Bachelor of Social Work

Social workers make an important contribution to the wellbeing and improvement of society. With a strong commitment to social justice and human rights, social workers can be found working with people who are disadvantaged and marginalised by society because of poverty or personal circumstances.

As a UOW Social Work graduate you will enter the labour market with extensive skills and knowledge and supervised professional practice experience. You will be ready to promote social change and development, and improve the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Providing a balance of skills, concepts and theory, as well as hands-on experience, this degree will cover five areas: study of the individual and society; skills for practice; enactment of social justice; engaging with community; and supervised professional practice.

The intensive professional experience in this degree will allow you to practise your skills with real people, in real world situations, giving you first-hand social work experience. This experience ensures you are job-ready when graduating, making you highly attractive to employers.

Areas of study

Interdisciplinary foundation subjects examining the individual and society in first and second year; compulsory professional social work subjects (eg skills for practice, enactment of social justice, engaging with community, supervised professional practice) in second, third and fourth years.

Career opportunities

As a professionally accredited social worker you will find employment in a variety of areas including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, aged care, children and child protection, community-based research, community development, disability, family services, health, homelessness, housing, mental health, migrant and refugees services, program planning and evaluation, social planning, social policy, women (including domestic violence) and trauma or youth services.

Professional recognition

Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards 2012 (ASWEAS). All graduates of this course have the same standing as graduates from all other AASW accredited courses and are eligible for membership of the AASW, which is required by many employers. AASW Accredited Programs.

Practical experience

1,000 hours of compulsory professional experience in two placements in the third and fourth years of the course in a variety of agencies in the region.

Honours

Embedded in the fourth year of the degree and entry is dependent on merit in the first three years of the course.

Fees and charges

Refer to University of Wollongong current fee information.