Bachelor of Social Work with Honours BSW(Hons)

at University of Canterbury

• Follow your interests in topics such as mental health, child welfare, criminal justice, ageing, violence and abuse, and gender and sexuality.

• In fourth year, 75% of your study is made up of fieldwork placements in social service agencies.

• Small class sizes allow you to work closely with staff and other students.

• This degree sets you up to work in the social work field in Aotearoa or overseas, particularly in the UK and Australia where there is a Mutual Recognition Agreement between the NZSWRB and the Australian Association of Social Workers.
   

  The BSW(Hons) requires a total of 480 points:

   

• 405 points of compulsory Social Work courses

• 75 points from a prescribed list of courses

• It is highly recommended that you begin your BSW(Hons) degree in February. Those wanting to begin in July will need to contact the BSW(Hons) Coordinator to organise their programme schedule.
   

  The degree takes 4 years full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 8 years.
   

  Compulsory courses

  Year 1
   

• HSRV103 Violence in Society

• SOWK101 Introduction to Social Policy

• SOWK102 Social Services in Aotearoa

• SOWK104 Youth Realities

• MAOR108 Aotearoa: Introduction to New Zealand Treaty Society OR MAOR165 He Tīmatanga: Engaging with Māori

• Plus a choice of three 100-level courses selected from:
   

• Anthropology

• Criminal Justice

• Education

• Māori and Indigenous Studies

• Political Science and International Relations

• Psychology

• Sociology

• Te Reo Māori

• WRIT101 Writing for Academic Success

• You will need to complete an application for entry into 200-level SOWK courses.

   

• HSRV204 Culture, Indigeneity and Citizenship: Critical Debates for the Human Services

• MAOR212 Māori and Indigenous Development

• SOWK202 Human Behaviour and Human Systems

• SOWK203 Policy Debates in the Social Services

• SOWK205 Social Work and Community Engagement

• SOWK206 Communication for Practice

• SOWK212 Family Violence

• One course selected from these options
   

• Year 3
   

  An application is required for entry to the third year of the BSW(Hons).

   

• SOWK301 Theory, Methods and Integration

• SOWK303 Mental Health

• SOWK304 Indigenous Practice

• SOWK308 Social Work Principles and Skills

• SOWK340 Practice Research for Social Work
   

• Year 4

  Completion of SOWK301 and SOWK308, and an application for entry to the fourth year will need to be made by 30 September in the previous year of study.

   

• SOWK490 Social Work Practice Integration Research Project

• SOWK491 Social Work Fieldwork Practicum I

• SOWK492 Social Work Fieldwork Practicum II

Entry to the first year of the BSW(Hons) is open to everyone with entry to the University.

While no particular secondary school subjects are required, a background in subjects promoting communication skills such as English, history, geography, or te reo Māori is useful. Volunteer work in the community is also good preparation.
 

English language requirements for undergraduate qualifications
 

If you want to study towards a Bachelor Degree (excluding teaching degrees), Certificate of Proficiency, Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma, or Graduate Certificate or Diploma you must have one of the following:
 

This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded)    $29,513

• Gain practical experience through the two fieldwork placements in the fourth year of your degree.

• The combination of theory and practice sets you up with the values, knowledge, and skills needed to work in the social work profession.

• Graduates are working as community development workers, counsellors, social workers, youth workers, policy analysts, educators, and more.