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A Bachelor of Social Work qualification requires 4 years full-time study or 8 years part-time study. Social work content in the curriculum is delivered using flexible approaches to learning and delivery including one residential per term on-campus, supported on-line learning environments between residentials, community- focussed learning or an emphasis on the analysis of case studies relevant to social work practice, and supervised fieldwork placements in government and community organisations around Australia and internationally. The program focuses on the acquisition of contemporary knowledge to prepare competent graduates for the complex challenges of the human services sector, skills informed by that knowledge, and opportunities to consolidate or challenge personal and professional values.

Students who receive credit for courses that have a compulsory residential attached are not required to attend those residentials. During residential schools students have the opportunity to consolidate their on-line learning, develop and advance their skills in collaborative analysis and practice with peers and social work staff, and build state-wide or national networks. 

Field placements are compulsory in years 3 and 4 of the program. Fieldwork 1 is 12 weeks durationFieldwork 2 is 16 weeks duration. Both placements take place in an agency approved by the University and with supervision by a qualified social worker. Placements may be organised in international, metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. At least one rural placement is strongly encouraged. Placements can also be co-ordinated in international agency contexts. Students must complete all courses in accordance with pre-requisites, undertake a successful interview with the fieldwork co-ordinator, and complete all necessary administrative paperwork and some legal documents in order to be eligible for the offer of a placement.

Compulsory residential school attendance - refer to link here.

There are compulsory three day residential schools attached to the following courses:

1st year residential program:

SOWK11014 Contemporary Human Services (Term 1)

SOWK 11015 Professional Communication in Human Services  (Term 2)

2nd year residential program:

SOWK 12009 Casework & Case Management  (Term 1)

SOWK 12011 Social Group Work & Family Work  (Term 2)

3rd year residential program:

SOWK 13010  Integrating Theory & Practice 1 (Term 1)  

SOWK 13011 Community Practice (Term 2)

4th year residential program:

SOWK 14005  Advanced Professional Communication Skills (Term 1)

SOWK 14010  Integrating Theory & Practice 2 (Term 2)

It is a requirement of enrolment in this program that students have access to the CQUniversity website via internet. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the program using email and the Internet.

It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.

While not compulsory, students who have access to a webcam and video-conferencing software will enhance the collaboration with other students and engagement with staff across distance.

All coursework undertaken contributes to academic decisions about whether a student will be permitted to progress through the curriculum and enter fieldwork placements.  Several courses offered in CG79  require students to submit a portfolio demonstrating their achievements including their interpretations of feedback received from academic staff about the acquisition of social work knowledge, values, and skills. The portfolio may be used to inform decisions about being counselled to exit the program. In addition, criteria attached to assessment items and the observations or feedback about participation at on-campus residentials offered by academic staff will contribute to academic counsel about exiting the program.

Credit transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies equivalent in content and depth to the CQUniversity program has been successfully completed. Students should examine the course synopses in this handbook to determine the courses for which they may be eligible to claim exemption and provide documented evidence that they have successfully completed courses with equivalent content. Credit transfer must meet the guidelines approved by the AASW.

Refer to the Credit Transfer website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process.

Only Field education 1 can be considered for recognition of prior learning and the Program Advisor can provide information about the application required.

Recognition of prior learning for SOWK13009 Field education 1 is a direct application forwarded to the Head of Program, Darren de Warren <d.dewarren@cqu.edu.au>.  Consultation then takes place with the Field Education Co-ordinators responsible for the assessment of field education readiness. Exemption from SOWK13009, in total or in part, is assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards policy (ASWEAS 2010). First, check your eligibility for recognition of prior learning toward SOWK13009 by referring to the history of employment in the human services required by the AASW in the section titled ‘Recognition of Prior Learning' (ASWEAS p.21). 

If you meet the criterion for employment history you are invited to submit a professional portfolio in hard copy. Applications must be lodged by the 31^st of August each year to be considered for exemptions from SOWK13009, Term 1 Year 3, in the following academic year, commencing usually in the second week of March.  Final decisions about successful applications will not be made until certification of grades is complete for all Year 2 coursework; usually  October of the year prior to SOWK13009.

