Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

About

The program has been designed for you to develop advanced knowledge and skills for social work practice in the contemporary Australian welfare and human service system.

You will critically engage with social issues in Australian society and be conversant with the key concepts underpinning social development, needs and problems, with a focus on individual, family and community well-being.

You will engage with the value base of the profession as outlined in the AASW Code of Ethics.You will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge, values and skills you gain in the classroom in two field education placements.

This suite of knowledge and skills will underpin and be informed by your research and critical analysis of approaches and evidence relevant to the practice of social work.You are able to undertake the program in a blend of face to face and online learning.On completion of the program you will be a qualified social work practitioner with professional knowledge of social work theory and practice.

You will be able to analyse and interpret social problems, assist individuals, groups, communities and others in need, confidently lead others and provide informed insights into directions and trends of the profession.

You will have qualifying level professional practice skills and be experienced in critically analysing and researching social problems, and have the ability to apply initiative and judgement to social problems.In preparation for professional roles in interpersonal, intra-familial, group, organisational, community and policy contexts, you will be able to work independently and in teams.

You will be able to communicate confidently with allied professionals, including health care practitioners, policy makers, staff from government and community welfare agencies.You will gain skills for research and life-long learning to enable you to contribute confidently to your own professional development and to a profession that is always evolving.

You will gain insight into your own creativity, and develop efficient work practices to allow you to continue to grow and develop professionally.A capstone experience is provided in HWSS2219 Field Education Integrated Learning 2 through which you will integrate and synthesise your knowledge of social work, connect theory to practice, and demonstrate your holistic achievement of the program learning outcomes.

Structure

For more information about the weighted average mark, please click here

To graduate you must complete the following:

All courses listed may not be available each semester.

Year One of Program

Complete the following Eight (8) Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Australian Society in a Global Context 12 HUSO1207 City Campus
History and Trends in Social Work 12 HWSS2090 City Campus
Sustainable Futures 12 ENVI1153 City Campus
Power and Governance 12 POLI1025 City Campus
Ethics and Reflexive Practice 12 HWSS2164 City Campus
Social Work Practice 12 HWSS2091 City Campus
Self, Identity and Agency 12 HUSO2164 City Campus
Intercultural Communication 12 SOCU1025 City Campus
AND

Year Two of Program

Complete the following Seven (7) Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Critical Approaches to Social Work 12 HWSS1133 City Campus
Indigenous Studies 12 HUSO1296 City Campus
Group Work Theory and Practice 12 HWSS2093 City Campus
Working with Violence and Abuse 12 HWSS2158 City Campus
Mental Health and Wellbeing 12 HUSO1298 City Campus
Public Policy 12 POLI1066 City Campus
Casework and Advocacy 12 HWSS1135 City Campus

Select and Complete One (1) Program Option Course. Please refer to the list of Program Option courses at the end of this program structure.

Select and Complete One (1) Course from any:

AND

Year Three of Program

Complete the following Six (6) Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Foundations of Social Research 12 HUSO2166 City Campus
Field Education Integrated Learning 1 12 HWSS2218 City Campus
Social Work Field Education A 24 HWSS2220 City Campus
Contemporary Organisational Practices 12 HUSO1213 City Campus
Critical Social Work with Families 12 HWSS2092 City Campus
Law for Social Work Practice 12 HWSS2163 City Campus

Select and Complete One (1) Program Option Course. Please refer to the list of Program Option courses at the end of this program structure.

Select and Complete One (1) Course from any:

Select and Complete One (1) Course from:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Research Strategies (Honours) 12 HUSO1222 City Campus
AND

Year Four of Program

Complete the following Seven (7) Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Community Work 12 HWSS1139 City Campus
Program Management and Evaluation 12 HWSS1141 City Campus
Influencing Policy 12 POLI1038 City Campus
Social Work Honours Project 1 12 HWSS2204 City Campus
Social Work Honours Project 2 12 HWSS2205 City Campus
Social Work Field Education B 24 HWSS2221 City Campus
Field Education Integrated Learning 2 12 HWSS2219 City Campus

Complete the following Seven (7) Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Community Work 12 HWSS1139 City Campus
Program Management and Evaluation 12 HWSS1141 City Campus
Influencing Policy 12 POLI1038 City Campus
Social Work Honours Thesis 1 12 HWSS2222 City Campus
Social Work Honours Thesis 2 12 HWSS2223 City Campus
Social Work Field Education B 24 HWSS2221 City Campus
Field Education Integrated Learning 2 12 HWSS2219 City Campus
AND

Program Option Courses

List of Program Option Courses:

Course Title Credit Points Course Code Campus
Alcohol and Other Drugs, Interventions and Complex Needs 12 HWSS2171 City Campus
Homelessness: Contemporary Themes, Policy and Practice 12 HWSS2227 City Campus

Entry requirements

You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.

For equivalents to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country equivalents web page

Prerequisites Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.

International English language requirement A minimum IELTS (Academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent.

For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English equivalents web page

Note: Students are required to complete a Working with Children Check and Police Check before going on placement.

Learning outcomes

The program is designed to provide you with professional education for social work practice in the contemporary Australian welfare and human service system. Upon successful completion you will be able to:

  • participate robustly in contemporary and changing ideological and political debates impacting on society, in an informed, flexible and grounded manner to evaluate policy and/or engage in policy debates
  • apply a body of interdisciplinary knowledge, values and skills in working with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities
  • critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on issues of social disadvantage, marginalisation and oppression in both local and international contexts, and proactively work to promote social justice and human rights
  • demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and practical reasoning when identifying and solving problems in diverse contexts
  • communicate using diverse formats and strategies to stakeholders within and external to your discipline
  • work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness while promoting respectful, ethical and reflective practice
  • apply initiative and ethical judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in your current and continuing professional practice
  • use appropriate research methods to independently design and execute a capstone project

Institution