Program summary
Program overview 
Career opportunities 
Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation 
Program structure
Program requirements and notes
Enquiries
Recommended enrolment patterns

Program summary

QTAC code: 011151
OP/Rank for 2007 entry: OP-15 / Rank-68
Award abbreviation: BSocWk
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places, domestic fee-paying places 
Total units: 384
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
CRICOS code: not available to international students on student visas

New students: selecting courses for 2007

Program overview

The Bachelor of Social Work program is Australia’s newest social work degree, offering an innovative program in the practice knowledge, values and skills required for the social work profession.

Social Workers are committed to the pursuit of social justice, to the enhancement of the quality of life, and the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in society. These professional objectives can be achieved through preparing professionals who work in a range of settings to address the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. This involves active involvement in situations of personal distress and crisis and through involvement in research, policy development and analysis, management and consultancy.

The Social Work degree at USC will prepare the student with a range of knowledges relating to society and how it has developed and is organised, knowledge of social welfare arrangements, their history and organisation in Australia, knowledge of the individual, including human behaviour and development, personality development, life cycle stages, family and social networks, and physical health, ill-health, mental health, disability, vulnerability and resilience.

A core component of the USC social work program is Field Education. Field Education provides the student with opportunities to integrate content from classroom learning with practical experience in social work organisations. While on placement the student will further develop their ability in a range of social work skills. Field Education demands collaborative effort between school and agency staff and covers two full-time semesters, or eight courses across the third and fourth years of the program.

Offering a four-year degree expands the employment options for graduates on the Sunshine Coast, allowing access to government departments and facilities (for example Centrelink and health services) not otherwise available to three-year degree graduates. The program provides such options by producing graduates who demonstrate:

• respect for human diversity
• a commitment to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)’s Code of Ethics
• demonstrated capacity to think through ethical and practice issues
• effective communication skills
• critical social work knowledge used to inform and direct practice
• the transfer of social work theory and practice across fields
• development of skills in methods of social work intervention including social research
• the ability to work collaboratively with others in multi-disciplinary teams
• contribution to debate on social issues, policy and community service delivery
• a commitment to professional practice including supervision and continuing professional education and development.

The program is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers, of which students and graduates are entitled to apply for membership.

Career opportunities

The skills and knowledge acquired in the Bachelor of Social Work enables graduates to pursue careers in areas such as child protection agencies, Centrelink, rehabilitation services, hospitals, local councils, multicultural agencies, Indigenous health and welfare, defence forces, neighbourhood centres, refugee support services and women's organisations.

Program structure

Core courses

2 required courses:
COR109 Communication and Thought
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Introductory courses

3 required courses:
SCS100 Introduction to the Social Sciences: Knowledge, Power and Society
SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Social Change
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Field Education

2 courses with the value of 48 credit points each

Program requirement and notes

1. International students need to refer to the English language requirements.
2. Refer to the Academic Rules.
3. Refer to explanation of terms.
4. Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

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