Bachelor of Social Work
Course summary for current students
Student Information Centre
Tel 1300 334 733
enquire@deakin.edu.au
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus
| Award granted | Bachelor of Social Work |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Geelong Waterfront Campus, Off campus |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 015207F |
| Deakin course code | H330 |
Course sub-headings
Course overview
Social work is concerned with enhancing the wellbeing of people in their social environments. It is a broad profession with diverse practices that may include working with individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations.
The Bachelor of Social Work provides a progressive and innovative approach to social work with emphasis on personal, community and social development in urban, rural, local and global contexts. The course engages with the interplay between diversity, power and social inequality through anti-oppressive, empowerment and critically-reflective approaches to social work practice and social policy.
Throughout the course, you will develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the interplay between the broad socio-economic, interpersonal and personal influences on individual peoples’ lives;
- how the socio-political and policy contexts in which people work influences their day-to-day practice;
- a range of social research methods and the ability to design and conduct research directly relevant to social work practice;
- the broad inter-disciplinary nature of social work and an ability to apply knowledge from theories, research and experience in practice
- principles of non-discrimination, human rights and social justice, and an ability to apply these in relation to traditionally marginalised and disadvantaged groups;
- working across social and cultural differences, whilst respecting difference and multiple diversities of identities;
- personal and professional standards of practice in the context of a capacity for life-long learning.
The Bachelor of Social Work is offered at pass or honours level. An honours stream is available in the fourth year.
Professional recognition
The course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Students completing the course are eligible to apply for membership of AASW and can practise professionally throughout Australia.
Work-Integrated Learning
Field education placements provide an opportunity for students to learn from experience under the supervision of qualified social work practitioners. During the course you will complete a minimum of 980 hours of fieldwork placements that are conducted in a variety of communities and workplaces in metropolitan and regional settings. As social work at Deakin has a rural focus, one of the two fieldwork placements will have a rural focus.
Department of Human Services policy and Working with Children Check
In accordance with Department of Human Services policy* all students are required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements. Students may also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWC).
* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreement/4.departmental-policies-procedures-and-initiatives/4.6-police-record-check-policy-including-working-with-children-check
** Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia retrieved April 2012.
Fees and charges
Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.
Please be aware:
- Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
- Fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen
- Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services
Course rules
Students are required to successfully complete 32 credit points of study.
To be awarded the Bachelor of Social Work degree with honours a person must complete the honours units HSW456 and HSW457 (refer course structure).
Failure of a field education placement will normally lead to exclusion.
Course structure
(For students commencing 2009 onwards).
Note: Students who commenced prior to 2009 must follow the course structure applicable to their level of commencement.
Level 1
Trimester 1
| AIP107 | Contemporary Australian Politics (B, G, W, X) |
| ASC101 | Introduction to Sociology A (B, G, W, X) |
| HSW101 | Introduction to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice A (S, X) |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health (B, G, W, X) |
Trimester 2
| ASC102 | Introduction to Sociology B (B, G, W, X) |
| HSW111 | Theories for Social Work Practice: Social Work Theory and Practice B (S, X) |
| HSW118 | Social Work Methods in Context: Social Work Theory and Practice C (S, X) |
plus
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour (B, G, W, X) |
Or
| HPS111 | Fundamentals of Human Behaviour (B, G, W, X) |
Level 2
Trimester 1
| AIP230 | Public Policy in Australia (B, G, W, X) |
| HSW221 | Social Work Research in Ethical and Political Contexts (S, X) |
| HSW235 | Community Development: Social Work Theory and Practice D (B, S, X) |
plus one (1) elective
Trimester 2
| HSW212 | Social Work Processes and Interventions: Social Work Theory and Practice E (S, X) |
| HSW219 | Self and Society (S, X) |
| MLS231 | Legal and Ethical Contexts of Social Work (S, X) |
plus one (1) elective
Level 3
Trimester 1
| HSW314 | Social Work Field Education A (S, X) |
Trimester 2
| ASC304 | Culture and Control: Boundaries and Identities (B, G, X) |
| HSW313 | Anti-Oppressive Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice F (S, X) |
| HSW316 | Critical Social Policy (S, X) |
| HSW322 | Applied Social Research in Ethical and Political Context (ONLINE) |
Level 4
Trimester 1
| HSW402 | Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G (S, X) |
| HSW434 | Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context (X) |
| HSW452 | Working in Uncertainty: Social Work Theory and Practice H (S, X) |
plus one (1) elective
Trimester 2
| HSW415 | Social Work Field Education B (S, X) |
Elective units
Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of 2 elective units may be studied at level 1.
Level 4 Honours stream
Trimester 1
| HSW402 | Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G (S, X) |
| HSW434 | Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context (X) |
| HSW456 | Honours Research Project in Social Work A (S, X) |
Trimester 2
| HSW415 | Social Work Field Education B (S, X) |
| HSW457 | Honours Research Project in Social Work B (S, X) |
