Social work is an umbrella term covering a wide variety of career choices, but at heart they are all concerned with helping people live better lives. From drug and alcohol counselling to assisting a family that’s fallen on hard times to secure a stable food supply, social workers provide intervention, therapy and aid for those in need. Moving beyond the one-on-one, some social workers go on to work for government agencies, developing policies and laws designed to protect society at large. While this type of work can be emotionally draining, people with compassion and a drive to improve our towns and cities will find social work a wide-reaching and exciting option.
Where to study
Brock University (St. Catharines) Sociology, labour studies, social justice, child and youth studies, disability studies or women’s studies: $5,478/year (plus fees)
Centennial College (Toronto) Child and youth worker, community services and child foundations, community and justice services, developmental services worker or social service worker: $3,462-$3,544/year
George Brown College (Toronto) Assaulted women’s and children’s counsellor/advocate, career and work counsellor, child and youth worker, community worker or social service worker: $3,157-$5,157
Humber College (Toronto) Social service worker or child counsellor, women’s advocate, children’s case management, developmental services worker or youth worker: $3,317-$3,367/year
McMaster University (Hamilton) Social sciences: $5,382/year (plus fees)
Queen’s University (Kingston) Sociology or gender studies: $5,560/year (plus fees)
Seneca College (Toronto) Social service worker in gerontology or with immigrants and refugees: $1,673/semester
Sheridan College (Toronto) Social service worker in gerontology or with immigrants and refugees: $1,210/year
University of Guelph Sociology: $3,416/year
University of Toronto Social sciences or sociology: around $7,000/year
University of Waterloo Sociology, social development studies or studies in sexuality, marriage and family studies: $5,500/year (plus fees)
University of Western Ontario (London) Sociology, women’s studies, migration and ethnic relations or First Nations studies: $6,484/year (plus fees)
Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo) Social work: $2,901/year (plus fees)
York University (Toronto) Anti-racist research and practice or refugee and migration studies, criminology, human rights and equity studies race, ethnicity and indigeneity: social science social work sociology women’s studies or work and labour studies: $6,003/year
