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Subject Lists
Bachelor of Social Work subjects
Fourth year Honours subjects
Students should note that the following four subjects only are available for credit towards the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Letters courses:
All other social work subjects are exclusively available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work course.
The Bachelor of Social Work degree prepares students for professional social work practice. Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers. The BSW degree course is normally taken over three years, by three years full-time, or in an accelerated programme over two overloaded years. Part-time study (over four years) is available to a limited number of students. There is no provision for external studies.
Throughout the course, you study the theory and practice of social work, its methods and the fields in which it is practised. The course includes three subjects with elective components where students may specialise in areas of practice, for example: Health, Aging, Children and Families, Indigenous populations etc, or in areas of advanced methods of practice, for example: Mediation, Family Conferencing, working with children, etc. The course includes at least 140 full-time days of field practice, with a minimum of 70 days in each of Supervised Professional Practice 1 & 2. Social welfare organisations contribute to the fieldwork education program by accepting students as student workers in their agencies under the supervision of qualified fieldwork teachers.
Subjects generally require written assignments such as essays, case studies and analyses of written and video case material. Certain subjects of the course are sequenced with prerequisites applying to some of the final-year subjects. However, flexible course arrangements can usually be made for students with special educational needs. Performance in fieldwork practicum is assessed on reports prepared by the fieldwork educator (supervisor) in consultation with the student and the field practicum supervisor (staff member) who visits several times throughout the practicum.
BSW students will:
seek to develop their practice within the framework of social work's commitment to the empowerment of individuals, groups and communities;
be able to articulate their values within the broad social context;
be able to work with conflict of values;
understand the implicit value underpinnings of the broader social institutions as well as the ethics of social work practice as expressed in the Australian Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics.
Theory
Students will develop an understanding of:
the historical and current debates in the development of welfare provisions and of social work in Australia and overseas;
the political economy of Australia as the context within which the social welfare legislation, policies and issues develop, compared with the political economy of other countries;
the fields of service within which social work operates and the client dilemmas and issues within such fields of service;
social and community service organisations, their management and the relationship between their practice and social policy formulation;
theories of human growth and development;
the characteristics and social contexts of the different target groups with which social work is concerned;
the theory and practice of social work with individuals, families, groups and communities;
the process of social research and the theories of knowledge on which these rest.
Practice
Endeavours to develop in students the ability to:
practise social work in such areas as social administration, policy formulation, social action, program planning, community organisation, group work, family work and individual casework;
acquire a range of interactional and analytical skills within the breadth of social work roles such as caseworker, advocate, mediator, activist, negotiator, service provider, policy analyst and so on;
articulate clearly the distinct nature and scope of the social work profession;
understand the obligations of work in statutory and non-statutory agencies, including working with involuntary clients within the legislative framework;
evaluate their own practice and perform practice-based research in all areas of social work.
| First year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-003 Social Work and Social Change 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-001 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-011 The Legal Context of Human Services | 12.5 | |
| 196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-004 Social Work and Social Change 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-002 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-015 Social Work Practice with Communities | 12.5 | |
| 196-022 Social Work Practice with Groups | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Second year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-005 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-012 Organisational Contexts of Practice | 12.5 | |
| 196-019 Practice with Diverse Populations | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-006 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-010 Fields of Social Work Practice A | 12.5 | |
| 196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Third year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families | 12.5 | |
| 196-009 Social Work Practice Research | 12.5 | |
| 196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B | 12.5 | |
| 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-014 Social Work Programming | 12.5 | |
| 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| First year (accelerated) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-003 Social Work and Social Change 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-001 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-005 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-012 Organisational Contexts of Practice | 12.5 | |
| 196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-004 Social Work and Social Change 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-002 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-006 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-010 Fields of Social Work Practice A | 12.5 | |
| 196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Total Points | 150 points | |
| Second year (accelerated) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families | 12.5 | |
| 196-009 Social Work Practice Research | 12.5 | |
| 196-011 The Legal Context of Human Services | 12.5 | |
| 196-019 Practice with Diverse Populations | 12.5 | |
| 196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B | 12.5 | |
| 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-014 Social Work Programming | 12.5 | |
| 196-015 Social Work Practice with Communities | 12.5 | |
| 196-022 Social Work Practice with Groups | 12.5 | |
| 196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Total Points | 150 points | |
You should note that you require approval from the Head of the Department of Social Work to withdraw from subjects, or to take leave of absence. For the important dates for changes, please refer to the introductory information at the beginning of the handbook. A maximum of two semesters (12 months) leave of absence will be granted.
