Innovate, Inspire and Impact: Inside Social and Community Development with coordinator Bethany Osborne

Sheridan’s Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development (BSCD) was one of six new programs the college launched in 2022 to empower students with the ability to find solutions to complex problems.

Designed for individuals who have completed a diploma in Social Service Work (SSW), SSW – Gerontology, Child and Youth Care, Community Worker or other high-affinity programs, the BSCD provides an opportunity to upgrade those credentials to a degree in as little as two years. It is also designed to complement human services skillsets with abilities in critical thinking, research and leadership that can help lead to career advancement.

We recently sat down with BSCD coordinator Dr. Bethany Osborne to learn more about the unique program, including admission requirements, alumni success, flexible learning options and more.

What made Sheridan decide to begin offering the BSCD program in 2022?

Research showed us that 85 per cent of graduates of human services diploma programs went on to pursue further education within five years of graduating.

One big reason for that is the constantly expanding and changing landscape in human services, and another is that a bachelor's degree is valuable when it comes to career advancement in the field.

What's the difference between a Bachelor of Social Work and the Bachelor of Social and Community Development?

In a Bachelor of Social Work degree program, you're building on the skills you've already learned working with families and communities. It's more in line with supporting individuals, families and communities as they navigate individual and systemic challenges and inequality.

In our Bachelor of Social and Community Development, we look at the ways that societal and organizational structures actually impact individuals, families and communities. We then help you develop the capacity to act on your curiosity; to find answers to the questions 'Why are things the way they are?', 'What's going on in the world around me?', and 'How can I be a part of creating positive change?'

If I already have a human services diploma, do I need to take any other courses to get into this program?

In order to allow students to upgrade their diploma into a degree in as little as two years, we designed this program so that it builds directly on what is taught in human services diploma programs. This allows for seamless transition into the degree, meaning that you don’t need to take any additional (bridging) courses first. You go directly into the third year of the degree program.

What if I graduated from a human services diploma program a long time ago?

As long as you’ve completed your diploma program within the last 10 years and had a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, you’ll automatically be accepted into the Bachelor of Social and Community Development degree. If you graduated more than 10 years ago, I would still love to talk to you, hear about what you have been learning and doing, and discuss how you might fit into the program.

What if my GPA in my human services diploma is lower than 3.0?

Please reach out to me so we can have a conversation about why this program is a good fit for you, and then I will invite you to submit a short supplemental application. We understand that a lower GPA in your diploma may have nothing to do with your capacity to learn, and we would love to learn how we can support. you as you consider another academic program.

We’re also very aware that the teaching and learning in a degree program is different from teaching and learning in a diploma. Our degree is built in a way that supports the transition from diploma studies to the more independent work you do in a degree. We’ll teach you how to look at theory in different ways and how to develop your voice in academia.

What types of jobs are alumni getting after completing this program?

Because our degree is open to anyone who completed a human services diploma program within the last 10 years, many of our students already have an incredible wealth of knowledge that they've gained in the field. I consistently hear from alumni how the skills and competencies that they have learned in this program and the ability to upgrade their diploma to a degree has set them up to seek new opportunities or apply for promotion in their workplace. The more that our program continues to grow, the more of these stories we'll have.

“I consistently hear from alumni how the skills and competencies they learned in this program and the ability to upgrade their diploma to a degree has set them up to seek new opportunities or apply for promotion in their workplace.”

One of our first graduates was able to get a job as a research coordinator for Trillium Health Partners because of the research experience she gained through our program. Another is working as a junior policy analyst for the Ontario government. Both of those students attribute their success in finding these new roles to the research and policy development skills learned at Sheridan, as well as the experiences they gained in our program.

We also have alumni who are working in corporate social responsibility; in diversity, equity and inclusion; in supervisory and management roles in the sector; and in leadership roles in higher education.

Can this degree qualify me for graduate studies?

Yes! Fifty percent of the graduates in our first two cohorts (2024 and 2025) have gone on to graduate school in a variety of different disciplines — including Masters programs in Social Work; Immigration and Settlement Studies; Sociology; Counselling Psychology; Aging and Health Policy; Education; Adult Education and Community Development; and Public Policy in Digital Society.

Although many students initially think a Masters of Social Work is the only pathway forward, they learn through our program that the breadth and scope of the not-for-profit sector is much larger. Graduate pathways following the completion of the degree provide opportunities to specialize in so many different areas.

Why do you think so many students who complete this program go on to pursue graduate studies?

This program attracts wonderful students, human service professionals who are interested in seeing and being active agents for change in the world around them. It also attracts students who want the opportunity to engage with the world in a different way. Some have worked in the field and realized that instead of treating symptoms of larger problems, they'd rather get to the root of an issue and contribute to change. Others feel dissatisfied with where they're at and look at our program as an opportunity to refocus and transition to a new chapter of their career. Our students come directly from Human Service diploma programs or from many different areas of the sector where they have had exciting careers but want to learn more or upgrade their skills.

“This program attracts wonderful students, people who are interested in seeing and being active agents in change in the world around them.”

Our in-class discussions end up being very grounded in what's happening in the world around us — in our cities, our province, our country and on a global level — and connecting those events with conversations about research and sociological perspectives and community development. We talk about critical trends in the not-for-profit and voluntary sectors, and how to find resources that will be needed to run programs or initiatives that will create change. Through these conversations and discussions, our students recognize their voice is important, and they develop skills that give them more confidence in their abilities to pursue graduate studies.

Why does this program include a 420-hour internship before the final two semesters of studies?

Sheridan is known for its commitment to work-integrated learning experiences, and the internship is a great example of that. You'll be supported by an internship coordinator that starts meeting with you as soon as you start our program, helping you identify the best opportunities for an internship experience is tailored to your future career goals and provides opportunities to reflect on your learning.

Sheridan also has a great reputation in the community for the caliber of learners that we have, so when we approach new community or industry partners, they are thrilled to take our students on. Many of our students have either found employment directly from their internship or made connections during that internship that are valuable after graduation.

We have students interning with all branches of governments. We have students doing internships at Sheridan, ranging from community gardens to archives to research projects. We also have students interning with community organizations that serve all types of groups — children, families, youth, immigrants, refugees or the criminal justice system.

Do you provide flexible learning options for people who are already busy with jobs or families or other commitments?

When we were planning this program, one thing we heard often from prospective students was the need for virtual learning options — whether it was due to geography, cost savings, or how life had changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another thing we heard from them was a need for flexibility in terms of scheduling, because most students today are working part-time and some even work full-time. That's why we created this program with a flexible schedule that includes the opportunity to take all courses virtually and in the evening.

“Approximately one-third of the students in our program are on an alternative pathway... I'll always be really happy to talk with you about what works for you and your life and your responsibilities.”

We also understand that not everyone can handle the full five-course load that would allow you to complete this program in two years. Approximately one-third of the students in our program are on an alternative pathway. It's easy to map out, and we have wonderful, embedded advisers who help students understand how taking less courses will affect their schedule or the time it takes to complete their program.

I'll always be really happy to talk with you about what works for you and your life and your responsibilities as you think about pursuing the Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development.

Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development enables graduates of Social Social Service Work, Social Service Work - Gerontology, Child and Youth Care, Community Work or equivalent diploma programs to earn a degree in two years. The program prepares students for leadership positions by teaching skills in project management; social innovation and creative problem solving; non-profit governance; research and grant writing; social and entrepreneurship; and community leadership and advocacy. All classes can be taken virtually and in the evening.