Bachelor of Social Work
Do you have a passion for social justice, human rights, and making a difference? This degree produces graduates equipped to work with skill and passion to enhance the social wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities, both locally and globally. The social issues people experience in an ever-changing world are often complex, and require highly-skilled approaches. This program is underpinned by principles of human rights, social justice and integrity as the foundation for professional social work practice.
In this program you will:
- Learn through a rich combination of academic and extensive work practice knowledge
- Develop the skills to support change ethically across a diversity of needs, forms of disadvantage, and practice contexts
- Complete two field education placements (1000 hours in total) gaining practical experience in a range of fields including health and mental health, child protection, disability, substance abuse, family violence and more
Location
CRICOS code
Entry threshold
ATAR/RankDuration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2025 fees (A$)
CSP Annual fee / Estimated total feeQTAC code
Start
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
International and Human Rights Minor, International Studies Minor and Social Theory Minor unavailable at USC Moreton Bay.
Online with mandatory onsite requirements.
- Start
-
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 28
- Total units
- 384
- Duration
- 4 years 4 years
- CRICOS code
- 062654D
- UniSC program code
- AR362
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
COU176 Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft
COU180 Playing with Genre
SCS101 Writing for Children and Young Adults
SCS110 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
SCS130 Writing the Short Story
SWK100 Writing Poetry
SWK172 Writing Your Novel
Developing and Graduate courses (16) 240 units
SCS225 Creative Writing and Editing for Publication
SCS235 Playing with Words: an Introduction to Creative Writing Craft
SWK200 Playing with Genre
SWK202 Writing for Children and Young Adults
SWK251 Writing the Short Story
SWK277 Environment and Health
SWK278 Environmental Health Risk Management
SWK286 Planning and Environmental Law
SWK300 Professional Practice: Legal Frameworks and Issues(36 units)
SWK302 Medical Microbiology
SWK304 Food Safety: Laws, Regulations and Quality Assurance
SWK306 Group Processes and Practice
SWK400 Therapeutic Communication Skills(36 units)
SWK401 Foundations of Human Behaviour
SWK407 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
PLUS select 1 course from:
COU300 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
CRM309 Introduction to Social Work Practice Theories
Elective courses (5) 60 units
Select 5 elective courses (60 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.
Students are encouraged to use these electives to study courses in the following discipline areas:
Behavioural Science
Counselling Skills
Criminology and Justice
Indigenous Studies
International and Human Rights^
International Studies^
Social Theory^
Sustainability
^Not currently available at Moreton Bay campus
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Entry requirements
For entry into most USC undergraduate degree programs, you need to have completed a minimum level of education similar to successful completion of Australian Year 12 with good grades.
Further studies, for example, a semester or more at college or university, can also be considered for entry and may give you credit transfer towards a degree.
Some examples of upper secondary qualifications and a guide to the minimum grades that USC will consider are listed here. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Some programs may require higher grades. Alternative qualifications may also be considered on a case by case basis.
If your qualification (grouped by country) is not listed, send the qualification transcripts with your application form to the International Office for assessment.
English language requirements
You will also need to meet the English language requirements for this program. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you may be able to enrol in our English Language Programs to reach the required level for most of UniSC’s programs (exceptions apply to non-standard English requirement programs).
Minimum entry threshold
Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank.
| Location | ATAR/Rank |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 56.00 |
| Moreton Bay | 56.00 |
| Fraser Coast | 56.00 |
| Online | 56.00 |
Additional entry information
Applicants from a non-English speaking background should refer to the English language requirements for further information.
- Recommended prior study
- English
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Successfully complete 2 field education placements (SWK301 Social Work Field Education 1 and SWK404 Social Work Field Education 2) in the third and fourth years of the program
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses in total
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
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
-
Online with mandatory on campus intensives.
1st year 2022, 2nd year 2023, 3rd year 2024 and 4th year 2025
There will be a Face to Face component, where students will be required to attend campus for 20 days as required by AASW accreditation standards, (Fraser Coast or Moreton Bay) in Session 5 to undertake accelerated course offerings of SWK277 , SWK304 , SWK306 and SWK401 , in years 2 and 4 or years 3 and 4, as per recommended study sequences.
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- 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
-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
- CSP estimate
- A$14,624
- Annual tuition fee (A$, 2025)
- A$25,400
- Estimated total tuition fee (A$, 2025)
- A$101,600