ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Program Outline
Major: ACSD
Length: 2 Years
Delivery: 4 Semesters, plus 2 work terms
Credential: Ontario College Diploma
Effective: 2011-2012
Location: Barrie
Start: Fall
Description
The Aboriginal Community and Social Development program is focused on the planning, development, evaluation and administration of social/health care services within the Aboriginal community. This program includes business and community development studies with an emphasis on integrating cultural, social and health issues relevant to Aboriginal people in Canada. Cultural teachings and smudging are integrated daily throughout each academic semester in social activities, individual program courses, and Traditional Teacher/Elder visits.
(Please note: Aboriginal includes First Nations, Metis and Inuit People).
Career Opportunity
This two year co-operative education diploma program prepares students for entry-level administration and support staff positions within organizations such as community health centres, school boards, social service organizations, healing lodges and mental health centres.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- identify generational factors that contribute to health, social and economic issues affecting Aboriginal communities;
- discover aspects of one's individual identity and embark on a path towards a life-long wellness journey;
- discuss cultural awareness and sensitivity through an exploration of Aboriginal culture, language, tradition and healing;
- discuss accountability, professionalism and ethical behaviour in the workplace;
- develop strategies to assist Aboriginal people build healthier communities;
- develop basic and family counselling skills using Western and Aboriginal counselling philosophies;
- plan and prepare presentations and workplace documents including proposals, incorporating an Aboriginal approach;
- examine the effects that historical and contemporary legal and political decisions have had on Aboriginal people.
Practical Experience
Co-operative Education is a mandatory component of all Co-op programs at Georgian College; it has been designed as a process by which students integrate their academic education with paid work experience related to their program of study. This integration affects much more than simply earning a salary, including the adjustment to the work environment and the development of professionalism. It also reinforces skills and theory learned during academic semesters, develops professional contacts, job knowledge and career path, improves human relations and communication skills and promotes personal maturity and financial independence.
Students are requested to register, attend and participate in their scheduled co-operative education classes. These classes are scheduled for all first year students and are expected to be completed in order to proceed successfully to their first co-op work experience. To ensure students are eligible to proceed onto any co-op work experience students should refer to Promotional Status and Eligibility for Co-op as outlined in the College Calendar. Co-op policies and procedures can be located on our website: www.georgianc.on.ca/careers/for-students/
Georgian College follows the Co-operative Education guidelines set out by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) and Education at Work Ontario (EWO) by supporting the learning outcomes designed for the program specific graduate profile and curriculum as set out by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Program Progression
Sem 1 - Fall 2011
Sem 2 - Winter 2012
Work Term 1 - Summer 2012
Sem 3 - Fall 2012
Sem 4 - Winter 2013
Work Term 2 - Summer 2013
Articulation Agreements
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Information can be found on Georgian's website at ,a href="http:www.georgianc.on.ca/academics/articulations/" title="Georgian College Articluation Agreements">www.georgianc.on.ca/academics/articulations/.
Admission Requirements
Applicants following the OSS curriculum must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD - 30 credits) or equivalent. OSS applicants also require Grade 12 English (C) or (U) (ENG 4C, ENG 4U).
Applicants who are 19 years of age or over by the first day of classes, and who lack the academic admission qualifications, may be considered for entrance as mature students. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis and acceptance will be determined by counselling, Communication Placement Assessment (CPA), previous post-secondary education and evaluation of experience. Some programs also have specific prerequisite requirements that must be met prior to admission. Mature applicants must meet all program specific prerequisites. Those applying as mature students and having no documentation of Grade 12 education must supply, if requested, proof of age, such as a copy of an official birth certificate or driver's license. Refer to Sections 2.5 and 2.6 of the Academic Calendar for further details.
Graduation Requirements
18 Mandatory Courses
2 Communications Courses
4 General Education Courses
2 Co-op Work Terms
Graduation Eligibility
To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester.
Mandatory
COMP1003 Microcomputer Applications
GNED1010 Ojibwe Language and Culture 1
GNED2055 Ojibwe Language and Culture 2
GNED2074 Ojibwe Language and Culture 3
NATV1000 Aboriginal Community and Family Life
NATV1001 Personal Growth and Development
NATV1002 Aboriginal Heritage, Tradition and Culture
NATV1003 Introduction to Psychology: An Aboriginal Perspective
NATV1004 Holistic Health and Healing
NATV2000 Aboriginal People/Politics and Health Care
NATV2001 Issues in Holistic Health and Healing
NATV2002 Introduction to Counselling
NATV2003 Research Methods and Proposal Writing1
NATV2006 Family Counselling
NATV2012 Community Administration and HR Practices
NATV2013 Community Growth and Program Development
NATV2014 Aboriginal Treaties, Rights and Laws
NATV2015 Economic Development, Implementation: Proposal Writing 2
The descriptions that follow provide brief outlines of the courses. Please note that some courses have prerequisite and/or corequisite requirements not shown here, that need to be met in order to enroll in the course. You will be advised of any requisite requirements during the registration process, or you can contact the academic area for further details.
