This interdisciplinary course examines the social welfare institutions in the context of professional values and ethics of the social service professions. This course introduces first year students to the purpose, value base, principles, settings, and methods of social work practice. Students have the opportunity to explore their own personal values in the context of social work and the broader society.

This course provides students with the contexts necessary to see the presenting problems of clients within the larger social issues facing society and offers an overview of methodologies utilized by social service professionals in addressing both individual and social issues. It provides students with a basic framework in which to view and understand social problems, their causes, their relationship to particular groups and sub-populations, and potential solutions.

This course is designed to introduce students to the communication process that characterizes the human-services field: effective written, spoken, and non-verbal communications linked to efficiency and effectiveness in the context of social service work. This course analyzes the factors that influence the ways in which clients and workers send and receive verbal and non-verbal messages and the causes of ineffective communication. It also considers issues of power in language, including sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.

Advocacy and social justice are foundational elements of social work. Social work practice often involves advocating for individuals, groups, and communities in myriad issues related to social justice that aim to promote positive change. This course introduces students to theory and practice related to advocacy and social justice with diverse client populations at an individual, community, and global level.

This course examines psychosocial development in middle childhood and adolescence, emphasizing biological, cognitive, social, and emotional changes. Emphasis is placed on integrating theories and concepts for practical application within family, school, peer, and community contexts.

Couple and family experience is expressed in different forms of relationships including traditional heterosexual marriages, same sex partnerships, cohabitation, separated, divorced, and remarried families and parenting throughout the life cycle. Students examine both the internal dynamics in families as they change throughout the life course, and the impact of broader social, economic and cultural forces such as race, class, and ethnicity on couple and family relationship processes.

This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to the issues of power and wealth in Canadian society, and the formal political system of government. The course examines the various political influences, both inside and outside government, that affect people's lives and shape communities. The course also examines the relationship between political processes and their impact on the human services and the clients they serve.

This course will help Community Social Service students to develop basic university writing and case documentation skills for successful application in their CSS curriculum coursework as well as after graduation. The course introduces students to different voices of writing, along with a solid foundation in grammar. Specific to the social services field, the course provides a unique focus on discipline-relevant competencies, including proper APA usage, case note and grant proposal writing, working within groups, and making effective oral presentations. Students will find the skills they develop in this course to be useful in many other relevant CSS courses that require various aptitudes in conducting research, essay writing, collaborative assignments, and/or making presentations.

People with mental health challenges often face personal and structural issues that place them at high risk of harm, hospitalization, or death. Using an empowerment approach which emphasizes the perspective of clients, learners develop effective means of working with people with psychiatric labels, developmental disabilities, older adults, survivors of domestic violence and child abuse and early trauma, those struggling with addictions and eating disorders, and individuals labelled as having cognitive disabilities.

This course prepares students for the expectations associated with field practica, including those of the program, the agencies and the professional college. Students will become familiar with the organization of the field practicum sequence and the documentation, policies and procedures connected to the evaluation and monitoring of field practice. This is a pre-requisite for Field Practicum.

This course examines historical and current anti-oppressive practice as a critical social justice-oriented approach in the social services sector. Within the anti-oppressive framework, students explore such issues as critical thinking, various isms and intersectionality, decolonization, anti-oppressive practice with service users, communities, and organizations, and the challenges and limitations of anti-oppressive practice.

This course involves labs, seminars, and a field placement component. Students will have the opportunity to take part in the day-to-day operations of a social services agency. Students will participate in a job-shadowing experience under the direct supervision of a social services professional, and have the opportunity to observe social services procedures and practices. An outstanding pass/pass/fail grade will be assigned upon completion of the course.

The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers are examined in detail in this course, along with case study material emphasizing implications for practice, including a framework for analysing and resolving a range of ethical and legal issues. Some issues include: professional and personal boundaries, self-determination and personal autonomy of clients versus paternalistic beneficence, and the use of coercion or undue influence, dual relationships, confidentiality and privacy issues, determinations of competence, requirements concerning the maintenance of professional expertise, including cultural competence, self-awareness and self-care.

This course will provide the student with the opportunity to develop the self-awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively with small groups. The course will focus on the dynamics of group development and behaviours, and the facilitating role of workers in various therapeutic and support groups. Students will study a variety of theoretical approaches to group counselling, and will practice group facilitation skills through experiential exercises in the lab.

