Advance your skills and knowledge to create a more just world.
Social work is becoming an increasingly important discipline in our rapidly changing world. As societies reckon with the challenges posed by globalism, populism, social and economic exploitation, and climate change, social work practice works to address structural inequalities and ensure people do not experience marginalisation based on their gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, age or geographical living situation. This professionally accredited, post-qualifying degree builds on your prior knowledge and experience, and gives you the advanced knowledge and skills you need to work with people – both individually and collectively – to effect social change.
- 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 2023 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.
- # Semester 2 commencement is available as part-time only (please see the study sequence for further details). Semester 2 commencement is not available to international students on a Student Visa
- Note: The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) offers a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Please see the Admission Requirements tab for further details.
- # Semester 2 commencement is available as part-time only (please see the study sequence for further details). Semester 2 commencement is not available to international students on a Student Visa
- Note: The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) offers a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Please see the Admission Requirements tab for further details.
Social work is becoming an increasingly important discipline in our rapidly changing world. As societies reckon with the challenges posed by globalism, populism, social and economic exploitation, and climate change, social work practice works to address structural inequalities and ensure people do not experience marginalisation based on their gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, age or geographical living situation. This professionally accredited, post-qualifying degree builds on your prior knowledge and experience, and gives you the advanced knowledge and skills you need to work with people – both individually and collectively – to effect social change.
In this degree you will:
- Develop your skills as a critically reflective and analytical social work practitioner
- Build the advanced innovative knowledge and skills required to undertake social action, community development, policy analysis and development, advocacy and research
- Complete two field education placements (1000 hours in total) to integrate classroom learning with practical workplace experience in a huge range of fields, including health and mental health, child protection, disability, substance abuse, family violence, homelessness, working with young people, families, the elderly, refugees and Indigenous communities
Career opportunities
This program opens up jobs in diverse social work settings including health, mental health, family support, child protection, aged care, youth work, income support, community development, refugee and migrant support, Indigenous rights and human service management. Employment opportunities as a social worker are in demand in government organisations, community agencies, and in private practice in Australia and overseas.
Accreditation
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Professional recognition
Graduates are eligible for membership to the AASW and to practice as professional social workers. Membership to the AASW enables graduates to apply to become a mental health accredited practitioner, which attracts a Medicare rebate for private practitioners.
Blue Cards are issued by the Public Safety Business Agency. More information on Blue Cards, and how to apply.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission:
Applicants must hold a relevant 3-year Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) that contains at least one year, or the equivalent, of full-time studies in social and behavioural sciences. This is the minimum entry requirement as set out by the ASWEAS guidelines (2019).
If an applicant's prior degree has not specifically addressed the above, they may be required to undertake additional foundational study as determined by the School of Social Science (usually the Program Coordinator of Master of Social Work (Qualifying)).
To be accepted into the program, international students who have not completed a Year 12 or equivalent secondary school level qualification or higher qualification in the English language consistent with the requirements for admission to AQF Level 9 degree course in Australia must have a minimum score of 7.0 or higher in each component (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test upon application.
Applicants must complete a Personal Statement Form (up to 500 words) detailing the following:
- What is your motivation to choose a career pathway into Social Work and what are the qualities you bring
- How do your previous studies and experience align with the degree
Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
How to apply
To apply for the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), submit the completed application form and personal statement form to USC. For more information visit Application forms.
Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
Applications for Semester 1, 2021 close on 30 November 2020.
Program structure
Required courses (12) 192 units
SWK700 Solution Focused Therapeutic Approaches(36 units)
SWK701 Ethics and Reflective Practice(36 units)
SWK703 Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Group Work
SWK704 Research Project A
SWK705 Research Project B
SWK706 Pluralistic Couple and Family Counselling
SWK708 Advanced Social Research
SWK710 Advanced and Transcultural Counselling
SWK777 Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting
SWK785 Clinical Psychological Practice 1
SCS725 Practicum Placement 1
SCS730 Advanced Research Design and Methods
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 192
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Requirements for field education
To complete this program you must successfully complete field education (ie SWK700 Clinical Psychological Practice 2 and SWK701 Practicum Placement 2) for which you are required to obtain a Blue Card (issued by the Public Safety Business Agency).
Your enrolment in field education will be conditional upon the following:
- your eligibility for a Blue Card at the time of the first enrolment in the program
- maintenance of that eligibility throughout the entire of the program
- acquisition of a Blue Card prior to commencement of field education.
In the event that you become ineligible for a Blue Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the program, you will not be able to complete the program.
Please note, while all effort 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.
Field education includes professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at their own expense.
Program notes
- 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
- Prior to entry into the program applicants will be required to submit their current Blue Card.
- Refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements
- 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.