Bachelor of Social Work

Institution Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus
Method On Campus
Location Wagga Wagga
Type Bachelor
Course fee By request
Comments Available at Wagga Wagga and by Distance Education

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Bachelor of Social Work

Objectives CSU’s Bachelor of Social Work offered through the Wagga Wagga Campus provides graduates with skills to work in a wide range of social welfare agencies in areas such as case management, family work and rehabilitation, health, community services and corrections.
Academic title Bachelor of Social Work
Course description Including
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Bachelor of Social Work Advanced/Graduate Entry

About the course

CSU is one of the leading providers of social work education in Australia. The Bachelor of Social Work degree can be done on campus or by distance education through the Wagga Wagga campus.

The Bachelor of Social Work can also be completed as part of an integrated program with the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Deniliquin campus. Students graduate with the Diploma of Community Welfare Work (CHC50702) and the Bachelor of Social Work. More information about the TAFE program.

Distance Education students are required to attend four one-week residential schools during the course of their study.

If you enjoy working with people singly or in groups, problem solving and working with social issues and how they affect communities, then social work could be the career for you.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for this course through the Rural Allied Health Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme.

Where it will take you

Social workers work at the interface between people and their environments, so they are found in a wide range of settings from hospitals to local councils, and social welfare agencies to setting up their own businesses. Graduates work professionally as social workers in government and non-government departments, with individuals, groups and communities, in emergency situations and long-term care.

You can work in areas such as:

    * individual and group social counselling
    * case management
    * social administration and policy formation
    * social action and program planning
    * family work and rehabilitation
    * health, community services and corrections
    * A growing number of social work graduates offer
    * clinical services, education and consultation on a fee-for-service basis.

Professionals teaching you

The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience.
Your course is recognised by industry

The Bachelor of Social Work is a nationally accredited and registered award in tertiary education. It has full accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Practical experience

Field education is a core element and a major part of the student’s development of a professional identity. It provides an opportunity for students to observe, question and model social work behaviour. Each practicum is integrated with a subject covering social work theory and practice.

In order to meet the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), students must complete 980 hours of supervised field education. This is undertaken in two practicums (each 490 hours) in approved agencies. Every attempt is made to accommodate students in placements close to their place of residence and to tailor the practicum to suit the schedules of individual students, but such placements cannot be guaranteed.

Credit

Credit for prior study will be individually determined. No credit will be given for certificate level or bridging programs.

A completed TAFE Diploma of Community Services (Welfare) course will attract a credit for eight subjects (as per AASW guidelines). These subjects are: HCS103 HCS111 PSY111 SOC102 SPE101 and three electives.

Graduation requirements

To graduate with Bachelor of Social Work students must complete 26 subjects and 256 points, inclusive of credits, AND successfully complete a minimum of 980 hours professional field education placements (in a minimum two distinct placements) under the supervision of a graduate social worker eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Students enrolled in Co-enrolment programs with Western Institute of TAFE (Dubbo) or Riverina Institute of TAFE (Deniliquin) must have also completed the requirements of the Diploma of Community Services and submitted certified copies of their transcript of results and course completion from their TAFE to be eligible to graduate.

Transfer into the Honours program

Students may apply to enter the Honours program on completion of the first year (full-time equivalent) of the Bachelor of Social Work and have demonstrated both academic and practice competence. Students should have completed 56 subject points towards the degree at a Credit average, or grade point average (GPA) of 5 or better. These subjects must include HCS204 Research methods, HCS206 Social Work Theory and Practice 1, HCS207 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 and HCS303 Professional Field Education 1.

Additional Honours component

In addition to the pass program, students in the Honours program complete a thesis of 16 points (SWK430 Social Work Honours Project/Dissertation) in the final year of the program.

The student may conduct an investigation in any area in which the Honours Committee can provide adequate supervision and for which written approval has been given. The following general areas provide a guide, but they are not prescriptive:

    * Aboriginality
    * community work
    * corrections
    * disability
    * hospital
    * social work
    * ideology and social work
    * mental health
    * rural issues
    * rural service delivery
    * social policy and administration
    * women’s issues

Bachelor of Social Work Advanced/Graduate Entry

This course is for those with a prior relevant degree or who have completed a substantial part of a relevant degree. It is by distance only and would normally take four years to complete and cannot be completed in less than two years.

Students must have a three-year degree or its equivalent or have successfully completed two-thirds of a recognised degree including the successful completion of at least two session length subjects in:

    * Psychology, one of which must be developmental psychology (or equivalent)
    * Sociology
    * Australian Government and politics and/or welfare politics, social policy and social philosophy, and Australian economic and social history
      and
    * the successful completion of 10 other relevant session-length subjects including a session-length subject on research, law and human rights

Subjects that are not satisfied in these prerequisites will need to be completed prior to graduation.

Enrolment pattern for the Bachelor of Social Work Advanced/Graduate Entry
Upgrade program for overseas qualified students

Social workers with overseas qualifications may be eligible to complete course requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work in less than the normal time. Overseas qualifications are assessed by the University and the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and a program of studies is individually prescribed for each student. On successful completion of the program the student is eligible for the award of Bachelor of Social Work.

Applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language which is evidenced by an overall score of six on each of the four bands of the International English Language Test (IELT).

Australian residents with overseas social work qualifications should have their qualifications assessed by the Australian Association of Social Workers in the first instance.