Bachelor of Social Work

The program is designed to provide you with professional education for social work practice in the contemporary Australian welfare and human service system.

Upon completion you will be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Specifically, you will be able to:Apply appropriate interdisciplinary knowledge about Australian society, social issues and social problems Apply appropriate interdisciplinary knowledge about human development, human needs and human problems, especially in regard to individual and family functioning Undertake professional practice in interpersonal, intra-familial, group, organisational, community and policy contexts Utilise research in professional practice Illustrate successful completion of extensive field education (work integrated learning).

All courses listed may not be available each semester

Year One of Program

Complete the following Six (6) Courses:

Select and Complete One (1) of the following Courses:

Select and Complete One (1) of the following Courses:

AND

Year Two of Program

Complete the following Seven (7) Courses:

Select and Complete One (1) Course from any:

AND

Year Three of Program

Complete the following Five (5) Courses:

Select and Complete One (1) Course from any:

AND

Year Four of Program

Complete the following Five (5) Courses:

Select and Complete One (1) Course from any:

*Please note, the Bachelor of Social Work (BP026) be closed for new enrolments from 2014. Prospective students are able to apply for entry to the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)(BH105).

Academic entrance requirements: Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 or equivalent senior secondary school studies, or RMIT Foundation Studies program, or a recognised post secondary diploma or certificate in a relevant discipline. Applicants with post secondary work experience in this field will also be considered.

VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or at least 25 in any other English.

International English language requirements:

• IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
• TOEFL (Paper based): 580 (TWE 4.5)
• TOEFL (Internet Based Test – iBT): Overall score of 92 with minimum of 20 in any sections
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE(A)): 58 (no band less than 50)
• Cambridge English – Advanced (CAE): CAE Grade B
• RMIT English Worldwide (REW) – English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs: Advanced Plus certificate

Extra requirements Applicants who have completed an Australian Year 12 or equivalent senior secondary school studies, or RMIT Foundation Studies program more than 12 months ago must include with their application a statement outlining their reasons for wanting to study the course and include details of any relevant work or other experience.

These graduate capabilities are derived from guidelines set by the AASW (the accreditation body for Social Workers) and consultation with key stakeholders. The program will equip you with the capacity for:

• Critical Analysis and Problem Solving
• Life-long Learning
• Informed Professional Social Work Practice
• Ethical Practice

Critical Analysis and Problem Solving You will be able to:

• analyse issues of social disadvantage, oppression and marginalisation from a socio-political and economic framework recognising the impact of capitalism on social relations
• analyse the strengths and limits of the state’s policy, legislative and institutional arrangements on the context and practices for addressing social disadvantage
• apply insights drawn from your study of Australian society, politics, history, environmental studies and economics to policy analysis and policy making as well as draw on insights from relevant social and political theory
• do various kinds of applied social research
• identify and use some of the main approaches to policy-making and policy analysis

Life-long learning You will be able to:

• show a commitment to life-long learning and on-going professional development.
• participate robustly in contemporary and changing ideological and political debates impacting on society, in an informed, flexible and grounded manner.

Informed and Professional Social Work Practice You will be able to:

• work with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities
• use relevant interdisciplinary knowledge required for practice
• apply interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in range of practice settings reflecting the contexts and challenges of contemporary social work
• engage in effective written, organizational and public communication

Ethical Practice You will be able to:

• promote social justice and human rights within a global and international perspective
• apply knowledge and practice skills in a manner that confronts structural disadvantage arising from cultural and religious difference, patriarchy, racism, disability, age and discrimination of the basis of sexual preference
• recognise and work constructively with power differentials between human service organisations, practitioners and vulnerable marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities
• promote ethical, respectful, accountable and transparent practice processes
• engage in practical reasoning and understand the value of good judgment in policy making by understanding and using a number of ethical categories to evaluate policy or engage in policy-making and political debate