Objectives
The four-year Bachelor of Social Work course provides a progressive and innovative approach to social work with emphasis on personal, community and social development in urban/rural and local/global contexts. The course engages with the interplay between diversity, power and social inequality through anti-oppressive, empowerment and critically-reflective approaches to social work practice and social policy. Field education placements provide an opportunity for students to learn from experience under the supervision of qualified social work practitioners. As social work at Deakin has a rural focus, one of the two placements will be undertaken in a rural setting. Students will be required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements. Students may also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWC). The Bachelor of Social Work is offered at pass or honours level. An honours stream is available in the fourth year. On successful completion of the Bachelor of Social Work course, students should have the following discipline-specific knowledge and abilities: * understanding of the interplay between the broad socio-economic, interpersonal and personal influences on individual peoples’ lives; * knowledge and understanding of how the socio-political and policy contexts in which they work influences their day-to-day practice; * knowledge and understanding of a range of social research methods and the ability to design and conduct research directly relevant to social work practice; * understanding of the broad inter-disciplinary nature of social work and an ability to apply knowledge from theories, research and experience in practice with individuals, families, groups and communities; * commitment to principles of non-discrimination, human rights and social justice, and an ability to apply these principles in relation to traditionally marginalised and disadvantaged groups; * ability to work across social and cultural differences, whilst respecting difference and multiple diversities of identities; * commitment to maintaining and improving personal and professional standards of practice in the context of a capacity for life-long learning.
Course description
Professional recognition
Deakin University has accreditation for a four-year degree with the Australian Association of Social Workers Ltd. (AASW).
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2009 can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
As a Social Work graduate you may be involved in activities as diverse as policy development and research, counselling, family therapy, drug and alcohol counselling, community development, refugee assistance and tribunal capacities. Social workers also work as program managers or coordinators, as advocates, facilitators, activists or consultants. You may work in specialist areas such as health, housing, education, or with groups such as the aged, women, youth or multi-cultural populations.
Course rules
Students are required to successfully complete 32 credit points of study.
To be awarded the Bachelor of Social Work degree with honours a person must
* present at the Faculty Fourth Year Research Conference in a format approved by the school
* complete the honours units HSW456 and HSW457 (refer course structure).
All commencing students are required to successfully complete at least one wholly online unit.
Failure of a field education placement will normally lead to exclusion.
Course structure
(For students commencing 2009 onwards).
Note: Students who commenced prior to 2009 must follow the course structure applicable to their year of commencement.
Year 1
Trimester 1
AIP107 Contemporary Australian Politics
ASC101 Introduction to Sociology A
HSW101 Introduction to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice A
HBS107 Understanding Health
Trimester 2
ASC102 Introduction to Sociology B
HSW111 Theories for Social Work Practice: Social Work Theory and Practice B
HSW118 Social Work Methods in Context: Social Work Theory and Practice C
plus
HBS110 Health Behaviour
Or
HPS111 Introduction to Psychology A
Year 2
Trimester 1
AIP230 Public Policy in Australia
HSW221 Social Work Research in Ethical and Political Contexts
HSW235 Community Development: Social Work Theory and Practice D
plus one (1) elective
Trimester 2
HSW212 Social Work Processes and Interventions: Social Work Theory and Practice E
HSW219 Self and Society
MLS231 Legal and Ethical Contexts of Social Work
plus one (1) elective
Year 3
Trimester 1
HSW314 Social Work Field Education A
Trimester 2
ASC304 Culture and Control: Boundaries and Identities
HSW313 Anti-Oppressive Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice F
HSW316 Critical Social Policy
HSW322 Applied Social Research in Ethical and Political Context
Year 4
Trimester 1
HSW402 Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G
HSW434 Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context
HSW452 Working in Uncertainty: Social Work Theory and Practice H
plus one (1) elective
Trimester 2
HSW415 Social Work Field Education B
Elective units
Elective units may be chosen from any faculty in the University provided that prerequisites are met. A maximum of 2 elective units may be studied at level 1.
Social Work elective unit (subject to availability):
HSW330 International Experience: Comparative Social Policy
Interprofessional Education (IPE) elective unit:
HBS345 Interprofessional Case Management and Health Service Delivery
Rural interprofessional elective unit:
HBS311 Beyond the City: Critical Perspectives on Rural Issues
Year 4 Honours stream
For students completing the course at honours level, presentation at the annual Faculty Fourth Year Research Conference is a hurdle requirement.
Trimester 1
HSW402 Critical Approaches to Social Work: Social Work Theory and Practice G
HSW434 Administration and Policy Development: The Organisational Context
HSW456 Honours Research Project in Social Work A
Trimester 2
HSW415 Social Work Field Education B
HSW457 Honours Research Project in Social Work B
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
