Create Change, Support Families, Build Communities – Start Your Career Here!
Do you dream about making your community a better place? Are you a team player that strives for change while respecting others? Algonquin College’s Community and Social Services programs can help to prepare you for a fulfilling career that makes a difference.
Build the skills to change lives
Each Community and Social Services program provides students with a solid foundation in promoting physical, mental and emotional health. Here are a few examples:
Bachelor of Child and Youth Care (Honours)
- What’s the vibe? This four-year degree focuses on creative prevention and intervention strategies for diverse children, youth, families and communities.
- The highlights: You’ll get specialized skills in nature-based learning, social innovation, entrepreneurship, advocacy, program evaluation and crisis intervention. Plus, a 14-week work term and two field placements.
- Future you: After graduation, you can work in or build your own program, service, agency or business to create systemic change for youth, families and their community.
- What’s the vibe? This two-year program has three placements totaling almost 700 hours. Students learn through role play, case studies, interviewing exercises and applied research projects.
- The highlights: Real-world experience supporting individuals, groups and communities dealing with personal and social challenges.
- Future you: After graduation, you can register as a Social Service Worker through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development (Honours)
- What’s the vibe? This four-year degree program is focused on working with children, families and communities to create programs that support early learning and development.
- The highlights: Test your skills during three field placements within community and early learning settings.
- Future you: After graduation, you can apply to become a registered member of the College of Early Childhood Educators in Ontario.
Learning by doing
These programs are all about hands-on learning. At the Algonquin College Early Learning Centre, students get real-world experience in a licensed childcare facility that’s as inclusive and diverse as the communities we serve.
- The Observation Room: This room, hidden behind a one-way mirror, is equipped with headsets, and is designed for student learning. From this space, you’ll be able to observe a safe, respectful, and positive licensed childcare environment in action.
- The Infant Room: See early brain development activities, interactive learning, literacy, and social skills in action through indoor and outdoor play with little ones (6 weeks to 18 months old).
- The Toddler Room: Students can observe children in active, creative and meaningful explorative play.
- The Preschool Room: See children aged 2.5 – 4 years old engaging in early learning activities through play.
The hands-on experience doesn’t stop there. Imagine spending nights at camp, guiding youth through outdoor therapeutic adventures. That’s just one of the perks in our Child and Youth Care programs!
Flexible options
If full-time schooling isn’t a viable option, students can take advantage of AC’s flexible program options. Many of the Community and Social Services programs are available online and part-time and most offer pathway options.
For example, graduates of the Early Childhood Education program can take a pathway into the third year of relevant bachelor programs. That’s what Shelina, a graduate of the Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development (Honours) program, did! Shelina began her studies in the Early Childhood Education program and continued her education through an academic pathway to a degree, obtaining a diploma and bachelor’s degree in just four years.
Your first step to big change
Strike change in your community and leave your mark on the world around you. Explore the Algonquin College Community and Social Services programs today.
