Social Service Worker

George Brown’s Social Service Worker diploma is a two-year program designed to prepare students with the knowledge, values, and practical skills needed to support individuals and communities facing a wide range of social challenges. Grounded in a commitment to social justice and equity, the program encourages students to critically examine power, oppression, and social location while developing strong interpersonal and professional competencies. Students are introduced to the evolving roles of social service workers across urban and community settings, preparing them to work in areas such as mental health, homelessness, addiction, criminal justice, settlement services, and long-term care.

The curriculum combines theoretical learning with applied practice, covering areas such as counselling, group facilitation, anti-oppressive practice, substance use, social change, and professional ethics. A key component of the program is a year-long, supervised field placement of approximately 600 hours, where students gain hands-on experience within community agencies and apply their classroom learning in real-world contexts. Through collaborative learning environments, experienced faculty mentorship, and direct practice opportunities, students develop the skills needed to support diverse populations and contribute to meaningful, community-based social change.

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent.

What You’ll Learn

• Develop counselling, communication, and group facilitation skills to support diverse individuals and communities.
• Learn anti-oppressive practice, allyship, and how to address power, inequality, and social justice issues.
• Gain knowledge in mental health, substance use, and community-based social service work.
• Build hands-on experience through a year-long field placement in real-world community settings.