Undergraduate - CourseBachelor of Social Work (with Honours)

This 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 opportunities as 0004 Bachelor of Social Work, however, the honours degree also aims to reward academic excellence.

Entry to this honours course is by invitation to students who have achieved grades of at least distinction in their previous studies in level three social work units.

Students are expected to develop and complete a research project which will include a critical literature review and ethics approval where indicated, and submit a 10,000-12,000 word thesis.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• appraise national and international literature in one area of social work practice, in the development of a research question which will contribute to professional knowledge
• explain the frameworks underpinning the social work research process, theory, methodology, professional values, and ethics
• apply knowledge of the research process in the development and implementation of a piece of research
• comply with relevant ethical practices and expectations
• choose and utilise appropriate data analysis techniques
• apply knowledge of the research process in the development and implementation of a piece of research
• choose and utilise appropriate data analysis techniques
• communicate learning about research process and findings to both student and staff audiences
• communicate study findings in a potentially publishable thesis of 10,000 - 12,000 words.

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. Refer to the faculty's police checkspolice checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html) webpage.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Working with Children checksWorking with Children checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html) webpage.

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.

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

Students in this course will have completed all the requirements below for level one of 0004 Bachelor of Social Work. All units at level two are compulsory.

Level one

Semester one

• SWK3220 Social work in a globalised world
• SWK3230 Social work research
• SWK3400 Critical social work 1 - Individuals and families (context and practice)

Semester two

• SWK3180 Supervised professional practice 1
• SWK3410 Critical social work 2 - Community work, context and practice
• SWK3440 Leadership in social work and human services

Level two

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 Social work honours dissertation (12 points)
• SWK4401 Critical social work 4 - Individual, health and society (context and practice)
• SWK4560 Supervised professional practice 2

• Social work

Bachelor of Social Work (with Honours)