Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

The Honours Degree of the Bachelor of Social Work aims to develop skills necessary for research by studying the methodological, theoretical and ethical issues that underpin social work research. Students are provided with the same learning opportunities as the Bachelor of Social Work. However, the honours program also aims to reward academic excellence. It provides opportunities for those students who receive high marks at third year level in 0004 Bachelor of Social Work or 3426 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work and who wish to pursue honours research studies in social work. Students in the honours program are expected to develop and complete a research project which will include a critical literature review and ethics approval where indicated.

On completion of the honours program students are expected to be able to:

• have an understanding of the theoretical, methodological and ethical issues that underpin research
• have developed the skills and knowledge students need to develop 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 paradigm
• be able to articulate a range of quantitative and qualitative research frameworks utilised in social research
• utilise data analysis methods associated with the various research framework
• develop a completed relevant ethics application
• understand the structure needed to write a research report
• present a research proposal to other students and staff and learn from the feedback received
• complete a thesis of approximately 10,000 words
• develop the ability to undertake further research in other contexts.

Special requirements

Police and Working with Children Checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police 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 these 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.

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 placement.

Students in this course will complete all the requirements for levels one and two of course 0004 Bachelor of Social Work with an additional 24 credit points for the honours component.

The following units are compulsory and in addition to the units for the Bachelor of Social Work.

Level three

First semester

• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research
• SWK3240 Working with individuals: Theory and practice
• SWK3250 Social work perspectives on human development

Second semester

• SWK3120 Working with families and groups: Theory and practice
• SWK3180 Fieldwork skills and practicum I
• SWK3260 Social policy and social justice I

Level four

First semester

• SWK 4001 Honours research methods
• 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

Second semester

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

Bachelor of Social Work (with Honours)