilitating Groups
388-218-DW - Addressing Social Problems
Description:   In this course, students learn the theory and skills of carrying out ongoing group intervention. This might be with task-focused groups, activity groups, self-help groups or training groups. Students demonstrate their ability to develop a service plan where they can identify needs and goals, select structures and recruitment strategies and plan appropriate interventions with the group.

388-303-DW   Understanding Families 1   2 - 1 - 2   45
Prerequisites:   388-102-DW - Introduction to Intervention
388-104-DW - Fieldwork 1
388-201-DW - Facilitating Groups
388-218-DW - Addressing Social Problems
Description:   In this course, students develop an understanding of the family as an important and multi-dimensional social institution. Content includes various family forms and styles, family dynamics and family life-cycle theory. A focus is on helping students develop an awareness of their own attitudes, beliefs and challenges as they prepare for professional practice with families.

388-305-DW   Intervention with Individuals   2 - 2 - 2   60
Prerequisites:   388-102-DW - Introduction to Intervention
388-104-DW - Fieldwork 1
388-201-DW - Facilitating Groups
388-218-DW - Addressing Social Problems
Description:   Using Shulman’s Interactional Model as a theoretical framework, students learn the skills of carrying out ongoing psychosocial intervention with individuals. This involves intake, contracting, supporting people as they make efforts to problem-solve or effect change, intervening with people in their environment and ending intervention skillfully. Students will demonstrate their ability to make referrals.

388-314-DW   Fieldwork 2   2 - 6 - 2   120
Prerequisites:   388-102-DW - Introduction to Intervention
388-104-DW - Fieldwork 1
388-201-DW - Facilitating Groups
388-218-DW - Addressing Social Problems
Description:   These courses, offered in the Fall and Winter of the second year respectively, allow students to develop the competencies being taught in the classroom in one practice setting for the full year. Each student will demonstrate his/her ability to lead or co-lead a group.

General Education
- 109-105-02 Active Living 1 - 1 - 1 30
- 345-102-03 World Views 3 - 0 - 3 45
- 603-103-04 Literary Themes 2 - 2 - 3 60
- COMP 2 Complementary
Term 4
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
388-401-DW   Social Service Research   1 - 2 - 3   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Martine Wizman teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-302-DW - Groupwork Intervention
388-305-DW - Intervention with Individuals
388-314-DW - Fieldwork 2
Description:   In this course, students examine the role of research in social service practice and learn basic skills that enable them to participate in simple research projects and to understand social service research literature.

388-402-DW   Psychosocial Intervention Lab   1 - 2 - 1   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Martine Wizman teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-302-DW - Groupwork Intervention
388-305-DW - Intervention with Individuals
388-314-DW - Fieldwork 2
Description:   In this laboratory course, students use role-plays and other simulations to demonstrate their ability to carry out ongoing intervention with individuals and families.

388-412-DW   Understanding Social Groups   2 - 1 - 3   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Shirley Watkins teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-302-DW - Groupwork Intervention
388-305-DW - Intervention with Individuals
388-314-DW - Fieldwork 2
Description:   This course is a follow-up to Multicultural Montreal. Students will demonstrate their ability to analyze the needs and resources of a social group. Groups to be studied might include street youth, people living with HIV, the gay community, the frail and elderly, the intellectually challenged, etc.

388-413-DW   Understanding Families 2   2 - 1 - 2   45
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Shirley Watkins teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-302-DW - Groupwork Intervention
388-305-DW - Intervention with Individuals
388-314-DW - Fieldwork 2
Description:   In this course, a follow-up to Understanding Families I, the focus is on disruptions or delays in the family life-cycle. These could be due to chronic illness or disability, family violence and abuse or to separation and divorce. Content includes the legal rights and responsibilities of family members. Students will demonstrate their ability to carry out an assessment of the needs and resources of a family.

388-424-DW   Fieldwork 3   2 - 6 - 2   120
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Cerise Morris teaching section(s) 01
Terry Ubaldi teaching section(s) 02
Prerequisites:   388-302-DW - Groupwork Intervention
388-305-DW - Intervention with Individuals
388-314-DW - Fieldwork 2
Description:   These courses, offered in the Fall and Winter of the second year respectively, allow students to develop the competencies being taught in the classroom in one practice setting for the full year. Each student will demonstrate his/her ability to lead or co-lead a group.

