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.

Our accredited program is designed to help students 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 2019
A$23,800
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$95,200
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 2025 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.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011151
  • Moreton Bay From 2020
  • Fraser Coast 019251
  • Gympie 016151
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 16 Rank - 66
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 2019
  • Commonwealth supported places
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.

Our accredited program is designed to help students 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 for change.

Employment opportunities are extremely diverse both locally and internationally.

In this program you will:

  • Learn about social inequality and how you can create social change.
  • Complete two field placements to learn practical skills.
  • Become a critically reflective on important issues around social change.
  • Undertake social action on important issues you care about.
Career opportunities
  • Health
  • Mental health
  • Disability
  • Schools
  • Policy development
  • Centrelink
  • Child protection
Graduates are eligible to become members of:
  • Australian Association of Social Workers.

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

Program structure

Introductory courses (5) 60 units

COR109 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
SCS101 The Psychology of Learning
SCS110 Using Data for Learning
SCS130 Secondary Professional Learning 4: The Professional Empowered and Engaged
SWK172 Communication and Thought

Developing and Graduate courses (16) 264 units

SCS225 Cell Biology
SCS230 Biodiversity and Ecology
SCS235 Introductory Chemistry
SCS251 Weather and Climate
SCS290 Earth Observation: Remote Sensing and Surveying
SWK266 Introductory Calculus
SWK277 Professional Experience: Orientation to the Profession
SWK278 Discovering Science
SWK285 Introduction to Applied Mathematics
SWK301 The Changing Planet(48 units)
SWK302 Hydrology and Geomorphology
SWK303 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
SWK401 Molecular Biology
SWK402 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
SWK404 Assessing Learning(48 units)
SWK407 Professional Experience: Managing Learning Environments

Elective courses (5) 60 units

Select 5 elective courses (60 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.

Recommended electives include:

COU101 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 1
COU176 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 2
COU180 Teaching Junior Secondary Geography
CRM103 Teaching Junior Secondary Mathematics
ENP236 Plant Growth and Reproduction
SCS201 Medical Microbiology
SCS210 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 1
SCS216 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 2
SCS295 Teaching Senior Secondary Geography
SWK286 Teaching Senior Secondary Mathematics

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.
  • Students commencing Semester 2, 2019 are to go to Curriculum Changes Blackboard site for recommended study sequence