The submission must include:

• A full CV
• Evidence of employment in the human services for at least the last three years and at least five years full-time employment during the previous ten
• Evidence of tasks undertaken in the workplace that demonstrate the accomplishment of learning outcomes identified in SOWK13009 Field education 1 linked to and supported by Position Descriptions
• Evidence of duties, professional development, and reflective practice demonstrating the Practice Standards you believe you have accomplished in your employment to date (see http://www.aasw.asn.au/ > Publications>Ethics and Standards)
• Evidence of the integration of theory and practice, applied professional values and ethics, in a case study format in accordance with the course profile for SOWK13010 Integrating theory and practice 1. Please note that you will not be exempt from SOWK13010 if successfully credited with SOWK13009. The case study completed for this application will then form a major submission for SOWK13010. 
• Signatories to all of the above who verify its accuracy, such as supervisors and managers, with significant weight will be given to those who are eligible for membership with the AASW.

All of the above must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please do not forward multiple attachments in electronic form. Your Professional Portfolio can be submitted in bound hard copy or links to an (e)portfolio site.

• Students must satisfactorily complete the courses outlined in the program schedule in the order and sequence stated, unless granted Advanced Standing in one or more of the courses specified.
• Students must complete no more than 10 courses at Level 1.
• A total of 192 units of credit must be achieved for eligibility for the degree to be awarded.
• Students must observe all conditions and restrictions which are listed in the footnotes of the Table of Course Availability.
• Students must satisfy all prerequisites and co-requisites as outlined in the Table of Course Availability.
• Field education 1 and 2 which require placement in an approved social work agency are compulsory and may be undertaken only after consultation with, and approved by the BSW Field Education Coordinator.
• No student will be permitted to separately negotiate a field education placement without consultation with the Field Education Coordinator.
• Unless approved by the course coordinator, students will not be permitted to proceed to the next year of the program until they have passed all requirements of the previous year of the program.

Students have the opportunity to graduate from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours. The Honours component of the program is integrated into Year 4 of the curriculum. Participation in the Honours program enables students to learn and apply research knowledge and skills in a particular area of social work practice. The Honours program also gives students the opportunity to qualify as candidates for masters and doctoral studies at CQUniversity and elsewhere.

To be eligible for Honours, students must attain a minimum grade of Credit in either SOWK12007 Social Work Research Methods or SOCL19069 Social Research Methods. On completion of 144 credit points a grade point average will be calculated and if the minimum requirements are met those eligible will receive an invitation to undertake Honours from the Head of Program. Once students accept their invitation into the honours program the student will need to contact the Head of Program to ensure correct course selection.

Eligibility requirements

The Honours program is integrated with Year 4 of the BSW. Full-time and part-time students are eligible for Honours. Therefore, in order to be eligible for the Honours program students will be required to:

• Achieve a grade point average of 5.5 or higher on results certified for the following courses:

SOCL19069

SOWK12008

SOWK12009

SOWK12010

SOWK12011

SOWK12012

SOWK12013

SOWK12014

SOWK13011

SOWK13010

SOWK13012

SOWK13013

SOWK14004

• To be awarded honours, the student must successfully complete SOWK 14008 Honours Coursework: Research Methods and SOWK 14011 Honours Project: Dissertation

• Students eligible to enrol in SOWK14008 Honours coursework will undertake this study in lieu of the Advanced Level elective. Students who have been granted credit for both Advanced level electives must consult with the Head of Program in relation to suitable alternative study plans.

• Students eligible to undertake SOWK14011 Honours dissertation undertake this course in lieu of SOWK14010 Integrating theory and practice 2.

Class of award

Students will be awarded honours within the usual classes of such awards within the University. First Class Honours is awarded to students who receive a High Distinction in the mean calculation of marks awarded in SOWK 14008 Honours Coursework: Research Methods and SOWK 14011 Honours Project: Dissertation High Distinction.  Second Class Honours Division I will be awarded to students who achieve a Distinction in the mean calculation of marks for SOWK 14008 and SOWK14011. Second Class Honours Division II will be awarded to students who receive a Credit in the mean calculation of marks for SOWK 14008 and SOWK 14011. Third Class Honours will be awarded to students who receive a Pass in the mean calculation of marks for SOWK 14008 and SOWK14011.