This course introduces students to the core philosophies and practices that inform counselling. Based on the tenets of experiential learning, students will be immersed in the cyclical learning process of acting, observing, and reflecting. Under the consistent supervision of the course instructor, students will explore the roles of counsellor, and client, and use deep individual and group reflection on these experiences to create authentic learning outcomes.

This course introduces theoretical and practical perspectives on the co-occurrence of mental health challenges and substance addiction. Students will explore mental health and drug/alcohol usage policy and law, learn about mental health and substance abuse assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches, develop an awareness of relevant pharmacological issues and the effects of misusing certain stimulants and drugs, and gain an understanding of the nature of concurrent disorders with various populations.

This course builds on students' introductory courses in family relationships and child development by focusing on parent-child interactions that promote healthy outcomes for children in order to assess dynamics that are problematic and require intervention. It broadens understanding of the interdependence in parent-child relationships by analysing how they are influenced by factors internal and external to the family. Research and personal beliefs related to contemporary family issues are examined to formulate helpful interventions and supports for parents.

This course assists students to develop the skills needed to achieve constructive social change through the community development and community organization processes. The course includes a critical examination of community development and community organizing theories as well as the practical applications and processes. Case studies from both the developing and developed world will be used to critically analyze how development activities can both empower or disempower communities.

This course provides an overview of the effects of substances used by individuals, and the etiology of problematic use and dependency. Students will study the effects of use and abuse of various drugs and chemicals on the body including: alcohol, nicotine, prescription drugs, hallucinogens, cocaine, narcotics and marijuana, inhalants and steroids. Students will study the history, pharmacology, epidemiology, and determinants of substance abuse, and gain an understanding of the application of these concepts to clinical practice and program design.

This course explores the full spectrum of issues related to diversity in the provision of social services. It offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to function in social service settings characterized by diversity.

This course explores the importance of considering service users' spirituality in the provision of social work practice. The course prepares students to respond to the spiritual needs of their clients by understanding various familiar and unfamiliar spiritual and faith traditions, and relevant topics for social work practice, such as moral/spiritual values in social work, spirituality in current and emerging areas of practice, and using critical reflection to engage with spirituality and religion in social work practice.

This course builds on the students' essential counselling experiences and knowledge, demonstrating how these foundational learnings inform and enhance the utilization of approach-specific counselling practices.  Students' theoretical learning will be integrated with intensive experiential counselling opportunities presented in a lab format and supervised by the course instructor.

This course provides the student with the theory and practical skills that will be needed to effectively intervene with clients who are experiencing crisis. The course will focus on crisis theory and crisis intervention methods, with particular emphasis on crisis intervention in the context of families. A developmental-ecological perspective is employed in the discussion of course content.

This course examines social work practice concerning the needs of older adults. Social service workers and social workers are being increasingly called upon to meet the biopsychosocial needs of older adults. This responsibility includes assessing the elderly client's functional capacity and often connecting them with appropriate community resources. In this course, students will learn the basics of assessment and strategic interventions with the elderly. This course prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity to work with, and on behalf of this growing population, and the related social service systems.

This is a seminar and supervised field placement in a community or social service agency providing students with an in-depth experience of front-line work in a human services agency under direct supervision. Students develop work habits such as serving clients effectively, which make them an asset to the agency, and how to navigate moral, ethical, clinical, and political issues as they emerge in their placements. Students work as part of a team, and learn how to effectively use supervision.

This course is a seminar and supervised field placement in a community or social service agency providing students with an in-depth experience of front-line work in a human services agency under direct supervision. Students develop work habits such as serving clients effectively, which make them an asset to the agency, and how to navigate moral, ethical, clinical, and political issues as they emerge in their placements. Students work as part of a team, and learn how to effectively use supervision. Agency field supervisors and faculty advisors may raise professional, ethical, attitudinal, and practical issues which they consider to be important for students to address.

This course examines the major theoretical frameworks and family therapy models guiding research and practice relating to families today. It prepares students to use theory as a tool for better understanding and explaining family process and develops the critical thinking skills necessary to critique, evaluate, and integrate these theoretical frameworks and therapy models. This course also places a heavy emphasis on integrating theory with practice and requires that students routinely apply and integrate major theoretical frameworks and family therapy models to specific and contemporary family issues.