Communications
COMM1001 Communications at Work
Plus one addition communications to be selected from College list
(Note: this is in addition to any mandatory communications listed for the program)
General Education Courses
To be selected from College list
Co-op
COOP1016 Aboriginal Education Work Term 1
COOP2012 Aboriginal Education Work Term 2
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
COMM1001 Communications at Work 42.0 Hours
In the workplace, employers require high standards of communication skills. Students develop their communication skills for the workplace as they research, write and edit work-related correspondence and reports. Using technology, they individually and collaboratively design and deliver professional presentations and meetings. This course focuses on communication tasks specific to students' program areas and their future careers.
COMP1003 Microcomputer Applications 42.0 Hours
This course will introduce the student to word processing, database, spreadsheets, presentation software. The student will be provided with a working knowledge of the most common business computer application software. This course will provide the student with hands-on learning and independent study.
COOP1016 Aboriginal Education Work Term 1 560.0 Hours
Co-operative Education is a mandatory component of the 2-year Aboriginal Community and Social Development Program. The student is responsible for obtaining a Co-op position and having it approved by their Co-op Consultant. Students must complete a fourteen-week, full-time, program-related work experience to acquire the first year Co-op credit. The student is required to successfully complete the year one co-op as a prerequisite to starting the year two co-op. Students are provided with the specific learning outcomes for co-op and must report to the Co-op Consultant on their specific program-related activities on a weekly basis. The Co-op Consultant works with the student and the employer to ensure that the placement meets the needs of the student's and the program's co-op responsibilities.
COOP2012 Aboriginal Education Work Term 2 560.0 Hours
Work Term Two must be successfully completed in order to graduate from the 2-year Aboriginal Community and Social Development Program. Specific learning outcomes are provided to the students. Students are required to complete a fourteen-week, full-time, program-related work experience to acquire the second year co-op credit. They must report to their Co-op Consultant on a weekly basis. The Co-op Consultant will review the student's report to ensure that the learning objectives of co-op have been successfully completed. The Co-op Consultant works with the student and the employer to ensure that the placement meets the needs of the student's and the program's co-op responsibilities.
GNED1010 Ojibwe Language and Culture 1 42.0 Hours
This course begins the study of the Algonquin structure, the linguistic family of the Ojibwe language. Students are introduced to the basic vocabulary, common usage and grammatical structure of the Ojibwe language. Through the context of language, students gain insight into the history of Indigenous languages as irreplaceable cultural knowledge and the cornerstone of Aboriginal community and family values.
GNED2055 Ojibwe Language and Culture 2 42.0 Hours
This course expands study of the Algonquin structure, the linguistic family of the Ojibwe language. Students review and enrich their oral and written skills. Students enhance their listening and language comprehension through storytelling and presentations. Students gain insight into the link between language and cultural values, ways of learning and sharing their history.
GNED2074 Ojibwe Language and Culture 3 42.0 Hours
This course further develops the students' conversational knowledge of the Ojibwe language, grammatical structure, syntax, and oral use. Reading and writing in the Ojibwe language is the focus, and students actively apply their knowledge of Ojibwe grammar and syntax through extensive practice. Traditional Ojibwe narratives are explored and students examine how the Ojibwe language links to modern day culture. A comparative analysis of Aboriginal cultures and languages worldwide is also undertaken.
NATV1000 Aboriginal Community and Family Life 42.0 Hours
This course examines the value system and healthy parenting practices of the Aboriginal family and community. Recognition of healthy behavior versus maladaptive behavior and the effect upon the family structure are examined. Emphasis is placed on family of origin's experience and behavior and its impact on present day life and community.
NATV1001 Personal Growth and Development 42.0 Hours
This course focuses on the development of self from a holistic perspective. Using the Aboriginal view of self-awareness, students explore concepts associated with the medicine wheel philosophy. Concepts related to the enhancement of self-esteem and the development of positive relationships are examined. Students are encouraged to examine their own personal growth and development journey.
