Community and Child Studies Foundations

The Community and Child Studies Foundations program will provide you with an academic pathway for pursuing a career in the community services or child studies field.

In this college certificate program's courses, you'll develop a thorough understanding of the personal and professional requirements of the varied careers available in community services and child studies.

While engaging you in reflective practice to facilitate professional skills development, this program will enhance your communication competence in all language strands. You'll also have the opportunity to develop academic and professional skills and attitudes that will facilitate success in your field of choice.

Upon successful completion of Community and Child Studies Foundations, you will be eligible to transfer, with up to two credits* granted, toward any of the following Diploma or Advanced Diploma programs at Centennial College:

• Early Childhood Education (1201, Ashtonbee)
• Early Childhood Education (1221, Progress)
• Child and Youth Care (1205 / 1245)
• Community and Justice Services (1206)
• Police and Public Safety Foundations (1250)
• Developmental Service Worker (1207 / 1227)
• Community Development Work (1230)
• Addiction and Mental Health Worker (1235)
• Social Service Worker (1203)
• Recreation and Leisure Services (1202)

*Grade requirements apply

Please note: This program is taught using a combination of modalities. Courses may be delivered face-to-face, online, or in a blended/hybrid combination of both online and traditional classroom teaching.

Program Highlights

• Class sizes are small (under 30 students per class).
• You'll participate in eight hours of English each week.
• Opportunities will exist for career exploration in community and child studies.
• There is an intensive and engaging peer mentoring program.
• You'll learn strategies to become a master student.
• You'll earn two transfer credits to diploma programs (COMM 162/163 and GNED).

Career Outlook

• Childcare worker
• Developmental services worker
• Social service worker
• Child and youth care
• Community justice worker
• Recreation and leisure services worker
• Community development worker
• Addiction and mental health worker
• (all with further education)

Education Pathways

Successful graduates of this Community and Child Studies Foundation certificate program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study. Listed below are the programs from partnering institutions that are available for this program.

Please note that each partner has minimum admission requirementsto be met in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the partner institution.

Please visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on articulation agreements.

For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.

Academic Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
• Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test.

Note: Applicants to Centennial College post-secondary programs in the areas of community studies or child and family studies, with scores of 140 or 141 on the Centennial College English Skills Assessment, are advised to first take this program as a pathway to their program of choice.

Additional Requirements

• English language proficiency

1. Apply Online

Domestic Students

If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.

If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.

All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.

International Students

Apply directly to Centennial College here.

2. Submit Documents

Domestic Applicants

Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.

Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.

Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.

International Applicants

Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.

3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission

Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.

You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.

You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.

When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.

4. Pay Fees

Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.

You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.

5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)

Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.

Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April

Your web-registration will not open if:

• You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
• You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.

Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.

Note: Applicants cannot apply directly to this program. This program is an "Alternate Offer" for applicants who apply to, but do not meet admission requirements for a Centennial College post-secondary program in the areas of community or child studies.

Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2024.

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.

1. Discuss the roles, responsibilities, career opportunities, academic and personal requirements for success in the Community Services and Child Studies field.
2. Apply culturally sensitive communication and interpersonal skills to support team functioning in academic and professional settings with the ability to engage in self-reflection.
3. Explain major theoretical models of behaviour in alignment with professional deportment, code of conduct and ethics of the different Community Service and Child Studies professions.
4.  Apply the appropriate digital communication tools and technology through interpersonal communication suitable for the Community Service and Child Studies professions.
5. Select the Community Services and Child Studies field best suited to personal and career interest.
6. Explain how academic strength, needs and personal health factors affect success and wellness in a college environment.
7. Utilize written and verbal communication skills specific to the Community Services and Child Studies field.