Campus
Duration
4 Semesters (2 Years)
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Diploma

Program and course delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format with some courses available in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.

About the Program

The two-year SSWI program is the first of its kind in Ontario, offering an in-depth understanding of the evolving landscape of newcomer reception and support in Canada. Learning through a critical and anti-oppressive lens, you will graduate prepared to support immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds. The program, which is grounded in equity, social justice and anti-oppression principles, provides insights into pre-migration conditions and how to offer meaningful support to individuals and families throughout the migration and integration process.

You will gain knowledge and skills required for social service work with a specific focus on settlement counselling and case management aligned with the experiences of those newly arrived in Canada or undergoing the settlement process. Community development is highlighted with a focus on co-creation and co-design with citizens of the community to identify and respond to gaps in service. Additionally, you will develop advocacy skills to represent clients' needs, fundraising and proposal writing to secure resources, and program planning, development and evaluation to create and assess effective support programs. Success in this program is measured by your ability to grow, challenge personal beliefs, and promote social justice, human dignity, and equality.

Please note that due to the nature of this program and profession, some course work and field placements are held in-person to adequately form interpersonal communication skills.

Graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to pursue many different educational pathways including Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction (BMHA) program.

Program options

Seneca offers multiple Social Service Worker diploma program options, allowing students to graduate with a general or specialized focus.

Social Service Worker (SSW) – The generalized SSW option allows students to explore the breadth of social service work and apply for a variety of SSW jobs upon graduation.

Social Service Worker – Gerontology (SSWG) – The specialized SSWG option focuses on supporting older adults to maintain independence and a good quality of life.

Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (SSWI) – The specialized SSWI option focuses on supporting individuals and families who are new to Canada and/or undergoing the settlement process.

Accelerated programs are also available for eligible students with prior education or experience. Review each program’s admission requirements for details.

Social Service Worker (Accelerated) (SSWA)

Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (Accelerated) (SSIA)

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

  • Trauma-informed settlement counselling and practice across the lifespan
  • Case management
  • Community development and program planning
  • Fundraising and proposal writing
  • Referrals, intakes, assessment and evaluation
  • Interpersonal communication and interviewing
  • Group dynamics and facilitation
  • Advocacy, system navigation and familiarity of international and national migration policies

Work Experience

You will complete two unpaid placements specifically within immigration, migration and settlement services. Your first placement will take place during your second semester, for 200 hours. You will then complete a 400-hour placement within a different organization or program during your third and fourth semesters. These placements will provide you with the opportunity to practice the skills and theoretical concepts you have learned in the classroom, preparing you for entry into the field with a specialization in settlement services.

Program Availability

Learn more: Seneca’s program delivery options and how courses in this program will be delivered each term.

Start in Location Availability
Sept. 2025 Seneca@York  Open
Start in Location Availability
Sept. 2025 Seneca@York  Open

International students: review Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility before choosing program and course delivery.

Please note that availability is subject to change and a seat is not guaranteed.

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:

  • Trauma-informed settlement counselling and practice across the lifespan
  • Settlement agencies
  • School settlement worker
  • Refugee shelters
  • Community health organizations
  • Criminal justice system
  • Women’s programs, shelters and agencies offering services for immigrant youth
  • Community mental health and addiction non-profit organizations
  • Agencies that support income, food and housing security
  • Newcomer reception agencies

Professional Accreditation

Graduates of the SSWI diploma are eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Services Work (OCSWSSW).

What Our Graduates Say

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