Students who fail 50 per cent or more of their enrolment in a given year and/or fail Supervised Professional Practice subjects, or who fail additional prerequisite studies in their first year, will be required to appear before the Faculty's progress committee (see the entry What if I fail a significant part of my studies? in the BA section for further information).
Credit is not normally given towards the Bachelor of Social Work degree for previous tertiary studies. Students transferring from other Social Work degree programs may be granted credit or exemption for completed social work subjects not counted towards another degree qualification, at the discretion of the Faculty, at the time of admission to the course.
Prospective students need to be aware that the course is very demanding and there is little time available to undertake employment or other study commitments while they are enrolled as full-time students in the Bachelor of Social Work.
The following categories of applicants are eligible for selection to the BSW.
Graduates with an approved degree qualification who have successfully completed:
at least two semester units in studies of the individual, such as personality development, individual psychology, human development, physical and mental health, and theories of social and group behaviour. Such studies are usually found within the disciplines of psychology and allied behavioural sciences, and
at least two semester units in studies of contemporary society such as social inequality, deviance, cultural studies, politics, social history and social systems. Such studies are usually found within the disciplines of sociology, anthropology, political sciences, women's studies, history and philosophy of science, criminology, geography.
Undergraduates who have completed two full years of a course for a degree, and who have successfully completed (a) and (b) as above;
Persons who have completed an approved course at the tertiary level (for instance a three year diploma or an Associate Diploma in Welfare Studies), and who have successfully completed (a) and (b) as above.
Applicants who have completed only one of (a) and (b) above may still be considered for selection, but will be required to undertake the relevant prerequisite subject concurrently with their first year of the three year program.
Entry to Honours must be approved by the School of Social Work and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.
Students will be selected into Honours at the end of the second year of the BSW Three Year program.
The prerequisites for entry to Honours are:
An Honours result in each of the subjects of the First and second years excepting the pass/fail subjects 196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory, 196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1 and 196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B, and;
An overall average in the second year of H2A.
Students will be selected into Honours at the end of the first year of the BSW Accelerated Program.
The prerequisites for entry to Honours are:
An Honours result in each of the subjects of the first year excepting the pass/fail subjects 196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory, 196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1 and 196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B, and;
An overall average in the second year of H2A.
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) degree requires a higher standard of performance in the final year of the program, and the completion of a thesis of 12,000 words (37.5 points).
| Third and fourth year Honours | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families | 12.5 | |
| 196-009 Social Work Practice Research | 12.5 | |
| 196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B | 12.5 | |
| 196-020 Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice | 12.5 | |
| 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 62.5 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-014 Social Work Programming | 12.5 | |
| 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B | 25 | |
| 196-021 Social Work Honours Thesis | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 62.5 points | |
| Summer semester | ||
| 196-021 Social Work Honours Thesis | 25 | |
| Submit by the end of March | ||
| Sub total | 25 | |
| Total Points | 150 points | |
| Second year (accelerated) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families | 12.5 | |
| 196-009 Social Work Practice Research | 12.5 | |
| 196-011 The Legal Context of Human Services | 12.5 | |
| 196-019 Practice with Diverse Populations | 12.5 | |
| 196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B | 12.5 | |
| 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-014 Social Work Programming | 12.5 | |
| 196-015 Social Work Practice with Communities | 12.5 | |
| 196-022 Social Work Practice with Groups | 12.5 | |
| 196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 75 points | |
| Total Points | 150 points | |
| Third year (accelerated) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester | Points | |
| 196-021 Social Work Honours Thesis | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 12.5 | |
| Semester 1 | ||
| 196-020 Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice | 12.5 | |
| 196-021 Social Work Honours Thesis | 25 | |
| Sub total | 37.5 | |
| Total Points | 50 points | |
A student's final examination grade will be calculated over the weighted average mark of the thesis and the final year Social Work subjects, excepting the pass/fail subjects 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2and 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B.
As in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), students will be required to obtain an Honours grade in each component of assessment and an overall grade of at least H3 to be eligible for an Honours degree.
BSW (Hons) students should refer to the section on the BA (Hons) above Bachelor of Arts (Honours) for information regarding workload, change of enrolment, status, leave of absence, overseas study, etc.
