Education Assistant and Community Support (Certificate)

Total Credits:	40.5
Credential:	Certificate in Education Assistant and Community Support
Program Code:	EACS.CERT
CIP:	19.0707

Overview

The Education Assistant and Community Support program prepares graduates to support individuals with acquired and or developmental disabilities both ethically and professionally in the context of home, school, work, and community settings. Graduates also develop a practice framework that supports the rights of individuals with diverse needs, reflects a social model of disability and embraces a strengths based philosophy.

Career/Academic Advancement Opportunities

Graduates have the knowledge, skills and values necessary to provide and advocate for individualized supports person centred planning and are prepared to work in entry-level positions with children, youth and adults with diverse abilities, their families, support networks, and community organizations.

Graduates receive transfer credit toward the second year of the Community, Family and Child Studies Diploma. In addition, students may receive credits from various post-secondary programs in either social work or child and youth care.

Admissions

One of:

C+ in English 12
C in English 12 Camosun Alternative

And all of:

Attendance at an Information Session. An online option of the Information Session is available for anyone unable to attend in person
*Experience: Submit proof of 40 hours of directly related work, volunteer or life experience within the past five years.

*Camosun is waiving this 40 hours admission requirement for the Fall 2023, Fall 2024 and any potential offerings in Winter 2025 of the EACS Certificate Program intakes.

Your volunteer experience must be with individuals in the community (school or otherwise) who have developmental disabilities such as intellectual, physical, sensory and/or brain-based disabilities. The purpose of this is to ensure that you have had some experience with the individuals that the program is focused on in terms of practice in both the community or school settings.

Please note, generalized settings do not count towards your volunteer time; the setting must be related to disability. In addition, if you have a family member with a disability, this could count towards half of the required hours.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students will be able to:

Integrate a social justice perspective into practices that enhance the quality of life experienced by people with disabilities.
Demonstrate a strength-based approach in practice and apply critical thinking skills to assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation processes.
Provide positive, person directed and valuing supports to promote participation, inclusion and satisfaction for individuals in educational, social, daily living and work activities.
Demonstrate interpersonal competence in your work with individuals, families, team, and community members.
Promote and support the health, wellbeing, and safety of self and others.
Demonstrate professionalism as an Education Assistant and Community Support practitioner.

Curriculum

Year One

Academic Term One

All of:

CSEA 110 - Community Living Foundations Credits: 3
EDUC 140 - Development & Diversity Credits: 3
EDUC 116 - Health and Disability Credits: 3
PSYC 154 - Interpersonal Skills Credits: 3

One of:

ENGL 151 - Academic Writing Strategies Credits: 3
ENGL 161 - Literary Genres Credits: 3
ENGL 163 - Intro to Literary Traditions Credits: 3
ENGL 164 - Indigenous Literature Credits: 3

Academic Term Two

All of:

CSEA 111 - Practicum 1 Credits: 6
EDUC 150 - Teaching & Learning Supports Credits: 3
CSEA 160 - Citizenship & Quality of Life Credits: 3
CSEA 175 - Ethical/Professional Practice Credits: 3

One of:

HLTH 111 - Indigenous Peoples’ Health Credits: 3
IST 120 - Indigenous Peoples/TELTIN TTE WILNEW Credits: 3

Academic Term Three

All of:

CSEA 112 - Practicum 2 Credits: 6
CSEA 115 - Current Practice Issues Credits: 1.5

Program Participation Requirements

Criminal Record Check is required.

Program Completion Requirements

Students must achieve a minimum of 60% (“C”) in all courses within the program, and successfully complete CSEA 111 and CSEA 112 to graduate with a Certificate in Education Assistant and Community Support.