Choose a career that teaches you to fight for social justice!

The Community and Justice Services Ontario College Diploma program emphasizes alternatives to policing and prisons and teaches students skills to work with people and communities to address issues such as criminalization, poverty, affordable housing scarcity, food insecurity and immigration. Through theory and practical experiences, the program teaches you to work with people and communities in ways that respect their inherent dignity and humanity. Learn to understand the historical, political and economic forces that create these social justice issues.

In this program, you develop skills such as critical analysis, advocacy, community organizing, group facilitation, conflict mediation, and individual support work with adults, youth and children. You learn the importance of addressing issues not just on an individual level, but also at a community-based level. Woven throughout the program is a commitment to human rights, social justice, and alternatives to policing and prisons. Study topics include:

• Indigenous studies
• anti-racism/anti-oppression
• gender and sexuality studies
• disability justice
• trauma-informed practices
• addiction and harm reduction
• mental health
• community building practices

As a student, you participate in a field placement experience in the community and justice field. In this placement, you identify, practise and integrate skills and theory that you have learned in the program.

To qualify for this diploma, you must complete the program within six years.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Have an interest in social justice and working towards change in their community.
• Have a commitment to anti-racism.
• Have a strong sense of empathy for others.
• Are collaborative and comfortable working and learning in group environments.
• Can work independently.

Careers

Graduates may find employment in: community-based agencies offering programs and support to youth and/or adults who need services related to issues such as: mental health; family violence; addictions; disability supports; resettlement; employment; housing.

Pathways

Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate in a manner consistent with professional ethics and practice, and a respect for self, others, and relevant law, policies and legislation.
2. Employ all relevant static and dynamic safety and security techniques to ensure the protection of the public, staff, and clients in institutional, residential, and community settings.
3. Intervene with clients, individually and in groups, in order to address and manage barriers to promote inclusion, positive growth and personal development.
4. Collect information, observe, monitor, record and assess client behaviour accurately in compliance with legal and organizational requirements.
5. Assist in the prevention, management and resolution of conflict, crises, and emergency situations using intervention strategies as prescribed by relevant legislative requirements and industry certification and/or standards.
6. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors and community justice stakeholders to maintain a productive, professional and safe working environment.
7. Engage in program planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluation to meet the needs of clients, staff, community and administration within the context of an interdisciplinary setting.
8. Apply knowledge of the history, philosophy, and diverse models of corrective action, of detention, rehabilitation, and reintegration to decision-making and institutional practices.
9. Develop and implement self-care strategies using self-awareness, self-inquiry and reflection.
10. Work in a manner consistent with professional ethics demonstrating respect for self, others and relevant legislation, policies and procedures in a multi-disciplinary workplace.
11. Assess and respond to the strengths and needs of clients, including complex responses impacted by mental health, addictions and other social factors in order to support and promote positive change.
12. Promote inclusive practices within community and justice services to increase understanding within the community and meet the needs of diverse populations.
13. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

Read this before applying:

This program is undergoing changes for the 23/24 academic year.  If you began this program prior to Fall 2023, please refer to the Academic Planner or Archived Program Information to confirm the courses required for your Program of Study.  Please also refer to policy AA39: Program Progression and Graduation Requirements if you are planning on taking a break for two or more consecutive terms.  If you require assistance, you can contact your Student Advisor (if you are a full-time online student) or your Program Support Officer (if you are a part-time online student) at https://www.algonquincollege.com/academic-success/ac-online/.

Registration Note:

If you would like to take courses individually or start the program part time, you are not required to apply to the program. You can register for up to three courses per term by clicking on the course title and selecting “Register Online”.

Program Resources

International students wishing to study online should visit https://www.algonquincollege.com/online/international for information related to International online students and for International fees information prior to registering. Please note that AC Online programs do not qualify international students for new study permits or study permit extensions.

The Community and Justice Services program has numerous articulation agreements with university programs. Students may find further information on degree pathways at https://www.algonquincollege.com/degree-pathways.

WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING OVERVIEW:
There is one placement required in the final semester of the CJS program. This placement will prepare students for a career in the field with a community or justice-based agency. Placement runs for 12 weeks and students will be required to complete 32-36 hours per week with the agency they are placed with. The schedule is determined directly by the agency and students should be prepared to be available for the time requirement of the placement course.

FIELD PLACEMENT:
Students complete one twelve-week block field placement in a community service agency during the fourth semester of the program.

FIELD PLACEMENT ELIGIBILITY:
In order to be eligible for placement, students must meet the following requirements prior to the placement deadline:

1. Academic Clearance: Students will be required to complete Levels 01, 02, and 03 with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in order to be academically eligible to participate in placement.
2. Placement Request Form: Students are required to submit a placement request form prior to the placement deadline.
3. ParaMed Clearance: Students are required to meet the following medical and non-medical requirements. Upon completion, these requirements must be confirmed through ParaMed, our partner organization: a. Immunization Records; b. Level 3 Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS); c. Standard First Aid/CPR Level C.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Further placement information for online students can be found on the Online Field Placement Centre: https://www.algonquincollege.com/online/field-placement.

ACADEMIC PLANNER:
The Academic Planner provides registered part-time students the ability to declare into a program of study. The Academic Planner outlines successfully completed courses to date, as well as courses that need to be completed in order to meet graduation requirements. It is therefore, essential that all part-time students declare to their program of study, allowing administrators to plan course offerings. The tool is available on ACSIS, located under 'Part-time Students' on the left-hand toolbar.

PRIOR LEARNING AND RECOGNITION (PLAR):
Students who wish to apply for PLAR need to demonstrate competency at a post-secondary level in all of the course learning requirements. Evidence of learning achievements for PLAR candidates may include a comprehensive challenge examination and/or completion of a portfolio.

PROGRAM PROGRESSION:
As per policy AA39: Program Progression and Graduation Requirements when students are admitted to a program, they are assigned to the Program of Study that aligns with their start date. If a student takes a break for two or more consecutive terms the Program of Study is reset to align with the current version (when studies are resumed).

Future Students

For additional information, please contact our Customer Service Representative team at online@algonquincollege.com and they will direct you to the best person to answer your specific questions.

Current Students

For additional information, please reference the AC Online Circle of Care.