Monash University: University Handbooks: Distance Education 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
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Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Welfare


General information

Course code: 1806 Gippsland campus HECS fees applicable Attendance compulsory

Aims

This course has been introduced to provide a combination generalist/specialist degree incorporating specific vocational education. Students will graduate with a full welfare qualification, recognised by the Australian Institute for Welfare and Community Workers, plus a major and minor study in other disciplines.

Entry requirements

All applicants should satisfy the university's minimum entry requirements as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this book.
In addition to meeting standard entry requirements, all applicants are required to complete a social welfare course administration form. If you did not receive this form with this book, then it can be obtained from the Course Inquiries Centre, telephone 1800 671845 or from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences on (03) 5122 6339 or (03) 9902 6339. Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of information contained in this form, for a more detailed selection process. Applicants are strongly advised that academic criteria are not the only ones for entry into the course. Other factors such as work and life experience, personal qualities and maturity, are taken into account.

Special requirements

Work load

All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial work load of at least 24 points a year by distance education. Distance education students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.

Attendance

Students must be aware of the attendance requirements for certain social welfare units, and should take the cost of this into account before applying for entry to the course.
Students in the double degree must attend the Gippsland campus for two residential workshops during the course, involving one two-day workshop, and one three-day workshop. Students will also be required to undertake a 16-day placement in their second year and a 60-day field education placement during the final year of the program.
Classes will be held in most units at each weekend school. Normally, this will include lectures and seminars or tutorials. Attendance at weekend school classes is recommended, but not compulsory for the completion of most units offered by the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences.

PC requirement

Students should have access to a computer to successfully complete this course.

Course structure

The course of study is normally a minimum of eight years part-time by distance education. In order to meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Welfare double degree, a student must complete:
(a) an arts major (48 points)
(b) an arts minor (24 points)
(c) four core units (24 points)

or

(d) a prescribed 13-unit sequence in social welfare (96 points)
(e) a total of 192 points (29 units).

Course plan

A course plan for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Welfare may look like the one depicted below:

First semester

Second semester

Year 1

GSC1303 Foundations of interpersonal practice: casework and groupwork
GSC1201 Sociological reflections on everyday life

GSC1304 Communication and counselling skills
GSC1202 Sociological issues

Year 2

GSC1306 Introduction to understanding human behaviour
Arts sequence (first level)

GSC1305 Human services organisational practice
Arts sequence (first level)

Year 3

AIS1010 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies
Arts major

GSC1307 Human behaviour across the lifespan
Arts major

Year 4

Arts major
First-level core unit#

Arts major
GSC2311 Social welfare issues

Year 5

GSC2303 Case management theory and practice
Arts minor

Arts minor
GSC2310 Social policy: developing the links

Year 6

GSC2304 Community development
Arts major

Arts major
Arts elective

Year 7

GSC3307 Human services management
GSC3306 Field education and practice (full year)

GSC3303 Insights into practice

Year 8

Arts elective

GSC3304 Paradigms of practice


# STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SELECT EITHER GSC1601 OR GSC1602 AS THEIR FIRST-LEVEL CORE UNIT. STUDENTS WHO INTEND TO UNDERTAKE STUDIES IN PSYCHOLOGY ARE ADVISED TO TAKE GSC1602 RATHER THAN GSC1601 AS THEIR RESEARCH METHODS CORE UNIT, AS GSC1601 AND PSY2051 ARE A PROHIBITED COMBINATION.

Arts major and minor studies

Details on the various arts sequences and first-level units offered within them are included under the entry for Bachelor of Arts.

Definitions

A first-level sequence is a pair of first-level units which usually form the first part of a major or minor.
An arts major is three years of study in a single discipline, comprising 48 points or more. It comprises 12 points at first-year level and either 12 points at second-year level and 24 points at third-year level or 18 points at second-year level and 18 points at third-year level.
An arts minor is units in a single discipline, totalling 24 points, including no more than 12 points at first-year level.

Initial enrolment

Students entering the double degree program should normally enrol in four units in the first year, two in each semester. The following is the suggested first-year enrolment:

First semester

Second semester

Credits/exemptions

Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for credit transfer to apply for credits and exemptions. The onus is on the student to provide course records and details of course content and duration (including extracts from relevant handbooks). Students in this category are advised to complete a course plan prior to the commencement of study to ensure they will complete the major/s or minor they intend. As a general rule, credits will not be granted for studies completed more than 10 years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.

Further information

For more detailed information, contact the administrative officers, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 9902 6339 or (03) 5122 6339, email humass.info@arts.monash.edu.au

Completed applications

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the Admissions Officer, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria 3842, by 22 September 2000 to be considered for a first-round offer.

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