Monash University: University Handbooks: Off-Campus Learning Guide 2005: Units indexed by faculty
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Off-Campus Learning Guide 2005
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Master of Social Work

Course code: 0019 + Off-campus (Department of Social Work, Caulfield) + A limited number of Commonwealth-supported (HECS) places available + Full-fee paying course (Australian residents) $TBC; $14,000 (international students)

The degree provides an opportunity for human service and welfare professionals to enhance and develop their professional skills and knowledge and to make links between practice in the field and new academic knowledge and theory. It aims to provide for the needs of managers and policy developers as well as for social workers or others involved in direct work with clients. It also aims to cater for human service professionals who work as middle managers and as supervisors.
The course provides sufficient choice for students to specialise in management and policy development or in direct work with clients. The program, while aimed at the learning needs of social workers, is also directly relevant to professionals in the human services who have qualifications from other disciplines.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor of Social Work degree or other relevant degree with an approved fourth year of study at undergraduate, honours or diploma level with grades of credit average or above. Relevant work experience may also be considered. Evidence of this experience must accompany the candidate's application for entry into the program and be presented with the application in the form of two references which comment on the nature and extent of the experience, a full CV, plus a statement of up to 1000 words indicating the applicant's career objectives and reasons for applying for entry. Academic record, publications and work experience in the community and social services will be taken into account in selection.

Course structure

The course may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. The full-time course is taken over one year and the part-time course over two years. Students are required to complete a total of four 12 credit point units, or 48 credit points.

Semester 1 units
Semester 2 units

* SWM5140 and SWM5150 must be undertaken in the same year and usually cannot be undertaken separately.

The course may facilitate entry to the PhD program at Monash University. While the usual route to a PhD is through an honours program or masters by research, students who have completed a Master of Social Work by coursework, including a research and/or special study units, or who have other research experience, may apply for the PhD program. Intending applicants interested in this possibility or masters by research should contact the department for further information.

Assessment

Units may have different requirements for assessment, however each unit may have a number of assessment tasks. These may require students to fax or email to the unit leader on a regular basis and/or to make audio or video tape recording, or to complete essays or short take home exams. In total, assessment tasks should comprise 9000 words consistent with university requirements for 12-point units. At masters level, it is generally expected that students will present work of an analytical nature. Students will also be expected to develop themes and arguments rather than merely present descriptive material.

Professional recognition

The Master of Social Work is not sufficient in itself to provide eligibility for the Australian Association of Social Workers. The usual route to admission to the AASW is via a Bachelor of Social Work.

Further information

For application and further information, contact Ms Pat Sykes, Social Work Office, telephone +61 3 9903 2610 or +61 3 9903 1135, email pat.sykes@med.monash.edu.au, or see http://www.med.monash.edu.au/socialwork/ for information on units and staff areas of interest and research achievements.

Completed applications

Completed application forms are to be submitted to Department of Social Work, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, PO Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia, by 31 October 2004 (for semester one 2005). Late applications may be accepted subject to available course places - applicants should check with the department.

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