In the combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degree, students are able to pursue their own interests in their Arts degree while undertaking professional education in social work. The combined BA/BSW consists of five-and-a-half years of full-time study, with students taking the prescribed Social Work subjects and a range of subjects from other departments in the Faculty of Arts. The combined degree course shares the objectives of both the BA and the BSW. Students should refer to the section on the BA for information regarding the Arts component of the combined course, and the above Social Work entry for the Social Work requirements.
The usual progression through the combined degree is as follows:
First year Bachelor of Arts (100 points of first year) including prerequisites for the BSW (e.g. studies in psychology and contemporary society).
Admission to the combined degree.
Arts subjects: 50 points of second year; Social Work subjects: 50 points.
Arts subjects: 25 points at each of Second and third year; Social Work subjects: 50 points.
Arts subjects: 25 points of third year; Social Work subjects: 75 points, including 37.5 points of Supervised Professional practice.
Social Work subjects: 100 points.
Arts subjects: 25 points at third year; Social Work subjects: 25 points.
The order of the subjects in years four and five can be changed. The course includes at least 140 days of field work practice, as for the BSW.
| First year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | Points | |
| First-year subjects including Psychology and studies of contemporary society | ||
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Second year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-003 Social Work and Social Change 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-001 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 1 | 12.5 | |
| Second year Arts subjects | ||
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-004 Social Work and Social Change 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-002 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 2 | 12.5 | |
| Second year Arts subjects | ||
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Third year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-011 The Legal Context of Human Services | 12.5 | |
| 196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| Second/third year Arts subjects | ||
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-015 Social Work Practice with Communities | 12.5 | |
| 196-022 Social Work Practice with Groups | 12.5 | |
| Second/third year Arts subjects | ||
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Fourth Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-005 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| 196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| Third year Arts subjects | ||
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-006 Social Work Theory and Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| 196-010 Fields of Social Work Practice A | 12.5 | |
| 196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Fifth year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families | 12.5 | |
| 196-019 Practice with Diverse Populations | 12.5 | |
| 196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B | 12.5 | |
| 196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 196-014 Social Work Programming | 12.5 | |
| 196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory | 12.5 | |
| 196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B | 25 | |
| Sub total | 50 points | |
| Total Points | 100 points | |
| Sixth year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 196-012 Organisational Contexts of Practice | 12.5 | |
| 196-009 Social Work Practice Research | 12.5 | |
| Third year Arts subjects | ||
| Total Points | 50 points | |
For information about further course requirements for the BSW, see Further BSW course requirements. For information about course requirements for the Arts component, see Further requirements for the BA.
For entry to the combined course, current University of Melbourne students must have successfully completed at least one full-time year of their BA course including:
At least two semester units in psychology, and;
At least two semester units in sociology, anthropology, political sciences, women's studies, history and philosophy of science, criminology, geography. Students will be accepted in accordance with the normal selection procedures to the BSW course.
Applicants seeking to transfer into the BA/BSW from other University of Melbourne courses or from other institutions must satisfy the entry requirements for both the BA and BSW courses.
Contact the Arts Faculty Office on 9344 5235, or:
The School of Social Work
234 Queensberry Street
Carlton Victoria 3053
Tel: +61 3 9344 9400
Fax: +61 3 9347 4375
Web: http://www.socialwork.unimelb.edu.au
196-001 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 1
196-002 Human Behaviour and Social Environment 2
196-003 Social Work and Social Change 1
196-004 Social Work and Social Change 2
196-005 Social Work Theory and Practice 1
196-006 Social Work Theory and Practice 2
196-007 Professional Practices Laboratory
196-011 The Legal Context of Human Services
196-012 Organisational Contexts of Practice
196-015 Social Work Practice with Communities
196-022 Social Work Practice with Groups
196-008 Supervised Professional Practice 1
196-023 Supervised Professional Practice 1B
196-010 Fields of Social Work Practice A
196-018 Fields of Social Work Practice B
196-019 Practice with Diverse Populations
196-016 Practice with Individuals and Families
196-009 Social Work Practice Research
196-014 Social Work Programming
196-013 Advanced Practice Methods Laboratory
196-017 Supervised Professional Practice 2
196-024 Supervised Professional Practice 2B
196-021 Social Work Honours Thesis
196-020 Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice
Search : Index : Faculty of Arts
Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:49 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au