General Education
- 345-BXH-03 Applied Themes in Humanities 3 - 0 - 3 45
- 602-B__-03 French: Bloc B 2 - 1 - 3 45
- 603-BXE-04 Applied Themes in English 2 - 2 - 2 60
Term 5
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
388-502-DW   Crisis Intervention   2 - 2 - 2   60
Prerequisites:   388-402-DW - Psychosocial Intervention Lab
388-412-DW - Understanding Social Groups
388-413-DW - Understanding Families 2
388-424-DW - Fieldwork 3
Description:   In this course, students learn the theory and skills of intervening in crisis situations. Content includes rapid assessment of risk factors, identification of the type and severity of the crisis, intervention to defuse the crisis, use of resources and follow-up to the crisis intervention. A focus is on defense of individual and collective rights during a crisis.

388-503-DW   Intervention with Mandated Clienteles   3 - 1 - 3   60
Prerequisites:   388-402-DW - Psychosocial Intervention Lab
388-412-DW - Understanding Social Groups
388-413-DW - Understanding Families 2
388-424-DW - Fieldwork 3
Description:   In this course, students develop the ability to work with voluntary and involuntary client groups within a legal framework. Such groups include children in need of protection, young offenders, people suffering from chronic mental illness, and other adults suffering from a loss of autonomy. Students learn to analyze requests for service, assess the situation and its risk factors, obtain legal authorizations, ensure application of legal measures, provide follow-up, carry out referrals or placements and produce professional reports.

388-504-DW   Practice Models   2 - 1 - 3   45
Prerequisites:   388-402-DW - Psychosocial Intervention Lab
388-412-DW - Understanding Social Groups
388-413-DW - Understanding Families 2
388-424-DW - Fieldwork 3
Description:   In this course, students study selected models and approaches to social service practice and apply these to real and simulated case situations.

388-534-DW   Fieldwork 4   2 - 15 - 2   255
Prerequisites:   388-402-DW - Psychosocial Intervention Lab
388-412-DW - Understanding Social Groups
388-413-DW - Understanding Families 2
388-424-DW - Fieldwork 3
Description:   These courses, offered in the Fall and Winter of the third year respectively, allow students to develop the competencies being taught in the classroom in one practice setting for the full year. In the Fall, students demonstrate their ability to function within a team and to protect their personal well-being. In the Winter, Fieldwork V allows them to demonstrate their ability to use a generalist approach to practice and to examine the ethical dimensions of their practice. Fieldwork V is home to the Comprehensive Assessment, where students show that they have integrated the components of the program well enough to begin professional practice.

Term 6
Course Number    Course Name    C - L - H    Hrs
388-603-DW   Developing Services and Resources   2 - 2 - 4   60
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Rosemary Barrett teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-502-DW - Crisis Intervention
388-503-DW - Intervention with Mandated Clienteles
388-504-DW - Practice Models
388-534-DW - Fieldwork 4
Description:   This course provides the knowledge and skills needed for workers to participate in the development and coordination of services and resources. Students learn how to identify the need for a new service, to draft and submit a proposal, to plan for its implementation, to seek out funding, to do basic administrative tasks and to evaluate the functioning of the service. In addition, recruitment and training of staff and volunteers are addressed. Methods may include a project to be carried out over the term.

388-604-DW   Community Intervention   2 - 2 - 3   60
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Rosemary Barrett teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-502-DW - Crisis Intervention
388-503-DW - Intervention with Mandated Clienteles
388-504-DW - Practice Models
388-534-DW - Fieldwork 4
Description:   This course allows students to develop the skills of working with geographic communities and with communities of people who share an identity or a common interest. This involves selecting, planning and carrying out collective projects in ways that respect people’s autonomy and self-determination. Some skills include using media, organizing events, developing strategies and tactics and using various advocacy techniques to defend individual and collective rights.

388-644-DW   Fieldwork 5   2 - 15 - 3   255
Teacher(s) for Winter 2009:   Joy Moore teaching section(s) 01
Prerequisites:   388-502-DW - Crisis Intervention
388-503-DW - Intervention with Mandated Clienteles
388-504-DW - Practice Models
388-534-DW - Fieldwork 4
Description:   These courses, offered in the Fall and Winter of the third year respectively, allow students to develop the competencies being taught in the classroom in one practice setting for the full year. In the Fall, students demonstrate their ability to function within a team and to protect their personal well-being. In the Winter, Fieldwork V allows them to demonstrate their ability to use a generalist approach to practice and to examine the ethical dimensions of their practice. Fieldwork V is home to the Comprehensive Assessment, where students show that they have integrated the components of the program well enough to begin professional practice.