Social Service Worker - 215

Ontario College Diploma
Two years
OSAP Checkmark OSAP Eligible
Support individuals, groups, families and communities to become stronger, healthier and happier.

Program Highlights

  • A focus on experiential learning opportunities.
  • Complete 600 hours of supervised field placement.
  • Advocate for and get involved in social justice opportunities. 
  • Meet like-minded people and network with current professionals.
  • Dedicated staff and faculty.

What you'll learn

  • Current ideas, theories, and interventions that social service agencies use to create good and positive relationships in communities. 
  • The function of self-awareness and how to develop the necessary skills to work with a wide variety of people. 
  • Social Service Worker (SSW) values such as the right to risk, the inherent worth of everyone, and the power of social justice.
  • To recognize the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing in practice.
  • Practical skills for helping, such as how to talk to people, figure out what they need, work well with groups, and help communities make positive changes. 
  • Documentation guidelines in the social service field.
  • Ethical decision-making models to help work through challenging problems.
  • Canadian policies and laws which affect the people that receive social service work services.

Potential applicants need to be aware that the agencies working with our placement students are requiring placement students to be fully vaccinated by Health Canada approved vaccines. Please consider your vaccine status when considering this program as it will have a significant impact on your ability to participate in field placement.

 

Program Length

2 academic years (period of 8 months)

Fast Track allows students to complete a two-year Diploma program (non co-op) in 16 months. Students will start in January and be in school for four continuous semesters: Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall and Winter. Students will not be off during the summer.

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Admission

Domestic and International student admission requirements

Options are available for mature applicants.

Language Requirements for Applicants with English as a Second Language

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Don't have the necessary requirements?

Tuition and Fees

2024 - 2025 Domestic Tuition and Fees

DescriptionSemester 1Semester 2

Compulsory Ancillary Fees

$881.96$785.16
Co-op FeesN/AN/A

Compulsory Program Fees

$121.00$0.00
Domestic Tuition$1,354.04$1,354.04
Total Domestic Charges Per Semester$2,357.00$2,139.20
Total 1st Year Fees$4,496.20

Above fees based on full-time September program start date. Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.


2024 - 2025 International Tuition and Fees

DescriptionSemester 1Semester 2

Total Tuition & Ancillary Fees

$8,525.00$8,525.00
Co-op FeesN/AN/A

Program Compulsory Fees

$121.00$0.00
International Tax Recovery$450.00$375.00
Total International Charges Per Semester$9,096.00$8,900.00
Total 1st Year Fees$17,996.00

If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.

Financial Assistance

When it comes to paying for your education, investing in your future can be more affordable than you think. A Mohawk education is one of the most cost-effective means of acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to have a prosperous and rewarding career. 

As you start on your chosen career path, it's important to have a realistic set of expectations regarding the expenses associated with attending college. In addition to your tuition fees, you will also need to budget for books, supplies, housing, and other related living expenses. You may be able to supplement your income and savings with scholarships, bursaries, or loans. It pays to do some research into what types of financial assistance you may qualify for.

Available Financial Assistance Resources:

Apply for Awards:

By submitting a Scholarships and Bursaries Application every semester, students have access to over $3 million in Mohawk College scholarships, bursaries and Ministry-partnered funding to help meet their financial needs.

Financial Literacy:

Whether saving for school, sticking to a budget, or planning for a major purchase, financial literacy affects us all. That's why Mohawk College is dedicated to helping students improve their financial literacy and become more confident in managing their money.

Course Overview & Descriptions

Click on the course title for a course description.

Note: HIST 10015 History & Ethics of Social Work will be delivered as follows:
Lecture 2 hours: First 7 weeks of program
Lab 2 hours: Second 7 weeks of program

Experiential Learning

How you’ll gain skills

To learn more, please visit the Centre for Experiential Learning. 

Field placements

  • Field placements may occur at locations that are not accessible by public transit. As such, students shall be expected to either have access to a car or the ability to supply their own transportation when attending field placement activity. Mohawk shall not be responsible for providing students with transportation to field placements within or outside the Hamilton region
  • Agencies require a recent Vulnerable Sector Check from placement students. Convictions under the Criminal Code can be a barrier to placement
  • Students may be required to complete various Immunizations and Disease Screening protocols required by some field placement agencies
  • Students will receive individual and group feedback to further their skills through the use of interactive simulated patients, virtual reality scenarios and case studies.
  • The social work field unpaid placement provides students with an opportunity to expand on their knowledge and skills with firsthand experience. It offers students an opportunity to deepen their reflective practice and grow their understanding of the social service work profession. At Mohawk College our Field Placement team develops each placement, working with agencies and supervisors to offer a supportive learning environment. Students are expected to be active learners during their internships and gain beneficial experiences. Placements are an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, take initiative, and emerge as a strong leader!
  • New students should note that the majority of our community's social service agencies require updated COVID vaccinations (a minimum of 2 doses), except when exemptions are applicable under the Human Rights Act.

