Social Work (Honours) - 4033
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Contact: Dr Jan Breckenridge
Campus: Sydney
Career: Undergraduate
Typical Duration: 4 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 192
UAC Code: 422400
Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements
International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements
Award(s):
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
View program information for previous years
Program Description
This program only applies to students commencing 2014 onwards.
Students who commenced their program before 2014 should refer to the 4031 Social Work 2013 Online Handbook
Students who commenced their program before 2014 should refer to the 4031 Social Work 2013 Online Handbook
The Bachelor of Social Work with Honours (UNSW BSW Hons) offers you an innovative and accredited program leading to eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). The UNSW BSW Hons includes studies in the areas of social work practice, social and behavioural sciences, and contextual studies. The program includes a number of courses aimed at the development of research skills, including research design and methodology, and every student completes a piece of independent or directed research or a professional practice portfolio as part of the Honours requirement.
The UNSW BSW Hons draws on the extensive expertise and experience of qualified Social Work practitioners to deliver a unique combination of scholarly and practice-based courses. Students also undertake two separate field placements in Years 3 and 4 of the degree to gain the necessary practical experience.
The UNSW BSW Hons can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 4 years) or in Dual mode (the equivalent of 3.5 years full-time). The BSW Hons program is offered as a full-time program of study. Part-time variation is not recommended due to course sequencing and the number of course pre- and co-requisites in the program. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BSW has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component.
The Depth component (Blue Zone) is:
The UNSW BSW Hons draws on the extensive expertise and experience of qualified Social Work practitioners to deliver a unique combination of scholarly and practice-based courses. Students also undertake two separate field placements in Years 3 and 4 of the degree to gain the necessary practical experience.
The UNSW BSW Hons can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 4 years) or in Dual mode (the equivalent of 3.5 years full-time). The BSW Hons program is offered as a full-time program of study. Part-time variation is not recommended due to course sequencing and the number of course pre- and co-requisites in the program. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BSW has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component.
The Depth component (Blue Zone) is:
- The completion of core courses (168 UOC - 24 courses)
The Breadth requirement (for students completing the program in Single mode) (Green Zone) are:
- Free Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses) to be taken either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences
- General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses) which must be taken outside of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
At the end of the program, students should have achieved all of the following learning outcomes:
- An appreciation of and respect for diversity and the ability to apply social work knowledge and interventions to respond effectively in meeting the needs of individuals, groups and communities in diverse settings.
- Relevant professional social work knowledge, skills and values for professional practice and a sense of identity as a professional social worker.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with professional expectations.
- The ability to apply knowledge of human behaviour and society in various contexts (local, national, international, institutional) to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework.
- Skills for systematic enquiry and the capacity to plan and conduct a professional project and/or piece of research.
- Skills for collaborative and multi-disciplinary professional work in local, national and international communities.
- The ability to review, critically analyse and synthesis knowledge and values and apply reflective thinking skills to inform professional judgement and practice.
- A sound understanding of and commitment to social work values and ethical practice.
Program Structure
The basic requirements for the degree are:
Single mode (192 UOC) made up of:
Single mode (192 UOC) made up of:
- Program Core (168 UOC - 24 courses)
- Free Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
- General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses)
Dual mode (168 UOC) made up of:
- Program Core (168 UOC - 23 courses)
Dual mode is available in 4045 Social Work (Honours)/Arts, 4034 Social Work (Honours)/Criminology & Criminal Justice, 4044 Social Work (Honours)/Social Research & Policy, and 4787 Social Work (Honours)/Law.
Core
Level 1
- ARTS1870 Rethinking the Social (6 UOC)
- ARTS1871 Cultural Experience (6 UOC)
- PSYC1001 Psychology 1A (6 UOC)
- SOCW1001 Introduction to Social Work (6 UOC)
- SOCW1004 Lifespan and Health (6 UOC)
- SRAP1000 Policy and Society (6 UOC)
- SRAP1001 Social Research and Society (6 UOC)
Level 2
Level 3
- SOCW3006 Socio Legal Practice (6 UOC)
- SOCW3009 Ethics and Reflective Practice (6 UOC)
- SOCW3010 Organisational Practice (6 UOC)
- SOCW3011 Level Three Placement (18 UOC)
- SRAP3000 Policy and Social Theory (6 UOC)
Level 4
- SOCW4003 SOCW Practice Methods (6 UOC)
- SOCW4011 Evi/Prac Based Research (6 UOC)
- SOCW4012 Mental Health and Trauma (6 UOC)
- SOCW4013 Child and Family Practice (6 UOC)
- SOCW4014 Level 4 Placement (18 UOC)
- SOCW4015 Honours Research Thesis (6 UOC) or SOCW4016 Honours Advanced Practice Portfolio (6 UOC)
Directed or independent research is integrated into SOCW4014 to meet the requirements of both AQF Level 8 Bachelors degree with Honours and the AASW.
Field Education
An integral aspect of the program core is organised learning in the field and this is a basic requirement for the professional recognition of the degree. In the field education courses, a field educator, usually in a social welfare agency, is responsible for a student learning to apply the principles of professional practice in an actual practice setting. From level 3, a total of 140 seven-hour days are taken up in this way. Forty of these days are scheduled during academic recess periods. A student's two field education placements are in more than one type of practice setting. The settings vary and can include medical, psychiatric, local government, community health, community, family and child welfare, services to groups with disabilities, services to the aged, services to migrants, income security, and corrective services. Non-government social welfare agencies and all levels of government are utilised. For some students, their second field education placement may be located outside the Sydney metropolitan area. SOCW3011 and SOCW4014 are the designated field education courses.Free Electives
A Free Elective is any course offered either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences in which the student is able to enrol.ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities
This course is available as a UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective or Free Elective for students wishing to develop their academic writing skills. Click here for further details about the course.General Education
General Education is the completion of two courses (12 UOC) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external major or minor (for example, Economics) is completed. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if students are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BA program.General Education requirement for Internal Dual Mode programs
Because both Dual programs are internal to UNSW Arts and Social Sciences the General Education (GE) Exemption for dual programs does not apply.University Medal
An honours student in this program may be nominated for a University Medal in line with the University Medal Policy http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/medalspolicy.pdf and Procedures http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/medalsprocedure.pdf.Sample Program
Academic Rules
Single Mode
To qualify for the award of the degree at Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) level, a student must:- enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and complete 192 UOC;
- complete the core requirements
- complete 12 UOC of Free Electives
- complete 12 UOC of General Education
Dual Mode
To qualify for the award of the degree at Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) level, a student must:- enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and complete 168 UOC;
- complete the core requirements
Honours
Honours will be awarded in the following classes, based on the student's WAM rounded to the nearest whole number:- Honours Class I (selective WAM of 85 or higher)
- Honours Class II division 1, (selective WAM of 75-84)
- Honours Class II division 2 (selective WAM of 65-74)
- Honours Class III (selective WAM of 50-64)
The award will be calculated on the basis of the WAM for Level 3 and 4 Program Core courses in Social Work, with the selected Honours course (SOCW4015 or SOCW4016) weighted as 24 units of credit to recognise integration of learning with professional practice in SOCW4014.
Exit Strategies
Students unable to meet the requirements of either SOCW3011 or SOCW4014 may exit the program and enrol in the Bachelor of Welfare Studies. It should be noted that this program does not provide eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.Security Checks
It is a requirement that students who are undertaking placements in certain government departments and related organisations undergo a criminal record check.Professional Recognition
Graduates with the degree of Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from UNSW are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BSW Hons and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.
Further Information
Contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions
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