Are you passionate about social and environmental justice, enjoy working with groups, and wish you could help connect people to services and opportunities in their community? Then the Community Development Work program is for you.

This offering will prepare you for an interdisciplinary field, working with groups experiencing marginalization. You'll build skills in critical thinking of matters such as social justice, anti-oppressive practice, sustainable development, community engagement, community asset-mapping, fundraising, team building, collaborative leadership, project management, research and project evaluation.

Expert guest speakers, field trips, and collaborative projects with local and international NGOs attached to student learning evaluations and assessments will all be components of this program's courses and learning outcomes. You'll also learn from experienced and passionate faculty members who come from a diverse range of local and international community development settings and educational backgrounds.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this program is how you'll connect theory to practice through field placement learning opportunities. You'll engage in field placement opportunities/on-the job internship experiences with organizations, institutions and social enterprises actively engaged in community work.

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

• The Community Development Work program will provide you with the opportunity to practice your acquired knowledge under the supervision of community practitioners in two separate real-world fieldwork settings during the third and fourth semesters.
• You'll be exposed to opportunities for international development placements.
• As a student of the School of Community and Health Studies program, you'll work in communities to advocate for change strategies that promote social, economic and environmental justice, and challenge patterns of oppression and discrimination.

Global Citizenship and Equity Portfolio

You'll develop a portfolio documenting your engagement with the College's signature Global Citizenship and Equity (GC&E) competencies. For more information on GC&E, the GC&E portfolio and the supports available to you, please visit //www.centennialcollege.ca/about-centennial/college-overview/signature-learning-experience.

Companies Offering Jobs

Toronto Community Housing, City of Toronto, United Way of GTA, Park People, Centennial College, Municipal Councilor Offices, ACSA (Agincourt Community Services Association), Eastview Community Health Center, Blue Door Shelters & Emergency Housing, Woodgreen Community Services, Meadows of Aurora Retirement Community

Career Outlook

• Program Manager
• Project Manager
• Manager of Community Development Initiatives
• Community Development Worker
• Community Outreach Worker
• Community Animator
• Non-for-Profit Community Development Consultant
• Community Support Worker
• Community Health Work(er)
• Change Maker
• Health Promoter
• Civic Engagement/Social Responsibilities Roles
• Sustainable Neighbourhood Program Assistant
• Social Innovator
• Community Connections Coordinator
• Food Security Engagement Coordinator
• Project Coordinator
• Training Coordinator
• Community Engagement Coordinator
• Community Organizer
• Community Convener
• Housing Stability Coordinator
• Environmental-Social and Governance (ESG) Lead
• Social Enterprise Coordinator
• Youth Development Worker
• Peer mentor
• Youth Services Worker
• Fundraising specialist
• Grants Officer
• Program Specialist
• Employment Specialist
• Community Engagement Specialist
• Recreation Specialist
• Diversity and Inclusion Specialist

Education Pathways

Centennial College

We are excited to announce that our Community Development Work Program and the International Development Graduate Certificate Program have established an internal articulation agreement between the two programs. Graduates of the Community Development Work Program, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 would be eligible for admission into the International Development Graduate Certificate Program, pending room in the program.