NATV1002 Aboriginal Heritage, Tradition and Culture 42.0 Hours
This course focuses on developing knowledge of Aboriginal culture and the reaffirmation of Aboriginal identity through a study of the foundational teachings, beliefs, and practices of Aboriginal people from a perspective within the culture. Emphasis is on the Aboriginal people of the Great Lakes area. Origins, central concepts of the North American worldview, rites, customs and practices in life stages are examined. Attention is given to how Aboriginal people understand themselves and are influenced by the culture.
NATV1003 Introduction to Psychology: An Aboriginal Perspective 42.0 Hours
This course provides a global picture of the nature of psychology and an overview of the major schools of psychology. There is an emphasis in the course on the psychological, emotional, behavioural, and social aspects of the human life cycle from birth to death. A central focus is placed on the stages of adolescence, adulthood, and the aged. By looking at the individual and the individual in his/her social context, common issues and concerns that arise within Aboriginal communities will be addressed.
NATV1004 Holistic Health and Healing 42.0 Hours
This course focuses on concepts of holistic health as they relate to life functions. Students examine holistic health and healing from the perspectives of mainstream health care systems and the traditional health practices of Aboriginal people. Special attention is given to nutrition and its importance for Aboriginal health. Epidemiology relating to the health of Aboriginal people is discussed.
NATV2000 Aboriginal People/Politics and Health Care 42.0 Hours
This course examines the organization of the Canadian Health Care System including issues affecting the delivery of health services for Aboriginal people. Students review the historical events that have impacted the current health status of Aboriginal people in Canada. Students examine Aboriginal health policy and its influence on health status of Aboriginal people. Availability and delivery of health care service is explored.
NATV2001 Issues in Holistic Health and Healing 42.0 Hours
This course examines several critical issues affecting Aboriginal health. It addresses the concept of holistic health, encompassing the need for balance of mental, spiritual, emotional and physical elements. There is an emphasis on how mental health issues affect the other three elements of holistic health. Students examine the role of culture and traditions as they relate to contemporary health issues and treatment for Aboriginal people.
NATV2002 Introduction to Counselling 42.0 Hours
This course provides an experiential approach to learning basic counselling skills of the helping profession. Students examine a variety of western philosophies and approaches to counselling and counselling strategies used traditionally by Aboriginal people.
NATV2003 Research Methods and Proposal Writing 1 42.0 Hours
This course examines non-empirical methods for gathering and analyzing data relevant to Aboriginal community and organizational development. Students explore in-depth interviews, focus groups, community forums, field observation, literature reviews and historical research. Preparing research findings for proposals will be examined as students review hypothetical proposals to determine general preparatory components of proposal writing.
NATV2006 Family Counselling 42.0 Hours
This course focuses on the family, family influences and family counselling techniques. Counselling strategies within specific groups, stepfamilies, adolescent and couples seeking marriage counselling are discussed. The course highlights the Aboriginal family and community social issues to explore the history of existing problems and ways to provide possible intervention and follow-up strategies. Students examine Aboriginal community programs and services currently available to the Aboriginal population.
NATV2012 Community Administration and HR Practices 42.0 Hours
In this course, students address Human Resource Management systems, community and organizational structures and administrative initiatives and practices of both Western and Aboriginal workplaces. Students are introduced to the theory of Human Resource Management (HRM) and community administration of various organizational workplaces.
NATV2013 Community Growth and Program Development 42.0 Hours
This course examines the concept of community. Students will examine the program and planning methodologies necessary for effective planning and implementation of First Nations and urban community based programs. Students will develop and practice program planning skills through a class project in planning a community based service program.
NATV2014 Aboriginal Treaties, Rights and Laws 42.0 Hours
This course examines the historical evolution of Aboriginal treaties and rights. Students examine individual Aboriginal treaties and their implications. Students interpret and analyze treaties in a historical and modern context.
NATV2015 Economic Development and Implementation: Proposal Writing 2 42.0 Hours
This course revisits development skills from first year and applies them to community needs and projections from various Aboriginal organizations both on and off reserve. Culturally appropriate models are examined and a framework for healthy community is applied. Students utilize findings from their research to write effective proposals for social programs, government organizations and for-profit business to enhance economic growth.
Adults with significant life and work experience may receive credits toward a college certificate or diploma program through an assessment process.
More information about Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
NOTE: Information contained in College documents respecting programs is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. The college reserves the right to add or delete programs, options, courses, timetables or campus locations subject to sufficient enrolment, and the availability of courses.
Last Update: March 08, 2012.