Program summary

Program title: Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
Award abbreviation: MSocWk(Q)
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
Commence: Semester 1
Fee type 2011: Commonwealth supported places, postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 16
USC program code: AR707
CRICOS code: 073869J

Highlights

• Advance your career with a portable, professional qualification
• Gain entry to the Australian Association of Social Workers
• Placements offer extensive field education and experience

Become an accredited practitioner and create a more socially just world.

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying)† prepares professionals to work with individuals, families, groups and communities across the domains of policy, practice, theory and research. It creates a new pathway for entry into the social work profession and provides opportunities for you to advance in your career and move between different forms of employment.

The program follows the accreditation requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and delivers requisite knowledge, values and skills for the social work profession. You complete ten 12-unit courses plus two 36-unit (490-hour) field education placements.

In the coursework component you gain a critical understanding of society and how it has developed and is organised; knowledge of social welfare arrangements, their history and organisation, and related law in Australia; and knowledge of the individual, including human behaviour and development, personality development, life cycle stages, family and social networks, physical health and ill-health, mental health, disability, vulnerability and resilience.

Your field education placements (980 hours) provide extensive field education and experience, and enable you to integrate social work theory and practice-based learning in a structured, safe and supported learning environment. You must complete the field education placements to graduate. You may be required to undertake a criminal history check and apply for a Blue Card #. You must have your own means of transport.

As a graduate you will be well prepared to work in government organisations, community agencies and private practice in both local and international contexts. As a practitioner you will be proficient in critically analysing and formulating creative responses to social, political, cultural, historical or gendered disadvantage faced by vulnerable citizens through various modes of practice, such as case management, counselling, policy analysis and development, organisational management, social action, advocacy, community development, education and research.

Depending on your educational history, there are two pathways of entry into this masters program. Generally, applicants will have a completed bachelor degree deemed relevant by the Faculty to social work. Other applicants who hold a bachelors degree without any social, health or behavioural science background, will need to complete prior to entry three specified foundation courses in social work, sociology and psychology. If you are required to complete the prerequisite courses, you can do so either as a Visiting Student or by enrolling in the Graduate Certificate in Arts. Depending on your course selection, you can complete these requirements across one or two semesters.

Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible for membership to the AASW and to practice as professional social workers. Membership to the AASW enables you to apply to become a mental health accredited practitioner, which attracts a Medicare rebate for private practitioners.

† Provisionally accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
# Blue Cards are issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. More information on Blue Cards, and how to apply.

Admission requirements

Depending on the applicant’s educational history, there are two pathways of entry into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying). These are:

1. Applicants who have a completed a Bachelor Degree deemed relevant to Social Work by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (usually Head of School Social Sciences, or Program Leader of Master of Social Work (Qualifying).
2. Applicants who have completed a Bachelor Degree without any social, health or behavioural science background. These applicants will need to complete three specified foundation courses ^ in social work, sociology and psychology prior to entry including: 
    
   SCS172 Entrepreneurship and Business Model Innovation
   
   SCS110 Management Informatics, or
   SCS230 Innovation Management and Professional Development
   
   and
   PSY100 Project Management Principles, or
   PSY101 Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour
3. Please refer to the English language requirements. 
4. Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
   

Program structure

11 required courses
SCS225 Leading and Managing Organisations
SCS266 Strategy, Governance and Ethics
SCS277 Innovation by Design
SCS285 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS290 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCS701 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SWK302 Introduction to Psychology A
SWK401 Introduction to Psychology B
SWK407 Social Research
SWK700 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling
SWK701 Working With Families

Plus 1 elective course from the following:
SCS210 Health, Society and Culture
SCS201 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS230 Engaging Effectively with Aboriginal People
SCS278 Community Development and Social Action
SCS295 Critical Social Policy Analysis
SWK402 Critical Social Work Practice

Program requirements

1. Students must successfully complete 192 units as specified in the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) program structure.
2. Prior to entry into the program applicants will be required to submit their current Blue Cards.
3. Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
4. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
5. Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa. 

Requirements for field education

To complete this program you must successfully complete field education (ie SWK700 Masters of Social Work Field Education 1 and SWK701 Master of Social Work Field Education 2) for which you are required to obtain a Blue Card (issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian).

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 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.

Field education includes professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at their own expense.

Enquiries

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

Program Leader
Christine Morley
Tel: +61 7 5459 4723
Email: cmorley@usc.edu.au

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