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Social Work - 4031

Program Summary

   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 4 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 3
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 192
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
 
 
Bachelor of Social Work (Major)
 
  

Program Description

The School of Social Sciences and International Studies offers a four-year degree leading to the award of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). The BSW provides an opportunity for students to undertake core Social Work courses, which include studies in the areas of social work practice, social and behavioural sciences, and contextual studies.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program requires four years of full-time study. It is designed to prepare students for the professional practice of social work including work in the wider field of welfare. The essence of social work is working with people, including individuals, couples, families, groups, organisations or communities, and this will span people of any age, from any walk of life, or from any ethnic or racial background.

Program Structure

Year 1
PLUS

Sociology elective
PLUS
  • First year Psychology course (6 UOC)
  • Level 1 Arts elective (6 UOC)
  • Level 1 Arts elective (6 UOC)
  • Level 1 Arts elective (6 UOC)

Year 2
  • General Education course (6 UOC)
  • SOCW2007 Social Work Practice - Bridge (for students exempt from 1st year)

Year 3
  • Research elective (6 UOC)
  • General Education course (6 UOC)

Year 4

Program Requirements - Field Education
An integral aspect of the program 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 year 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.

Sample Program

 
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) - Sample Program - Example only
Practice UOC    
Human Behaviour
UOC   
Society & Welfare Policies
UOC
Contextual Studies 
UOC
General Education
UOC    Total   
Year 1 - 48 units of credit
6
6
PSYC
6
6
ARTS1870 or ARTS1871
6
Arts Elective
Arts Elective
Arts Elective
6
6
6
 
 
 
 
48
Year 2 - 48 units of credit
SOCW2003 
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
Gen Ed
 
6
48
Year 3 - 48 units of credit
6
12
6
6
Research Elective 
6
6
Gen Ed
 
6
 
48
Year 4 - 48 units of credit
6
6
24
SOCW4006
6
SOCW4004
6
 
 
48
 Total UOC
84
 
18
 
30
 
48
 
12
192


General Education Requirements

Students are also required to complete 12 units of credit from the University's General Education program, normally during their second and third years of study. For further information, please refer to "General Education" in the Table of Contents (see left-hand side of the page)

Honours

Students may graduate with Honours by enrolling in the Honours program in the third year of the degree. Students must complete SOCW3005 Research Honours in Year 3 and SOCW4006 Social Policy Honours in Year 4. Students are then required to enrol for an additional fifth year for one session to complete an Honours Thesis (SOCW4800) of 12,000 - 15,000 words.

Academic Rules

Pass Degree

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must obtain, normally over four years of study, a minimum of 192 units of credit in approved courses including:
    1. the prescribed sequences in Social Work courses and electives;
    2. a total of 18 Level 1 units of credit, including no more than 12 in any one sequence of study, from the UNSW BA (Program 3403) Rules;
    3. 12 units of credit from the General Education program, normally taken in the second and third year of study.
    4. The Pass degree Bachelor of Social Work may be awarded with Distinction where a candidate has achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in all courses completed since enrolment at UNSW which are counted towards the degree.

Honours Degree

To qualify for the award of the degree at Honours level, a student must:
    5. have obtained 192 units of credit in accordance with 1.-3. above and satisfied the appropriate prerequisites for entry to the Honours level program;
    6. obtain a further 24 units of credit in an approved Honours program.
Entry to the Honours program is subject to resources and the Head of School's approval.

The Honours degree is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions and Class 3). Students who fail to obtain one of these classes may proceed to graduate with the Pass degree.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Important Information

The Academic Rules for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Undergraduate programs 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.

Professional Recognition

Graduates with the degree of Bachelor of Social Work from UNSW are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Further Requirements

Security Checks
It is a requirement that students who are undertaking placements in certain government departments and related organisations undergo a criminal record check

Area(s) of Specialisation

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.