This course presents students with the information and skills to critically examine community development/organizing theories, practical applications, and processes, as well as the various roles and responsibilities for not-for-profit community agency operations. The course surveys the current not-for-profit funding structure in Canada, emphasizing access to corporate, government and foundation founders, and requires the development of a major funding/fundraising proposal.

Using a case study approach this course provides students with an understanding of the role of the law in social work practice, and is designed to equip them with sufficient knowledge of the law to assist them in their roles as advocates or case managers. The course will also cover specific legislation including the Mental Health Act, Youth Criminal Justice Act and Income Assistance Legislation. The course will outline the rights and obligations as defined by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Workers.

This course provides students with the skills required to promote the effective integration of disadvantaged people into the mainstream of community life using an empowerment approach. Students learn about empowerment-oriented case management practice, risks of not practicing according to the empowerment model, key empowerment philosophies, and their applications to practice, and legal and ethical issues that have a direct impact on how case management is practiced.

The aim of this course is to provide the student with the opportunity to strengthen their research, analytical, communication, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving skills through the investigation of historical and contemporary international issues related to social justice. Students will be required to participate in an international conference.

This course focuses on the theories, skills and techniques used to reach resolution in a variety of family conflict situations. Overviews of contemporary developments in the theory and practice of mediation are discussed. Students also examine different perspectives on conflict and strategies for resolving conflict, specifically within the family context. Through lectures, group work and role plays, students study the fundamental principles of negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution. Students have the opportunity to reflect on their own style of conflict resolution and the relevance of course material to their own lives.

Access to mental health and addictions services can be challenging due to the complexity of the system of service, funding sources and issues relating to stigma and barriers. In this course, students learn about the current issues, trends and developments in the integration of services in order to promote coordinated, efficient access to services while focusing on early intervention, treatment and community supports. Students explore a range of services for children, youth, adults, older adults and individuals with special needs.

This course is a seminar and supervised field placement in a community or social service agency providing students with an in-depth experience of front-line work in a human services agency under direct supervision. Students develop work habits such as serving clients effectively, which make them an asset to the agency, and how to navigate moral, ethical, clinical, and political issues as they emerge in their placements. Students work as part of a team, and learn how to effectively use supervision. Agency field supervisors and faculty advisors may raise professional, ethical, attitudinal, and practical issues which they consider to be important for students to address.

This course is a seminar and supervised field placement in a community or social service agency providing students with an in-depth experience of front-line work in a human services agency under direct supervision. Students develop work habits such as serving clients effectively, which make them an asset to the agency, and how to navigate moral, ethical, clinical, and political issues as they emerge in their placements. Students work as part of a team, and learn how to effectively use supervision. Agency field supervisors and faculty advisors may raise professional, ethical, attitudinal, and practical issues which they consider to be important for students to address.

This is the first of two courses intended to facilitate completion of an undergraduate thesis project and the development of research-related skills. In this course, under the supervision of a faculty member, the student will plan, develop, and write a research proposal in a specific area within the social services field, and make a formal presentation describing their proposal to the class.

This is the second of two courses intended to facilitate completion of an undergraduate thesis project and the development of research-related skills. In this course, under the supervision of a faculty member, the student will increase their knowledge and applied research skills in a specific area of research within the social services field, and enhance their research writing and presentation skills in the form of an undergraduate thesis.

This course is designed to provide senior undergraduate students with an opportunity to pursue library or field research under faculty supervision and to prepare a research report or literature review. Formal agreement between the student and the faculty supervisor is required, as is approval of the Program Head.

This independent study course is designed to provide senior undergraduate students with an opportunity to pursue library or field research under faculty supervision in the area of mental health and addictions and to prepare an integrated paper or literature review. Formal agreement between the student and the faculty supervisor is required, as is approval of the Program Head.

This independent study course is designed to provide senior undergraduate students with an opportunity to pursue library or field research under faculty supervision in the area of youth and families and to prepare an integrated paper or literature review. Formal agreement between the student and the faculty supervisor is required, as is approval of the Program Head.