FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

McMaster/Mohawk Affiliated Certificate Program

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McMaster/Mohawk Affiliated Certificate Program

Earn a Mohawk College certificate as you complete your Social Sciences degree.

 

The McMaster/Mohawk affiliated certificate program allows you to earn a degree and a specialized certificate concurrently. This program is exclusive to McMaster Social Sciences students and offers an innovative way to balance the theoretical knowledge acquired from a university education with the practical application traditionally offered in college.

 

Certificates Offered

How it Works

Affiliated Mohawk certificate programs are available to all Social Sciences students in a three-level Bachelor of Arts or four-level Honours Bachelor of Arts program. Students are eligible to enrol in certificate courses once they enter into a level II program. They can be paired with any Social Sciences degree.

 

Students will gain desired practical skills, taught by working professionals in the field. All courses are taught on campus by Mohawk College instructors.

 

These specialized certificates will be issued by Mohawk College at the time of graduation and are based upon successful completion of the six prescribed courses for the particular certificate. You can take all six courses (18 units) for the certificate or take individual courses as electives.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Choosing a Certificate

What is the difference between a Social Sciences Business Studies certificate and a Minor in Business?

The Business Studies certificate is available to all Social Sciences students in a three or four-level program. This specialized certificate is issued by Mohawk College at the time of graduation and upon successful completion of 18 units of approved Business Studies courses for Social Sciences students.

The Minor in Business is restricted to students in a four or five-level program in any Faculty. To pursue a Minor in Business students must be registered in an Honours program and complete a minimum of 24 units including six units of Introductory Economics, with a minimum grade of B- in Economics 1B03.

 

What is the difference between a Social Sciences affiliated certificate and a certificate or diploma from the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE)?

The Business Studies certificate is available to all Social Sciences students in a three or four-level program. This specialized certificate is issued by Mohawk College at the time of graduation and upon successful completion of 18 units of approved Business Studies courses for Social Sciences students.

The Minor in Business is restricted to students in a four or five-level program in any Faculty. To pursue a Minor in Business students must be registered in an Honours program and complete a minimum of 24 units including six units of Introductory Economics, with a minimum grade of B- in Economics 1B03.

 

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Courses

Are the courses offered at McMaster?

All the affiliated certificate courses are taught at McMaster University by highly qualified Mohawk College professors. A specialized affiliated certificate is issued by Mohawk College upon graduation with your Social Sciences degree.

 

Are there enrolment limits on courses?

All McMaster courses have a fixed number of places available, which are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Do not delay your registration if you are keen to get into a specific course(s). If the course is already full, you will be notified immediately so you can make an alternate selection.

 

Are the Business Studies courses recognized as teachables?

The Faculties of Education at Queens and Western have approved the Business Studies courses as “ABQ” additional basic qualification that qualified teachers take to receive a new teachable at the Intermediate or Senior level.

 

What is the maximum number of McMaster/Mohawk certificate courses I can register in?

Students enrolled in a three-year degree program may take a maximum of six of the courses that can be used towards an affiliated certificate and students enrolled in a four-year degree program may take a maximum of eight of these courses.

Will the required courses for a Social Sciences affiliated certificate be available in the summer?

Please refer to the University Summer Timetable for course availability.

 

What courses are required to complete the Business Studies certificate?

The following six courses (18 units) are required:

  • SOCSCI 2AC3 Financial & Managerial Accounting for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2BA3 Introduction to Business Analysis for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2BU3 Introduction to Business for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2EN3 Entrepreneurial Training for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2HR3 Human Resources Management for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2MR3 Introduction to Marketing for Social Sciences

 

What courses are required to complete the Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector certificate?

The following six courses (18 units) are required:

  • SOCSCI 2BR3 Board & Staff Responsibilities
  • SOCSCI 2HR3 Human Resources Management for Social Sciences
  • SOCSCI 2LC3 Leadership and Communications
  • SOCSCI 2OP3 Operation Planning for Not-for-Profit Organizations
  • SOCSCI 2RD3 Resource Development
  • SOCSCI 2SP3 Strategic and Long-Range Planning

 

What courses are required to complete the Disability Management certificate? 

