- Teaching staff include practising social workers
- Opportunities for extensive field education and experience
- Accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers
Program summary
Program title: Bachelor of Social Work
Award abbreviation: BSocWk
QTAC code: 011151
OP/Rank for 2012 entry: OP-16 / Rank-67
Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Study mode: on campus
Recommended prior study: English
Fee type 2012: Commonwealth supported places, fee paying places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 384
USC program code: AR362
CRICOS code: 062654D. Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
Social workers are committed to enhancing quality of life, developing the full potential of each individual, group and community in society, and pursuing social justice.
In this program you prepare for social work practice and learn to address the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. It requires active involvement in situations of personal distress and crisis, and involvement in advocacy, counselling, research, policy development, analysis, management, and consultancy. Professional development covers child protection, Indigenous studies, mental health, and culturally diverse communities. Field education allows you to integrate classroom learning with practical experience, to develop social work skills and link knowledge with tools for practice.
Post-admission requirements
You are required to complete two field education placements in third and fourth year at approved agencies. A Suitability Card is required, refer to Requirements for field education.
Career opportunities
Child protection, rehabilitation services, multicultural agencies, Indigenous welfare, refugee support services, women’s organisations, youth work, housing.
Professional recognition
Graduates may become members of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Enquiries
- Contact Student Administration for application and admission information
- Contact the Faculty of Arts and Business for program advice
Program Leader
Christine Morley
Tel: +61 7 5459 4723
Email: cmorley@usc.edu.au
Program structure
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete 2 core courses, 20 required courses and 4 electives.
- Successfully complete 2 field education placements (SWK301 Social Work Field Education 1 and SWK404 Social Work Field Education 2).
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level courses including core courses.
- Complete no more than 6 courses from the School of Business or Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
- Travel to attend field education placements.
- Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester.
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the Global Opportunities (GO) Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- When enrolling, refer to the [TabLink top Study Plan]Study Plan.
Core courses
1 required course:
COR109
PLUS select 1 core course from:
COR110
COR111
Introductory courses
5 required courses:
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS110 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS172
SCS180
Advanced courses
15 required courses:
SCS225 Social Research
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS251
SCS276
SCS277
SCS278
SCS285
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK301
SWK302 Community Development and Social Action
SWK401 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SWK402
SWK404
SWK407 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
Elective courses
Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Those students interested in Critical studies in Indigenous and identity issues are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
SCS210
SCS295
Those students interested in Community Development are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
SCS211
ENP236
SCS201 International Development and Global Justice
Those students interested in Direct Practice are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
SCS265
SCS266
TOTAL UNITS 384
Study Plan
The Bachelor of Social Work Study Plan is for students commencing in the current semester.
Core courses (2)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR109 Creative Writing and Editing for Publication |
PLUS select 1 core course from:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR110 Professional Creative Writing Practice: Industry Engagement | |||
| COR111 Creativity, Design and Communication Project |
Required introductory courses (5)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY100 Leadership in Clinical Practice | |||
| SCS110 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment | |||
| SCS130 Research in Health Care | |||
| SCS172 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice | |||
| SCS180 Quantitative Research Methods |
Required advanced courses (15)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCS225 Special Project: Evaluating Practice Knowledge | ||||
| SCS230 Special Project: Translating Knowledge into Practice | ||||
| SCS235 Research Project A | ||||
| SCS251 Research Project B | ||||
| SCS276 Research Project C | ||||
| SCS277 Research Project F | ||||
| SCS278 Economics for Business | ||||
| SCS285 Applied Microeconomics | ||||
| SCS290 Applied Macroeconomics | ||||
| SWK301 Money and Banking | ||||
| SWK302 Communication and Thought | ||||
| SWK401 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship | ||||
| SWK402 | ||||
| SWK404 | ||||
| SWK407 Context Responsive Social Work Practice |
| 12 | Pre: SWK201 or SWK301 or SWK300 and enrolled in Program AR303, AR362, AR363 or AR372 |
Elective courses (4)
Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Those students interested in Critical studies in Indigenous and identity issues are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCS210 | ||||
| SCS295 |
Those students interested in Community Development are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCS211 | ||||
| ENP236 | ||||
| SCS201 International Development and Global Justice |
| 12 |
Those students interested in Direct Practice are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCS265 | ||||
| SCS266 |
TOTAL UNITS 384