Sheridan offers Ontario's first fully online Social Service Worker – Gerontology program
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More students will now have the opportunity to support Canada's aging population, thanks to a new virtual option in Sheridan's Social Service Worker - Gerontology program.
The two-year program teaches the foundations of social service work, while training students to specialize in work with older adults. Domestic students may choose to either complete this program virtually from anywhere in Ontario, or study in person at the Davis Campus. This creates a flexible, accessible option for those interested in supporting the older adult population.
“We are excited to offer this innovative program, which provides a much-needed virtual option for students,” said Dr. Michael O’Leary, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Community Studies (FAHCS). “By offering this program online, we’re making it possible for learners to pursue their passion for supporting older adults from within their own communities, while still ensuring they have access to the live connections and interactive environments that are central to Sheridan’s teaching approach.”
As the demand for specialized social service workers grows, Sheridan’s program uniquely blends virtual learning with real-world experience and the hands-on applied health programming the college is known for. Students engage in live, online, two-hour classes with instructors and peers, replicating the classroom experience while maintaining the convenience of studying from home.
Students gain practical experience through over 600 hours of local field practicums in their own communities – preparing them to give back to those communities once they graduate. Through fieldwork students apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings, while also building professional connections.
“Our practicums allow people who live in parts of Ontario where there isn’t a local college that provides this program to access the learning,” explains Alexa Roggeveen, Social Service Worker - Gerontology program coordinator and a professor in FAHCS. “The need to provide care for older adults is present all around the province. This allows for people who live across Ontario to get the education they want while also filling a very clear need in the workforce and in their communities. We are also happy this delivery model also meets the needs of students locally for whom coming to campus for classes isn’t an option.”
The program’s curriculum focuses on supporting older adults, particularly those with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, or mental health challenges, as well as caregivers. The program emphasizes inclusivity and cultural humility when working with marginalized and underserved communities. Those in the program will also benefit from a unique partnership with Sheridan’s Centre for Elder Research, and may have the opportunity to engage in applied research projects and gain access to the Centre’s research and resources.
Graduates of the program will be eligible for membership with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, earning the right to use the title “Registered Social Service Worker.” Additionally, graduates can pursue further education by advancing into Year 3 of Sheridan’s Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development degree program, opening up opportunities for career advancement.
For more information about the program or details on how to apply, visit Sheridan’s Social Service Worker – Gerontology program page.
The two-year program teaches the foundations of social service work, while training students to specialize in work with older adults. Domestic students may choose to either complete this program virtually from anywhere in Ontario, or study in person at the Davis Campus. This creates a flexible, accessible option for those interested in supporting the older adult population.
“We are excited to offer this innovative program, which provides a much-needed virtual option for students,” said Dr. Michael O’Leary, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Community Studies (FAHCS). “By offering this program online, we’re making it possible for learners to pursue their passion for supporting older adults from within their own communities, while still ensuring they have access to the live connections and interactive environments that are central to Sheridan’s teaching approach.”
As the demand for specialized social service workers grows, Sheridan’s program uniquely blends virtual learning with real-world experience and the hands-on applied health programming the college is known for. Students engage in live, online, two-hour classes with instructors and peers, replicating the classroom experience while maintaining the convenience of studying from home.
Students gain practical experience through over 600 hours of local field practicums in their own communities – preparing them to give back to those communities once they graduate. Through fieldwork students apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings, while also building professional connections.
“Our practicums allow people who live in parts of Ontario where there isn’t a local college that provides this program to access the learning,” explains Alexa Roggeveen, Social Service Worker - Gerontology program coordinator and a professor in FAHCS. “The need to provide care for older adults is present all around the province. This allows for people who live across Ontario to get the education they want while also filling a very clear need in the workforce and in their communities. We are also happy this delivery model also meets the needs of students locally for whom coming to campus for classes isn’t an option.”
The program’s curriculum focuses on supporting older adults, particularly those with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, or mental health challenges, as well as caregivers. The program emphasizes inclusivity and cultural humility when working with marginalized and underserved communities. Those in the program will also benefit from a unique partnership with Sheridan’s Centre for Elder Research, and may have the opportunity to engage in applied research projects and gain access to the Centre’s research and resources.
Graduates of the program will be eligible for membership with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, earning the right to use the title “Registered Social Service Worker.” Additionally, graduates can pursue further education by advancing into Year 3 of Sheridan’s Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development degree program, opening up opportunities for career advancement.
For more information about the program or details on how to apply, visit Sheridan’s Social Service Worker – Gerontology program page.
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