The following six courses (18 units) are required:

  • SOCSCI 2FD3 Foundations of Disabilities
  • SOCSCI 2IS3 Intervention Strategies Working With Disabilities
  • SOCSCI 2PN3 Pharmacology for Non-Medical Health Professionals
  • SOCSCI 2WF3 Working With Families with Disabilities
  • SOCSCI 2LI3 Legal Implications and Brain Disorders
  • SOCSCI 2CP3 Capstone Project
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Fees

How will these courses affect my fees?

The cost is included as part of your regular tuition fees.

 

Will the Social Sciences affiliated certificate courses qualify for OSAP?

Yes. The courses required for the affiliated certificate are part of your undergraduate degree, and each course is 3 units elective credit towards your course load for OSAP. Learn more about OSAP on the Office of the Registrar website.

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Graduation & Accreditation

How do I receive a Social Sciences affiliated certificate?

You apply for the specialized affiliated certificate in the final year of your program, when you your Graduation Forms on Mosaic. The Faculty Reviewing committee will verify that the approved six courses (18 units overall) have been completed.

 

If I graduate from McMaster before completing all the courses required for an affiliated certificate, is it possible to complete the remaining course(s) and receive a certificate from Mohawk College?

Final year students who are unable to complete the six courses required for an affiliated Business Studies certificate have the option of applying to Mohawk College to take the outstanding courses and complete a certificate from Mohawk. Mohawk will give credit for courses completed at McMaster towards a certificate, however, students may not transfer individual courses completed at Mohawk towards their undergraduate degree at McMaster.

The certificate will then be issued directly from Mohawk College upon completion of the program requirements (there will not be a notation on their McMaster transcript). Students may contact Mohawk College for more information on completing outstanding courses towards a Mohawk College affiliated certificate. Learn more about transferring McMaster credits on the Mohawk College website.

 

Upon completion of an affiliated certificate at McMaster University will I receive advance credit towards a full certificate/diploma from Mohawk College?

Social Sciences graduates with a specialized affiliated certificate will qualify for advanced standing from Mohawk College on a case by case basis. For more information, visit the Mohawk College website or contact Mohawk College directly.

 

Upon completion of the required 18 units for an affiliated certificate, is it possible to receive the certificate prior to completing a Social Sciences degree?

The specialized affiliated certificate is awarded upon graduation with your Social Sciences undergraduate degree.

 

What qualifications will the Social Sciences affiliated certificates provide?

The McMaster/Mohawk affiliated certificates provide practical skills that are attractive to future employers in all aspects of work in both the private and public sector. These specialized certificates are exclusive to Social Sciences students and provide a valuable opportunity to attain foundation knowledge in the key aspects of an organization, which our students might not normally have the opportunity to acquire. These courses balance the theoretical knowledge you expect from a university with the hands-on, skills based learning associated with a college curriculum and real work situations.

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Requirements

Is it possible to substitute a course with similar content toward the affiliated certificate?

We will consider an equivalent course (up to a maximum of 6 units) on an individual basis. Please make an appointment to speak with a Social Sciences Academic Advisor or email socscfac@mcmaster.ca.

 

Is Math required?

Grade 11 M or U Math is recommended for Soc Sci 2AC3 Financial & Managerial Accounting for Social Sciences.

Grade 12 M or U Math is recommended Soc Sci 2PF3 Personal Financial Management for Social Sciences.

 

When can I start taking courses toward the affiliated certificate?

To qualify you must be eligible for entry into a Level II or higher Social Sciences program. In June, you may begin selecting your required certificate courses for the Fall/Winter session. We recommend taking 6 to 9 units of certificate electives in Level II.

This will provide you with the flexibility to fit the total of six courses (18 units) required for the affiliated certificate into the normal time span of your degree.

 

What if I am unable to complete the full certificate?

You may use your Social Sciences affiliated certificate courses towards the elective component of your undergraduate degree.

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Transferring

If I complete the 18 units required for the Social Sciences affiliated certificate and I transfer to another Faculty, will I still be eligible to receive the certificate?

The Social Sciences specialized affiliated certificate is only available to students completing a Social Sciences degree.

 

If I transfer to another Faculty, will the Social Sciences affiliated courses count towards my degree?  

The Social Sciences affiliated certificate courses are available for elective credit only. You may consult your Faculty Advisor to determine the amount of elective credit eligible for transfer.

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