Bachelor of Social Work | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Social Work

Students promote social justice and human rights, and become agents of change.

Courses include a critical reflection, psychology, sociology, social research, trauma, bereavement and crisis counselling, ethics and working with families. Professional development covers child protection, Indigenous studies, mental health and culturally diverse communities, with a focus throughout on developing a critical practice framework. Field education integrates classroom learning with workplace experience to develop practical social work skills and strategies for social change.

CRICOS code
062654D
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011151
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 15 Rank - 67
UniSC program code
AR362
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English
Fee type 2014
  • Commonwealth supported places
  • Fee paying places
  • International fee-paying places
Total units
384

Courses include a critical reflection, psychology, sociology, social research, trauma, bereavement and crisis counselling, ethics and working with families. Professional development covers child protection, Indigenous studies, mental health and culturally diverse communities, with a focus throughout on developing a critical practice framework. Field education integrates classroom learning with workplace experience to develop practical social work skills and strategies for social change.

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete two field education placements in third and fourth year at approved agencies. A Suitability Card (Blue Card CCYPCG) is required.

Career opportunities

Many community-based and Government roles including: health, mental health, disability, schools, policy development, Centrelink and child protection.

MembershipAASW Accredited

Australian Association of Social Workers.

Accreditation

This program is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Program structure

Program structure

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Complete 1 core course, 20 required courses and 5 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 (100 level) courses, including the core course.
  • 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 course

1 required core course: 

COR109 Explorations in Environmental History

Introductory courses

4 required courses:

PSY100 Nationalism and Identity in the 20th Century: Themes and Tensions
SCS110 Research Project in History
SCS130 Historical Geographies
SCS172 Communication and Thought

Advanced courses

16 required courses:

COU276 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS225 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCS230 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS235 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS251 Group Processes and Practice
SCS266 Social Research
SCS277 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS278 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS285 Working Effectively with Aboriginal People
SCS290 Critical Practice with Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis
SWK301 Working With Families
SWK302 Ethics and Professional Practice
SWK401 Health, Society and Culture
SWK402 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK404 Social Work Field Education 1
SWK407 Community Development and Social Action

Elective courses

Select 5 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 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SCS295 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice

Those students interested in Community Development are strongly advised to take the following as electives:

SCS211 Social Work Field Education 2
ENP236 Critical Social Work Practice
SCS201 Indigenous Australia and the State

Those students interested in Direct Practice are strongly advised to take the following as electives:

SWK303 Gender and Culture
SCS286 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues

TOTAL UNITS 384

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Total units: 384