Course summary

The Bachelor of Social Work is an entry-level, professionally-accredited qualification to practise as a social worker. The course prepares students to work in a diverse range of fields including health and mental health, child and family welfare, cross-cultural work and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, youth work, homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, drug and alcohol, community development, and advocacy.

Underpinned by core principles of social justice and human rights, the course engages students in contemporary anti-oppressive, decolonised and trauma-informed approaches to social work practice. This high job growth area offers a variety of careers in client service roles, service management, research, strategy and policy development.

Core units within the course cover essential theories, methods and skills for social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. These are complemented by foundational studies in Indigenous world views, sociology, politics, human development and social research.

An elective stream provides opportunity for students to pursue their interests and develop knowledge in a range of disciplines, and an optional embedded Honours program is available for those interested in research and pathways to further postgraduate studies and who have maintained a credit average across the first two years of study.  Note: Eligible students who are interested in undertaking the Honours stream in 2023 should consult the Bachelor of Social Work Course Coordinator prior to enrolling in elective units.

Please note: All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). On-campus enrolled students meet this minimum requirement by participating in four units with compulsory attendance. Online students meet this requirement by attending compulsory residential schools conducted at the Gold Coast campus. Units with compulsory participation and on-campus residential schools are identified in the course structure section below (‘note 2’). Students should also refer to the enrolment information for these units.

The Bachelor of Social Work is an entry-level, professionally-accredited qualification to practise as a social worker. The course prepares students to work in a diverse range of fields including health and mental health, child and family welfare, cross-cultural work and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, youth work, homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, drug and alcohol, community development, and advocacy.

Underpinned by core principles of social justice and human rights, the course engages students in contemporary anti-oppressive, decolonised and trauma-informed approaches to social work practice. This high job growth area offers a variety of careers in client service roles, service management, research, strategy and policy development.

Core units within the course cover essential theories, methods and skills for social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. These are complemented by foundational studies in Indigenous world views, sociology, politics, human development and social research.

An elective stream provides opportunity for students to pursue their interests and develop knowledge in a range of disciplines, and an optional embedded Honours program is available for those interested in research and pathways to further postgraduate studies and who have maintained a credit average across the first two years of study.  Note: Eligible students who are interested in undertaking the Honours stream in 2023 should consult the Bachelor of Social Work Course Coordinator prior to enrolling in elective units.

Please note: All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS). On-campus enrolled students meet this minimum requirement by participating in four units with compulsory attendance. Online students meet this requirement by attending compulsory residential schools conducted at the Gold Coast campus. Units with compulsory participation and on-campus residential schools are identified in the course structure section below (‘note 2’). Students should also refer to the enrolment information for these units.

Core units cover sociology, Indigenous world-views, counselling theory and practice, community development introductory, case management and care planning, social research, trauma informed practice, mental health, issues of protection and legal contexts, combined with a significant work placement component.

Students may investigate an area of interest through a choice of four elective units as part of their studies.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply social work values, knowledge and skills in practice and research processes to address client needs, organisational goals and social policy change. Honours pathway: Be able to create research outputs that demonstrate research design skills, critical thinking, initiative and judgement in developing new understanding.

Ensure that clients’ needs are addressed holistically and creatively, drawing on relevant theory, research and practice wisdom.

Promote and implement policies and practices to achieve a fair, equitable and efficient allocation of social resources, and identify inappropriate or inequitable policy goals and outcomes.

Ensure that client needs, organisational goals and community expectations of social work services are met in the most appropriate manner, using social work knowledge, skills and resources.

Demonstrate a commitment to continually increase professional knowledge and skills and to continuing education and lifelong learning.

Effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders , including clients, colleagues and managers including within a multi-disciplinary team environment

Apply knowledge of organisational and societal systems and processes to identify inequality and ensure appropriate action is taken so that social barriers, inequality and injustice are reduced.

Students complete 1,000 hours of supervised placement in a human service organisation as part of your course. Please note, students must obtain a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check.

This is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. As a new course in 2021, it has provisional accreditation and will be rolled out incrementally with the 4th year units becoming available in 2024.

Course overview

Course code

3007316

Course abbreviation

BSW

Credit points

384

Equivalent units

32

Duration

4 years full-time; 8 years part-time

Duration

4 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Term 1 N/A N/A
Online Term 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Commonwealth supported

<p> All students, including those enrolled online, are required to participate in on-campus learning for a minimum of 20 days/150hrs over the duration of the course. This requirement is stipulated by the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).</p>

International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Gold Coast Term 1 $28,000 ($3,500 per unit) 102204F

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work, students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:

  • the equivalent of 26 core units (336 credit points), and
  • one shared minor (48 credit points), or
  • 4 electives (48 credit points)

Honours

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:

  • 23 core units (288 credit points), and
  • the equivalent of 8 honours units (96 credit points)

Students must also maintain a credit average across the degree to be eligible for this award. 

 

Professional Experience Learning / Field Education

This course includes professional experience learning via field education. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience Field Education page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Exit awards

Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points) comprising a minimum of 12 core units (144 credit points) and 4 minor or elective units (48 credit points). 

Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Human Services Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising a minimum of 4 core units (48 credit points) and 4 minor or elective units (48 credit points). 

Schedule of units

Title Note
Students can complete:
Students may choose the Honours option if a credit average across the degree has been maintained, or else complete the following units:
AND
one Shared Minor OR 4 Electives
OR
the embedded Honours option:

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. Assistance on how to enrol can be accessed here.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Notes

Note 1: Triple-weighted unit
Note 2: Residential School