Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) - Prior to 31 December 2020

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) requires four years of full-time study (or equivalent part-time). Note that field work topics must be taken full-time.

The course is offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Students must have completed at least two years of full-time equivalent study in the Bachelor of Social Work to apply. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 5.0 in the Bachelor of Social Work. Entry into the degree is competitive. 

Students who have completed more than three years of full-time equivalent study in the Bachelor of Social Work will not normally be eligible for admission.

The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) aims to:

• Prepare students for professional work as a social worker in a range of settings (ie local government, state and national government, not for profit, community-based environment groups, and private organisations)
• Graduate students that have a core body of knowledge, skills, values and methods in social work in preparation for a range of career opportunities and in their role as global citizens
• Graduate students with a sound understanding of the multiple cultural and institutional contexts and challenges of practice
• Develop in graduates of this degree, the values and skills for effective relations between people, organisations and professions in public service
• Graduate students with knowledge of the colonial history of Australia and its long-term effects on Indigenous Australians, especially in relation to social work
• Graduate students with capacity to use, evaluate, construct and undertake research and write a research report
• Graduate students with opportunity to enter higher research degree studies.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course students will be able to:

• Analyse Australian social, political and welfare systems and institutions in a global context
• Analyse and promote solutions to Australian social issues, change and challenges in their global and historical context
• Explore identity, agency and self in culturally diverse contexts
• Articulate and act upon dominant and alternative paradigms of international social work
• Analyse complexity and understand the implications for practice
• Implement a range of methods, techniques and applications of social work
• Engage in community in a variety of settings
• Communicate effectively (written and oral)
• Think critically and independently 
• Apply research to a study of social dilemmas and apply a human rights framework to practice
• Articulate and act upon social work professional values 
• Demonstrate a commitment to life learning and reflexive practice
• Design and carry out an independent ethically approved research project
• Demonstrate qualities to enable graduates to be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students achieving a GPA of 5.0 or better at the end of the third year will be eligible to continue to the fourth year. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will transfer to the Bachelor of Social Work.

Except with permission of the Dean (Education) the course must be completed within 10 consecutive years.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University''s policy on Student Progress.

Core - Year 1 topics

Semester 1

POLI1003  An Introduction to Democracy and Government  (4.5 units)
SOAD1008  Reasons for Social Work  (4.5 units)
SOAD1010  Mental Health and Public Participation  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

SOCI1001  Issues in Sociology  (4.5 units)
SOCI1010   Sociology of Everyday Life  (4.5 units)

Semester 2

INDG1000 Indigenous Studies: An Introduction (4.5 units)
SOAD1006  Social Planning Theory (4.5 units)
SOAD1009  Critical Thinking and Communication  (4.5 units)
SOAD1013  Practice with Individuals  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

Semester 1

SOAD2002  Human Social Development  (4.5 units)
SOAD2006  Community Development  (4.5 units)
SOAD2007  Social Policy Practice  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

POLI2020  Australian Indigenous Politics  (4.5 units)
WMST2016  Indigenous Women's Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism  (4.5 units)

Semester 2

GEOG1002  Human Geography: Geographies of Oppression  (4.5 units) 
SOAD2003  Social Work with Groups  (4.5 units)
SOAD2010  Social Work with Diverse Populations (4.5 units)
SOAD2011  Social Work and Reflective Practice (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

Semester 1

SOAD3102  Field Education 1  (13.5 units)
SOAD3013  Children & Families: Well-being and Protection  (4.5 units)

Semester 2

SOAD3006  Practice Research (4.5 units)
SOAD7031  Research Principles and Practices  (4.5 units)
SOAD3016  Understanding Addictions (4.5 units)
SOAD3017  Identity, Self and Agency (4.5 units)

Core - Year 4 topics

Semester 1

SOAD7012A  Social Work Honours Thesis  (4.5 units) 
SOAD7012B  Social Work Honours Thesis  (4.5 units) 
SOAD7014 Mental Health through the Lifecourse (4.5 units)
SOAD7015 Ethical Issues and Critical Reflexivity (4.5 units)

Semester 2

SOAD7012C  Social Work Honours Thesis (4.5 units)
SOAD4007 Field Education 2 (13.5 units)