Honours degrees
Bachelor of Human Services and Master of Social Work – Albury-Wodonga (HZHSWW), Bendigo (HZHSWB), Melbourne (Bundoora) (HZHSW), Mildura (HZHSWM)
This is a new course commencing in 2009, replacing the Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Human Services.
Division of Allied Health: (03) 9479 5815 (Melbourne (Bundoora))
(02) 6024 9802 (Albury-Wodonga)
(03) 5444 7411 (Bendigo)
(03) 5051 4022 (Mildura)
Duration: 4 years
This degree qualifies graduates for entry into the profession of social work and to work effectively in complex organisations. The degree prepares students to be generic practitioners who are able to respond to the complexity of human need and to integrate the different areas and skills of social work practice in the challenging and changing organisational settings of contemporary social work practice. Graduates are able to work in different organisations, different areas of practice and with different groups.
Students are equipped to creatively and appropriately undertake the following key social work roles: work with individuals, families and groups; community work; social policy; social research; and organisational and program planning, and development. Subjects offered enable students to integrate theory and practice and to develop an in-depth appreciation of the organisational context of practice. They include ideas about how individuals, families, communities and societies operate and develop, the ethical and legal framework, how to interpret and undertake research, how organisations operate and respond to the different areas of social need, as well as the skills needed for the different areas of social work practice.
The curriculum is based on a philosophy of social justice, and is taught within an adult-learning model. Students are encouraged to relate their relevant experiences to the theories and practice presented in the program. The course includes 70 days of placement, in each of the third and fourth years, in a professional social work agency.
Course structure
In first year, students will undertake part of an interdisciplinary common year in which students enrol in subjects with peers across the Faculty of Health Sciences. The focus is on factors influencing health and on developing an understanding of the roles of health professionals in the health and welfare sectors.
The second year of study will see students begin to develop skills specific to the discipline. Students will explore the underpinning social work theories and develop an understanding of welfare agencies and the welfare needs of individuals, families and groups.
The third and fourth years of the course will prepare students to take a critical analytic approach to social problems and to practice through case-based study. Students will learn how to address the changes in the social work practice environment and work within an environment characterised by complexity. Graduates will be reflective, responsive and flexible and able to excel in the constantly changing social care sector.
First year
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | HLT1IPA | Interprofessional Practice A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE1IDH | Individual Determinants of Health and Wellbeing | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PSY1PYA | Psychology 1A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SOC1ISA | Introduction to Sociology A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HLT1IPB | Interprofessional Practice B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE1SDH | Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PSY1PYB | Psychology 1B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP1SWB | Social Work in an Unequal World | 15 |
Second year (not offered in 2009)
| Teaching period | Subject >code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP2LCD | Life Course Development | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP2IPP | Introduction to the Profession | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP2REF | Reflective Communication and Social Work | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Elective | chosen from a list of approved subjects offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences1 | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP3IDV | Introduction to Diversity in Social Work Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP3REA | Research for Social Work Practice A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP3OCP | Organisational Contexts of Social Work Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SOC2SHI | Sociology of Health and Illness | 15 |
Third year (not offered in 2009)
| Teaching period | Subject >code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP4APA | Social Work Applications A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP4APB | Social Work Applications B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP4FPA | Fields of Social Work Practice A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP4LHE | Human Rights, Law and Ethics in Social Work Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5FEA | Field Education A | 45 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5RIA | Reflective Practice Enquiry A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5RSB | Research for Social Work Practice B | 15 |
Fourth year (not offered in 2009)
| Teaching period | Subject >code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP5APC | Social Work Applications C | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP5IIC | Inclusion in Communities | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | SWP5FPB | Fields of Social Work Practice B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5FEC | Field Education C | 45 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5PDE | Social Work Program Design and Evaluation | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SWP5RIB | Reflective Practice Enquiry | 15 |
Key: 1. All subjects may not be offered in any one calendar year but students will be offered at least one of the agreed subjects.