Bachelor of Social Work CU20

The social work program at Central Queensland University has been designed to balance traditional methods of higher education, with a problem-based learning approach. Problem-based learning in each of the core social work courses, provides opportunities to learn in a purposeful and experiential way. Challenges faced by social workers in the field are presented to participants in the course.

Residential schools, detailed resource packages and the use of electronic communications to sustain contact with other group members and University staff, are utilised as each learning group problem solves toward a ‘social work response’ to the problems presented at the beginning of each year.

The program is designed so that it can be studied over distance from anywhere in Australia. All participants are required to attend Residential Schools. The program is committed to the rural and regional outreach of the profession, enabling people from isolated or remote areas to gain internal training and learning in shorter blocks of time. Participants interested in developing practice frameworks for rural practice are strongly urged to apply.

Beyond these compulsory Residentials, the program offers a flexible approach to teaching and learning, allowing participants to integrate volunteerism, work and family commitments with their studies. The program is based upon principles of adult learning and participants are expected to balance initiative, self-directed, autonomous work with small group membership and problem solving. Participants in this program are required to use various forms of communications technology.

Program Structure

To satisfy the requirements of the award, students must complete 36 courses or 192 units of credit as outlined below.

Code	Course
Year 1 – Autumn
SOCL11055	Introduction to Sociology
PSYC11008	Biological Foundations of Psychology
LAWS11045	Law & Welfare of Society A
SOWK11004	Introduction to Social Work (2 term course)
Year 1 – Winter
LAWS11048	Law & Welfare of Society B
SOCL11056	Australian Society
SOWK11004	Introduction to Social Work (2 term course)
PSYC11009	Social Foundations of Psychology
Year 2 – Autumn
SOWK12001	Social Work Skills & Methods (2 term course)
SOCL19065	Rural Sociology or F09511   Rural Social Work*
NURS12128	Drugs in Society
WELF12011	Social Work Theory & Practice II (2 term course)
Year 2 – Winter
SOWK12001	Social Work Skills & Methods (2 term course)
SOCL19062	Policy, Power & Politics
WELF12011	Social Work Theory & Practice II (2 term course)
SOWK12007	Research Methods in Social Work
Year 3 – Autumn
SOCL19066	Community Analysis
SOWK13006	Ethical Social Work Practice
SOWK13008	Contemporary Social Policy
WELF13012	Social Work Theory & Practice III (2 term course)
Year 3 - Winter
SOWK13002	Field Education & Fieldwork I
WELF13012	Social Work Theory & Practice III (2 term course)
Year 4 – Autumn
HRMT11011	Human Resources in Organisations
WELF14013	Social Work Theory & Practice IV (2 term course)
	Elective(1)
Year 4 - Winter
SOWK14003	Field Education & Fieldwork II
WELF14013	Social Work Theory & practice IV (2 term course)
	Elective(2)

Students should complete all courses in each term as stated.

Students studying less than the full-time program in Year 1 are expected to complete the prescribed psychology, sociology and law courses before undertaking Introduction to Social Work.

Notes

1. Students undertaking Honours will be required to study an advanced Research course offered by the School in this term as well as an elective course. Other students may choose an elective offered by the School of Social Work and Welfare Studies or any approved elective from another degree program.
2. Students undertaking Honours will be required to undertake an original piece of research in this course to complete the Honours program as well as an elective course. Other students may choose an elective offered by the School of Social Work & Welfare Studies or any approved elective from another degree program.

Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing will be determined on the student gaining entry to the program and making application for Credit Transfer within the guidelines approved by the AASW.

Degree Rules

1. 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.
2. Students must complete no more than 10 courses at Level 1.
3. A total of 192 units of credit must be achieved for eligibility for the degree to be awarded.
4. Students must observe all conditions and restrictions which are listed in the footnotes to the Table of Course Availability.
5. Students must satisfy all pre- and corequisites as outlined in the Table of Course Availability.
6. Students who fail a course at a second attempt may not re-enrol in that course for a period of 2 years.
7. Field Education and Fieldwork courses which require placement in an approved social work agency are compulsory and may be undertaken only after consultation with, and approval by, the members of the Social Work discipline.
8. No student will be permitted to separately negotiate a Field Education and Fieldwork placement.
9. 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.
10. Compulsory Residential attendance:
    • Regardless of their mode of enrolment all beginning students are required to attend an induction week at CQU Rockhampton to be held prior to Orientation Week of the year in which they commence SOWK11004   Introduction to Social Work. This week is essential in order to outline for students the community-focused model of teaching and learning in social work. A further week -long residential is required in first year. This is usually held in November.
    • There are compulsory week-long Residential attendance requirements in Autumn and Winter terms for the courses:
      • Social Work Theory & Practice II and Social Work Skills & Methods
      • Social Work Theory & Practice III and Field Education & Fieldwork I
      • Social Work Theory & Practice IV and Field Education & Fieldwork II
      
      These will be conducted at CQU Rockhampton.

Bachelor of Social Work with Honours

Students have an opportunity to graduate from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours. Honours allows students to apply research skills in and acquire a deeper appreciation of a particular area or aspect of social work theory and practice. The Honours program also gives students the opportunity to qualify as candidates for Masters and Doctoral Studies at CQU and elsewhere.

Each year a limited number of students are awarded the degree with Honours.

Eligibility Requirements

The Honours program is integrated within the BSW. Therefore, in order to qualify for the award students will be required to:

• Have high level achievement in completing the Bachelor of Social Work course.
• Achieve a grade point average of 5.5 or higher in all Social Work specific courses in years two, three and four of the program plus Introduction to Social Work.
• Complete Elective (1); and Qualitative Research Methods and Advanced Research Methods, and Elective (2); and Qualitative Research Methods and a supervised research project, and receive a grade of credit or better.

Students eligible for consideration for the award of Honours will normally be in the top 30 per cent of final year students at the end of Autumn Term, Year 4. No more than 20 per cent of students in Year 4 will be awarded Honours.

Class of Award

Students may be awarded Honours within the usual classes of such awards within the University.

First Class Honours may be awarded to students who complete all requirements as stated and achieve a Grade Point Average of at least 6. Second Class Honours Division I may be awarded to students who complete all stated requirements and achieve a GPA of at least 5.5. Second Class Honours Division II may be awarded to students completing all stated requirements and who achieve a GPA of at least 5.24.