Durham College

Programme overview

This Honours Bachelor builds on college-level practical training by adding academic courses, a full-semester field placement and a final-year thesis project. Pathway students who hold an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care or Social Service Worker from Durham College or another Ontario college may enter advanced standing and complete the degree on an accelerated schedule.

What you'll study

The curriculum extends diploma learning into increasingly specialised topics, including courses drawn from psychology, communications skills and counselling skills. In the final year students undertake a thesis project to pursue a focused area of mental health research. The programme includes a 420-hour placement to develop employment-ready applied skills.

Entry requirements

Durham College pathway entry is available to students who already possess an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care or Social Service Worker from Durham College or another Ontario college; these students enter the Community Mental Health Honours Bachelor at the fourth semester (second semester of second year). With diploma credit, pathway students complete the degree in five semesters plus the 420-hour placement, requiring only one additional course beyond their diploma.

Career prospects

Holding both a diploma and this degree broadens employability and the range of positions graduates may pursue in the workforce. The academic credential also preserves the option to continue to graduate-level study in related fields.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Students converting a college diploma into an honours degree should investigate institutional awards for returning students, placement-based bursaries, and graduate-study entrance scholarships if they plan further study; Durham College may also offer supports tied to small-class cohorts and program-specific opportunities.