Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

This course allows students who are enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Social Work (course 3870) to undertake social work honours in the fourth year of the double degree. Entry to honours is by invitation to students who have achieved high grades (distinction level) in third year social work units.

At the conclusion of the honours programs students will:

• understand the theoretical, methodological and ethical issues that underpin research
• understand how to undertake a research project and write a research report
• understand the nature of the research process including the formulation of research questions and the development of an appropriate research methodology
• be able to articulate a range of quantitative and qualitative research frameworks
• be able to utilize data analysis methods associated with the various research frameworks
• be able to develop a relevant ethics application
• understand the structure needed to write a research report
• have skills in presenting a research proposal to other students and staff and learning from the feedback received
• have completed a thesis of approximately 10,000 words
• be able to undertake further research in other contexts.

Credit will be granted for units successfully completed in the first three years of the Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Social Work.

Successfully completion of the first three years of the Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Social Work with a distinction average in third year units in the Bachelor of Social Work component.

Special requirements

Police Checks and Working with Children Checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their course. Working with Children checks are valid for five years and are available free. Police checks must be applied and paid for annually. However, in some community partnered programs there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working in the healthcare facilities and for the protection of other students, and themselves, students may need to comply with certain precautionary procedures. These may consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having x-rays where the evidence indicates that these are appropriate.

Vaccinations

The faculty recommends that all students accept responsibility for having up-to-date immunisations before commencing this course. Recommended immunisations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Fieldwork practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus fieldwork placements. In the fieldwork setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the fieldwork component of each unit.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the fieldwork component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a fieldwork practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Fieldwork expenses

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during fieldwork placements.

This course is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

This course is 216 credit points and requires overloading in year 4.

All social work units are compulsory in addition to the required number and sequence of Health Science units. Students undertake the core honours units set out below in the final year of the double degree. This course requires overloading by 24 credit points.

First year

Semester one

• HSC1031 Foundations of health
• HSC1041 Health sociology
• HSC1051 Working with people
• HSC1061 Introduction to research in health science

Semester two

• HSC1052 Health and social care systems
• HSC1072 Health promotion 1
• HSC1082 Population health
• HSC1092 Human body in health and illness

Second year

Semester one

• HSC2031 Epidemiology and public health
• HSC2061 Legal and ethical frameworks
• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research

Semester two

• HSC2042 Population health and diversity
• HSC2062 Communicating health
• SRH2002 Indigenous health and well-being
• SWK3260 Social policy and social justice 1

Third Year

Semester one

• HSC2051 Health promotion 2
• HSC3011 Contemporary health challenges
• SWK3240 Working with individuals: theory and practice
• SWK3250 Social work perspectives on human development

Semester two

• HSC3032 Community partnerships and capacity building
• SWK3120 Working with families and groups: theory and practice
• SWK3180 Fieldwork skills and practicum 1

Fourth year

Semester one

• SWK4410 Community work: theory and practice
• SWK4420 The individual, health and society
• SWK4430 Cross-cultural social work: theory and practice
• SWK4440 Social work management: theory and practice
• SWK4001 Honours research methods

Semester two

• SWK4450 Social policy and social justice II
• SWK4460 Critical and creative social work theory and practice
• SWK4560 Fieldwork skills and practicum II
• SWK4002 Honours project seminar
• SWK4003 Honours dissertation

Bachelor of Health Sciences

Bachelor of Social Work (with Honours)