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

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Bachelor of Social Work

Do you have a passion for social justice, human rights, making a difference?

The current political context presents challenges for social workers but our professionally accredited program is designed to assist students to become critically reflective agents of change in the struggle for a more democratic, equitable and sustainable world. Social work at USC has a critical analysis of social inequalities in ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, age, and other forms of social division.

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
062654D
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program length (full-time)
4 years
Semester tuition fee 2016
A$10,300
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$82,400
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.
  • * In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie. Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011151
  • Gympie * 016151
Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 16 Rank - 65
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 2016
  • What will I pay?
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • * In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie. Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.

The current political context presents challenges for social workers but our professionally accredited program is designed to assist students to become critically reflective agents of change in the struggle for a more democratic, equitable and sustainable world. Social work at USC has a critical analysis of social inequalities in ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, age, and other forms of social division.

The program equips students with innovative knowledge and skills to undertake social action, counselling, community development, policy analysis and development, advocacy and research to work with people individually and collectively for change. Students complete two field education placements (1000 hours in total), enabling integration of classroom learning with practical workplace experience in a huge range of fields including: health and mental health, child protection, disability, sexual assault, working with young people, refugees and Indigenous communities. Employment opportunities are extremely diverse both locally and internationally.

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete two field education placements in third and fourth year at approved agencies. 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

Introductory courses (5)

COR109 Communication and Thought
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)

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 Critical Practice with Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis
SCS277 Working With Families
SCS278 Ethics and Professional Practice
SCS285 Health, Society and Culture
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK301 Social Work Field Education 1(48 units)
SWK302 Community Development and Social Action
SWK303 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and Practice
SWK401 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SWK402 Organisational Contexts for Social Work Practice
SWK404 Social Work Field Education 2(48 units)
SWK407 Critical Social Work Practice

Elective courses (5)

Select 5 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).

Recommended electives include:

ENP236 Regions, Change and Sustainability
SCS201 International Community Development and Global Justice
SCS210 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS211 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues
SCS216 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
SCS286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SCS295 Gender and Culture

Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 384

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Complete 21 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 level (100 coded) courses, including the core course.
  • Complete no more than 5 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 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 Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Faculty 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.