Bachelor of Social Welfare

• General information
• Entry requirements
• Professional recognition
• Course structure
  • Arts minor sequences
  • Sequence for on-campus students
    • First year
    • Second year
    • Third year
• Group learning

General information

Course code: 1731
The Bachelor of Social Welfare is designed to prepare graduates for work in a wide variety of welfare situations, both urban and rural. The course teaches a broad range of skills and develops appropriate values and attitudes in working with individuals, families, groups and communities in crisis or development. Theoretical perspectives and skills are integrated in practice through the course's field placements.

Entry requirements

In addition to meeting standard entry requirements, all applicants are required to complete a Social Welfare Course Administration Form. This form can be obtained from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences. Applicants will be short-listed 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. Factors such as work and life experience, personal qualities and maturity are also taken into account.

Professional recognition

This course is recognised by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers.

Course structure

A candidate for the degree must fulfil the following requirements to receive the award of Bachelor of Social Welfare:
(a) complete at least 144 but not more than 162 points
(b) complete four core units (24 points):

• GSC1201 Sociological reflections on everyday life
• GSC1202 Sociological issues
• AIS1010 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies
• GSC1601 Basic statistics and computing for social sciences

or

• GSC1602 Introduction to methods of social research

(c) prescribed sequence of 13 units in social welfare (96 points)
(d) undertake additional units to complete the 144 points needed for the degree. It is recommended that students use their elective units to complete an arts minor.

Arts minor sequences

Arts minor sequences may be chosen from community studies, Australian Indigenous studies, psychology or sociology.

Sequence for on-campus students

First year

• GSC1306 Introduction to understanding human behaviour*
• GSC1201 Sociological reflections on everyday life
• GSC1303 Foundations of interpersonal practice: casework and group work
• AIS1010 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies
• GSC1202 Sociological issues
• GSC1307 Human behaviour across the lifespan*
• GSC1304 Communications and counselling skills
• GSC1305 Human services organisational practice

Second year

• GSC2303 Case management theory and practice
• Elective
• GSC2304 Community development
• First-level core unit^#
• GSC2310 Social policy: developing the links
• GSC2311 Social welfare issues
• Elective
• Upper-level elective

STUDENTS WISHING TO COMPLETE A MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGY WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE GENERAL LEVEL 1 PSYCHOLOGY UNITS PSY1011 (PSYCHOLOGY 1A) AND PSY1022 (PSYCHOLOGY 1B), INSTEAD OF GSC1306 (UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR) AND GSC1307 (HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN).
^# 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.

Third year

• GSC3307 Human services management and practice
• GSC3306 Field education (full-year unit)
• Upper level elective
• GSC3303 Insights into practice
• GSC3304 Paradigms of practice

Group learning

While all social welfare units offer weekend school classes, in some experientially based units the focus of group learning combines a compulsory weekend school and group work with fellow students in their own locality. University staff will facilitate the establishment and maintenance of such area study groups.

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