Social Development Studies, administered by Renison University College, is an integrated multidisciplinary academic plan providing a liberal education with concentration in certain pure and applied social sciences. The inter-related courses of this Major allow students to develop an appreciation of the interdependence of the social sciences and a facility in applying material and perspectives from one discipline to questions in other areas of study. The College offers its own courses for the Major in Interdisciplinary Social Science, Psychology, Social Work and Sociology. Students select their remaining courses from any of the colleges or departments of the University according to their particular needs and interests.
In the academic plan, particular attention is given to the development of human personality in the context of the major social institutions and our cultural traditions and to the study of the development of certain contemporary social problems. Courses in Social Work provide an opportunity to study various types of social intervention. The College encourages students to find places as volunteers in local agencies. Through this volunteer work students are given an opportunity to increase the experience which they can bring to their studies and to test and apply their theoretical understanding in practical settings.
The Social Development Studies plan provides an excellent background for further study in Social Work, Education, Theology, Law and Journalism, and for work in various helping professions, communications, and community and international service organizations.
Three-Year General Social Development Studies
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative Social Development Studies average of 65%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Three-Year General Social Development Studies academic plan includes successful fulfillment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Social Development Studies Plan-level requirements:
- at least seven academic course units (14 courses) must be in Social Development Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 65%. These courses must be distributed over the four subject areas of the academic plan using a maximum of six courses from a single subject area. (Additional Social Development Studies courses may be from any of the subject areas.)
Recommended Course of Study, including required courses
Year One
ISS 150R, PSYCH 120R, SOCWK 120R (Fall)
ISS 131R, PSYCH 121R, SOC 120R (Winter)
Four additional courses
Year Two
ISS 250R, 251R
Two other courses from the Major
Six additional courses
Year Three
Four courses from the Major
Six additional courses
Four-Year General Social Development Studies
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative Social Development Studies average of 65%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Four-Year General Social Development Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Social Development Studies Plan-level requirements:
- at least nine academic course units (18 courses, i.e., four courses in addition to those required for the Three-Year General Social Development Studies academic plan) must be in Social Development Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 65%.
Honours Social Development Studies
Continuation in this academic plan requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative Social Development Studies average of 75%.
Eligibility for graduation in the Honours Social Development Studies academic plan includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Appropriate BA Program-level requirements. See "BA Degree Requirements."
- Social Development Studies Plan-level requirements:
- at least nine academic course units (18 courses) must be in Social Development Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 75%.
- six courses, selected in consultation with Renison's Associate Dean, to explore in depth a topic related to the students' interests (i.e., Theme Area)
Recommended Course of Study, including required courses
Year One
ISS 150R, PSYCH 120R, SOCWK 120R (Fall)
ISS 131R, PSYCH 121R, SOC 120R (Winter)
Four additional courses
Year Two
ISS 250R, 251R
Two other courses from the Major
Three Theme Area courses
Three additional courses
Year Three
ISS 320R
Three other courses from the Major
Three Theme Area courses
Three additional courses
Year Four
ISS 499A/B
Two other courses from the Major
Six additional courses
Honours Social Development Studies (Arts and Business Co-op and Regular)
The requirements for Honours Social Development Studies (Arts and Business Co-op and Regular) parallel the requirements for a Joint Honours with Social Development Studies. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a major in Social Development Studies, students must complete a group of core career- and business-related courses. See Arts and Business for the Arts and Business requirements.
Joint Honours Social Development Studies
A Joint Honours academic plan with Social Development Studies may be taken in combination with most Arts disciplines in which an Honours academic plan is offered or with many Honours majors in other Faculties.
Eligibility for graduation in the Social Development Studies Joint Honours academic plan typically includes successful fulfilment of the following requirements (variations may occur depending on the other discipline being considered):
- Appropriate Program-level requirements for the Home Faculty, including at least 20 academic course units. If the Home Faculty is Arts, see "BA Degree Requirements."
- Social Development Studies Plan-level requirements:
- at least seven academic course units (14 courses) must be in Social Development Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 75%, including:
- four of ISS 131R, 150R; PSYCH 101; SOC 120R; SOCWK 120R
- ISS 250R, 251R
- ISS 320R, plus five courses beyond the 100-level
- ISS 499A/B (Senior Honours Essay)
Note: The equivalent courses to ISS 250R/251R and 499A/B may be taken in the other discipline, subject to approval by both departments. If such replacement occurs, sufficient Social Development Studies electives must be taken to meet the 14 course minimum requirement.
- at least four courses, selected in consultation with Renison's Associate Dean, to explore in depth a topic related to the students' interests (i.e., Theme Area)
- Plan-level requirements for the second Major.
Course selection for a Joint Honours academic plan with Social Development Studies should only be made after consultation with Renison's Associate Dean.