Become an Agency

If you would like to become an Agency that takes students on placement from Mohawk College's Social Services & Justice Studies programs, please visit the Community Services Field Placements page.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.

In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.

Career Opportunities

Your future career options

  • Social Service Worker
  • Mental Health Worker
  • Case Manager
  • Employment Counsellor
  • Community Worker

Where you could work includes:

  • Community Agencies
  • Ontario Works and Ontario Government
  • Recovery Homes, Residential, and Community Mental Health Services
  • Addiction Services
  • Youth, Seniors and Women's Shelters

Opportunities for grads

  • Become a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

Educational Pathways

 

Pathways to Mohawk 

If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.


If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. To start a new program at Mohawk, you must apply via ontariocolleges.ca.

Transfer from

You can transfer to the Social Service Worker - 215 from the following programs:

Receiving Program

Social Service Worker

Campus
Fennell Campus (FF)
Six Nations Polytechnic - Brantford (SB)
Credential
Ontario College Diploma

Transfer to

You can transfer from the Social Service Worker - 215 to the following programs:

Concurrent Disorders

Campus
Fennell Campus (FF)
Six Nations Polytechnic - Brantford (SB)
Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate

Credit transfer agreements have been arranged to make it easier for students to move from Mohawk to another institution.

Transfer From Social Service Worker To

Athabasca University

Program Name
See below for Social Service Worker pathways
Location

1 University Dr
Athabasca AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Opportunity Details

Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services

Location

1 University Dr
Athabasca AB T9S 3A3
Canada

Davenport University

Program Name
See below for Social Service Worker pathways
Location

6191 Kraft Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
United States

Opportunity Details

Bachelor of Science – Health Services Administration

Location

6191 Kraft Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
United States

Griffith University

Program Name
See below for Social Service Worker pathways
Location

170 Kessels Rd, Nathan QLD 4111, Australia
Nathan QLD QLD 4111
Australia

Opportunity Details

Bachelor of Human Services

Location

170 Kessels Rd, Nathan QLD 4111, Australia
Nathan QLD QLD 4111
Australia

Mohawk College makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of each transfer opportunity. Please note that changes may occur in program offerings, admission requirements, and transfer credits granted by the receiving institutions. We advise all students to check with the receiving institution directly for the most up-to-date information.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search ONTransfer.ca for more pathways with Ontario public colleges and universities.

Mohawk College makes no warranty or endorsement of material contained within links to external websites, nor does the College assume any responsibility for the linked website or its contents.

Additional Information

  • Attendance at program orientation is strongly recommended
  • Significant volunteer experience is recommended
  • Applicants should note that some employment opportunities require that certain physical standards must be met as a condition of employment
  • Waitlist for SNP campus is integrated with the Fennell campus waitlist
  • Access to or use of a laptop with audio and video capabilities for virtual simulation scenarios required to facilitate the student-learning experience.

Contact Christine Sager for the program coordinator or Ian DeGeer for the field placement coordinator

Program Coordinator

Faculty

Contact us

Domestic Canadian Students

Contact Student Recruitment
Haven’t applied yet and have questions?
Contact our Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and more.

Contact Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact Admissions
Phone: 1-844-767-6871

International Students

Contact International Student Recruitment
Contact our International Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and student life.
Contact International
Email: intl.representatives@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
Toll free phone numbers:
For general questions: 1-888-Mohawk9 (1-888-664-2959)
North China: 10-800-714-2521
South China: 10-800-140-2541
Brazil: 0800-022-7408
Philippines: 180011102544

Contact International Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact International Admissions
Phone: 1-905-575-2254

*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.

Accessible Learning Services

Are you a student with a confirmed or suspected disability? Visit our Accessible Learning Services website to discover how we can help you.

Program Coordinator

Contact Christine Sager for the program coordinator or Ian DeGeer for the field placement coordinator

Canadian Domestic Students

Fennell Campus (FF)
Jan 2025
Waitlist
Sep 2025
Open
Jan 2026
Open

International Students

Program also available through Continuing Education. Complete your credential part-time in a flexible environment.

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We’re here for you to support applications and admissions by providing online and virtual service.

 

Applied and have questions?
The admissions team is available to help, you can contact them via Admissions or by phone at 1-844-767-6871.

 

Haven’t applied and need help?
Contact us or phone 1-844-767-6871.


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Program delivery

Learn about program delivery terms.

 

Please note: in-person, virtual, and hybrid classes vary according to the program and some programs may be in-person only. Refer to the Program Overview for more information.

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Recently I’ve obtained a position with the John Howard Society of Hamilton as an Adult Justice Worker. Through my education at Mohawk I was able to align my previous knowledge of holistic healing through Indigenous teachings with main stream social service work and healing. All my professors were amazing and supportive in providing me with the skills to help me in my career.
- Crystal Bomberry, 2017