Undergraduate - Course3964 - Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work (with Honours)

NOTE: This course has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2012. For details of changes, please consult the 2013 Handbook change register2013 Handbook change register (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/2013-change-register.html).

This honours course allows students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work to undertake social work honours in the fourth year of the double degree. Entry to honours is by invitation to students who have achieved grades of at least distinction level in third year social work units.

The course 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 and practice opportunities as students in the pass degree, however, the honours program also aims to reward academic excellence. Students in the honours program are expected to develop and complete a research project which will include a critical literature review, ethics approval where indicated and a 10,000 - 12,000 word thesis.

Refer to the two single degree entries at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/courses/0002.html and http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/courses/3864.html.

Credit will be granted for units successfully completed in the first three years of 3870 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work.

Entry to honours is by invitation to students who have achieved high grades in third year social work units.

Special requirements

Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.

Police checks

Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Information available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Information available at http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html.

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 has been accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

This course includes two units of study of 'the individual' (psychology or behavioural studies) and two units of study of 'society' (sociology) and at least one unit in Australian Indigenous studies.

The course is undertaken in the following sequence:

(a.) first year is composed of seven arts and one social work unit

(b.) second year is composed of five arts units and three social work units

(c.) third year includes three arts units (which complete the major sequence); the rest are social work units (including the first field placement)

(d.) the final year is composed of social work units only, including the second field placement and the honours component.

Arts component

The arts component must include a major and minor study as follows:

• arts discipline major (48 points)
• arts discipline minor in a different area of study (24 points)
• an additional arts discipline first-year sequence in a third area of study(12 points)
• a further six point arts unit

Requirements for majors/minors can vary. Students should refer to the 'Areas of study'..

Social work component

All social work units are compulsory core units.

Arts majors, minors and sequences

Refer to the arts areas of study at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/aos/index-byfaculty-arts.html.

First year

Semester one

• ATS1365 Introduction to sociology 1
• PSY1011 Psychology 1A or ATS1261 Understanding human behaviour
• SWK1011 Introduction to human services practice
• one first-year arts unit sequence

Semester two

• ATS1251 Introduction to Australian Indigenous studies
• ATS1366 Introduction to sociology 2
• PSY1022 Psychology 1B or ATS1262 Introduction to social behaviour
• one first-year arts unit sequence

Second year

Semester one

• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research
• two second-year arts units

Semester two

• SWK3440 Leadership in social work and human services
• two second-year arts units
• one second or third-year arts unit*

Third year

Semester one

• SWK3400 Critical social work 1 - individual and families: Context and theory
• two third-year arts units

Semester two

• SWK3410 Critical social work 2 - community work: Context and practice
• SWK3180 Supervised professional practice 1
• one third-year arts unit

Fourth year

Semester one

• SWK4001 Honours research methods
• SWK4030 Human rights, law and ethics contexts for social work practice
• SWK4032 Working with complexity: Honours
• SWK4400 Critical Social Work 3 - Group work and community engagement: context and practice
• SWK4451 Social policy and social justice: Honours

Semester two

• SWK4002 Honours project seminar
• SWK4003 Honours dissertation
• SWK4401 Critical social work 4 - individual, health and society: Context and practice
• SWK4560 Supervised professional practice 2

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Social Work (with Honours)