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