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Bachelor of Social Work CU20

Program at a glance

Program aim

The social work degree at Central Queensland University is an innovative four year program which is offered in flexible delivery mode. Students, (social workers in training) are encouraged to become self-directed and active learners through the community focused learning curriculum. Community focused learning affords participants opportunities for experiential learning and provides challenges based on everyday social work practice.

Distance education includes resource packages, the use of information and communication technology and residential schools on the Rockhampton campus. Social workers in training form learning groups to maintain contact with each other and to work collaboratively on group projects. University staff members work with the learning groups offering support and facilitating learning.

All participants are required to attend two week-long residentials each year and to have access to information and communication technology.

In third and fourth years of the degree program social workers in training complete a fourteen week fieldwork placement supervised by a qualified social worker.

The social work program is accessible to candidates living anywhere in Australia and is particularly suited to people living in rural and remote areas. It incorporates a strong emphasis on rural practice and is inclusive of social workers in training from diverse backgrounds.

As part of the fieldwork and residentials, social workers in training are required to participate in groupwork and individual self-development exercises. The program may challenge personal values and attitudes as social workers in training develop both personally and professionally.

Career options

With a social work qualification, it is possible to work in many different fields including: public service departments, community health centres, hospitals, local government authorities, non-government welfare agencies, industrial environments and the private practice. Social workers are involved in a diverse range of activities including: counselling, needs assessment, community development, groupwork, policy formation, research and administration.

Program structure

To satisfy the requirements of the award, students must complete 28 courses or 192 units of credit as outlined below.

Electives: SOWK19020 Social Work in the Criminal Justice System (Term 2); SOWK19021 Social Work and Mental Health (Term 1); SOWK19024 Practice Frameworks: Child & Family (Term 1)

*These courses are undertaken by those students completing the Honours program during Year 4 in lieu of electives 1 and 2.

Students should complete all courses in each term as stated.

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

Notes

1. Students undertaking Honours during Year 4 will be required to study an advanced Research course offered by the School and will be required to complete an original piece of research. Students not undertaking Honours may choose an elective offered by the School of Social Work and Welfare Studies or any approved elective from another degree program during Term 1 and 2 of Year 4.
2. Electives may be chosen from SOWK19021, SOWK19020 and SOWK19024.
3. Note carefully: SOWK11012 must be completed before SOWK11013 SOWK19014 must be completed before SOWK19015 SOWK19016 must be completed before SOWK19017 sowk19018 must be completed before SOWK19019 SOWK11010 must be completed before SOWK11011

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. 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 Fieldwork Coordinator of the School of Social Work and Welfare Studies.
7. No student will be permitted to separately negotiate a Field Education and Fieldwork placement without consultation with the Field Coordinator.
8. 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.
9. 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 SOWK11012 Introduction to Social Work. This week is essential in order to outline for students the community-focussed model of teaching and learning in social work. A further week -long residential is required in first year. This is usually held in October/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, Field Education & Fieldwork I and Ethical Social Work Practice
• Social Work Theory & Practice IV and Field Education & Fieldwork II

These will be conducted at CQU Rockhampton or in other locations determined from time to time by the School.

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Application for credit transfer

Credit transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies equivalent in content and depth to the CQU 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. Credit transfer must meet the guidelines approved by the AASW. For more information contact the program coordinator.

Bachelor of Social Work with Honours

Students have the opportunity to graduate from the Bachelor of Social Work with Honours. The Honours component of the course is integrated into Year 4 of the curriculum. Honours 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 CQU and elsewhere.

Eligibility requirements

The Honours program is integrated with Year 4 of the BSW. 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 in Introduction to Social Work and all Social Work specific courses in years two and three of the program.
• To be awarded Honours, the student must successfully complete Qualitative Research Methods A & B. This can be done on either a part-time or full-time basis.

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 complete all requirements as stated and achieve an overall grade of High Distinction. Second Class Honours Division I will be awarded to students who complete all stated requirements and achieve an overall grade of Distinction. Second Class Honours Division II will be awarded to students completing all stated requirements and who achieve an overall grade of Credit. Third Class Honours will be awarded to students who complete all stated requirements and achieve an overall Pass grade.

• CQU CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD - 00219C; NSW - 01315F; VIC - 01624D
• This handbook was correct as at: 31 May 2005
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