- 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 2013 entry: OP-17 / Rank-64
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 2013: 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 (Blue Card CCYPCG) is required.
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.
Accreditation
This program is provisionally accredited with 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 Study Plan.
Core courses
1 required course:
COR109 Communication and Thought
PLUS select 1 core course from:
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
Introductory courses
4 required courses:
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS172 Social Work and Human Services Practice
Advanced courses
16 required courses:
SCS225 Social Research
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS251 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
SCS266 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling
SCS276 Group Work
SCS277 Working With Families
SCS278 Ethics and Professional Practice
SCS285 Health, Society and Culture
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK301 Social Work Field Education 1
SWK302 Community Development and Social Action
SWK401 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SWK402 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
SWK404 Social Work Field Education 2
SWK407 Critical 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 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS295 Gender and Culture
Those students interested in Community Development are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
SCS211 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues
ENP236 Rural and Regional Sustainability
SCS201 International Community Development and Global Justice
Those students interested in Direct Practice are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
SCS180 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
SCS265 Counselling Theory and Practice
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 Communication and Thought |
PLUS select 1 core course from:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship | |||
| COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability |
Required introductory courses (4)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A | |||
| SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change | |||
| SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia | |||
| SCS172 Social Work and Human Services Practice |
Required advanced courses (16)
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCS225 Social Research | |||
| SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory | |||
| SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State | |||
| SCS251 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People | |||
| SCS266 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling | |||
| SCS276 Group Work | |||
| SCS277 Working With Families | |||
| SCS278 Ethics and Professional Practice | |||
| SCS285 Health, Society and Culture | |||
| SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity | |||
| SWK301 Social Work Field Education 1 | |||
| SWK302 Community Development and Social Action | |||
| SWK401 Critical Social Policy Analysis | |||
| SWK402 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice | |||
| SWK404 Social Work Field Education 2 | |||
| SWK407 Critical Social Work Practice |
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 Indigenous Australia and the State | |||
| SCS295 Gender and Culture |
Those students interested in Community Development are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCS211 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues | |||
| ENP236 Rural and Regional Sustainability | |||
| SCS201 International Community Development and Global Justice |
Those students interested in Direct Practice are strongly advised to take the following as electives:
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCS180 Counselling for the Human Services Professional | |||
| SCS265 Counselling Theory and Practice |
TOTAL UNITS 384