Bachelor of Social Work | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Social Work

Become an agent of change.

The current political context presents challenges for social workers but our professionally accredited program is designed to assist students to become critically reflective agents of change in the struggle for a more democratic, equitable and sustainable world. Social work at USC has a critical analysis of social inequalities in ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, age, and other forms of social division.

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
062654D
Commence
Semester 1, Semester 2^
Program length (full-time)
4 years
Annual tuition fee 2018
A$22,400
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$89,600
Footnotes
  • 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.
  • In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie or Fraser Coast.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs.
  • ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011151
  • Fraser Coast 019251
  • Gympie 016151
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 16 Rank - 64
UniSC program code
AR362
Commence
Semester 1, Semester 2^
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
Blended Learning
Recommended prior study
English
Fee type 2018
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
26
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first-year courses at Gympie or Fraser Coast.
  • Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast. The remainder of the program must be completed at Sippy Downs.
  • ^Semester 2 commencement not available at Gympie

The current political context presents challenges for social workers but our professionally accredited program is designed to assist students to become critically reflective agents of change in the struggle for a more democratic, equitable and sustainable world. Social work at USC has a critical analysis of social inequalities in ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, age, and other forms of social division.

The program equips students with innovative knowledge and skills to undertake social action, counselling, community development, policy analysis and development, advocacy and research to work with people individually and collectively for change. Students complete two field education placements (1000 hours in total), enabling integration of classroom learning with practical workplace experience in a huge range of fields including: health and mental health, child protection, disability, sexual assault, working with young people, refugees and Indigenous communities. Employment opportunities are extremely diverse both locally and internationally.

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete two field education placements in third and fourth year at approved agencies. Blue Card CCYPCG is required.

Career opportunities

Many community-based and Government roles including: health, mental health, disability, schools, policy development, Centrelink and child protection.

Membership

Australian Association of Social Workers.

Accreditation

This program is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Program structure

Introductory courses (5) 60 units

COR109 Property Economics
SCS101 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS110 Planning and Environmental Law
SCS130 Regions, Change and Sustainability
SWK172 Landscapes, Place and People

Developing and Graduate courses (16) 264 units

SCS225 Urbanism and Urban Design
SCS230 Planning Theory
SCS235 Strategic Infrastructure Planning
SCS251 Neighbourhood Planning and Design Studio
SCS290 Participation and Conflict Resolution
SWK266 Advanced Planning Policy and Practice
SWK277 Community Planning Studio
SWK278 Planning Practicum
SWK285 Planning Project A
SWK301 Planning Project B(48 units)
SWK302 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
SWK303 Environmental and Resource Economics
SWK401 Heritage: Australian and Global Contexts
SWK402 Social Research
SWK404 Planning Project B(48 units)
SWK407 Planning and Environmental Law

Elective courses (5) 60 units

Select 5 elective courses (60 units) from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).

Recommended electives include:

COU101 Urbanism and Urban Design
COU176 Planning Theory
COU180 Strategic Infrastructure Planning
CRM103 Neighbourhood Planning and Design Studio
ENP236 Participation and Conflict Resolution
SCS201 Advanced Planning Policy and Practice
SCS210 Community Planning Studio
SCS216 Planning Practicum
SCS295 Social Research
SWK286 Communication and Thought

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 384

Program requirements and notes

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

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
  • 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.
  • Apply for your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)