Social Development Studies Minor
A Social Development Studies Minor requires successful completion of a minimum of five academic course units (ten courses) in Social Development Studies with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including:
- ISS 131R, 150R; SOCWK 120R
- seven courses beyond the 100-level including at least two courses in each of two different subject areas
Note: Of the ten courses required for the Minor, no more than six may be taken in any one subject area.
Courses may be selected to fill the needs of the individual student, but course selection should only be made after consultation with a Renison academic advisor.
Social Work Diploma/Certificate
Renison University College confers a Diploma of General Studies in Social Work and, as a supplement to the diploma, a Certificate in Studies of Child Abuse. Courses which make up these academic plans can also be used for a degree. Students will receive consideration for equivalent credit for up to three non-College courses which are similar to the Renison courses listed for the Diploma and up to two that are listed for the Certificate. Diplomas and certificates are normally issued at the end of June and October. Students should notify the College in writing three months prior to completion of the requirements.
Diploma of General Studies in Social Work
Eligibility for this Diploma includes the successful completion of five academic course units (ten courses), with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including:
- seven core courses:
- three additional courses:
- at least one but not more than two of SOCWK 300R, 301R, 320R, 321R, 322R
- at least one but not more than two of ISS 220R, 350E; 350H; PSYCH 322R, 323R, 334; SOCWK 240R, 355R, 356R, 357R, 365R, 367R.
Certificate in Studies of Child Abuse
Students who have completed the requirements for the Diploma of General Studies in Social Work will be eligible for the Certificate in Studies of Child Abuse with the successful completion of an additional 2.5 academic course units (five courses) with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including:
Students must complete a minimum of 7.5 academic course units (15 courses) to earn both the Diploma and the Certificate. Students may not double count courses between these two academic plans. Required courses for the Certificate, taken previously for the Diploma, must be replaced with other courses from the Diploma requirements.
Notes
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For students in minor academic plans who do not have at least one course in statistics and one course in research, and especially those considering graduate studies in Social Work, ISS 250R and ISS 251R are strongly recommended.
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For further information regarding any of the academic plans, consult the Registrar's Office, Renison University College, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G4, or contact ren-reg@renison.uwaterloo.ca.
Major Courses
Listed below are courses from the four subject areas which combine in the Social Development Studies Major.
Interdisciplinary Social Science
ISS 131R Social Ideas, Social Policy and Political Practice
ISS 150R Lifespan Processes: The Normal Events
ISS 220R Changing Concepts of Childhood
ISS 240R Art and Society
ISS 250R Social Statistics
ISS 251R Social Research
ISS 311R Public Policy and Native Peoples in Canada
ISS 312R Homelessness and Public Policy
ISS 320R Critical Encounter with Human Nature
ISS 350D Adult Life Crises and Events
ISS 350E Family Law and Public Policy
ISS 350G The Evolution of Family Law in Canadian Society
ISS 350H Values and the Contemporary Family
ISS 375R Studies in Interdisciplinary Social Science
ISS 398R Independent Study
ISS 399R Independent Study
ISS 495R Research Apprenticeship
ISS 499A/B Senior Honours Essay
Psychology
PSYCH 120R Introductory Psychology 1
PSYCH 121R Introductory Psychology 2
PSYCH 220R Social Psychology
PSYCH 221R Interpersonal Relations
PSYCH 222R Cross-cultural Psychology
PSYCH 322R Personality Theory
PSYCH 323R Psychopathology
PSYCH 334 Theories of Individual Counselling Psychology
PSYCH 375R Studies in Psychology
PSYCH 398R Independent Study
PSYCH 399R Independent Study
Social Work
SOCWK 120R Introduction to Social Work
SOCWK 220R Social Work with Individuals: Theory and Practice 1
SOCWK 221R Social Group Work
SOCWK 222R Community Organization 1
SOCWK 240R Palliative Care
SOCWK 300R Canadian Social Welfare Policy
SOCWK 301R Understanding Diversity in Canada
SOCWK 320R Social Work with Individuals: Theory and Practice 2
SOCWK 321R Social Work with Families
SOCWK 322R Community Organization 2: International Perspectives
SOCWK 355R Child Maltreatment: Identification and Prevention
SOCWK 356R Developmental Disabilities and the Family
SOCWK 357R Family Violence
SOCWK 365R Social Work in Health Care
SOCWK 367R Social Work with the Elderly
SOCWK 375R Studies in Social Work
SOCWK 390A/B Family Violence: An Advanced Seminar
SOCWK 398R Independent Study
SOCWK 399R Independent Study
Sociology
SOC 120R Fundamentals of Sociology
SOC 204 Sociology of Adolescence
SOC 207 Sociology of Education
SOC 223 Deviance: Perspectives and Processes
SOC 224R Poverty in Canada and its Social Consequences
SOC 375R Studies in Sociology
SOC 398R Independent Study
SOC 399R Independent Study