MA Social Work

at Bournemouth University

Course details

You'll complete core units about the social and behavioural science disciplinary base which are central to understanding people and societies in context. You'll then move on to explore specific areas that deal in-depth with childcare and safeguarding, working with adults made vulnerable by a range of factors. This will prepare you for contemporary social work practice. Ethics and values are central to this preparation and you'll study a unit addressing the dilemmas and tensions of working in complex, uncertain situations.

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students. 

Year 1

Core units
 

• Law for Social Work: You will develop an understanding of law and relevant social policy and, through your knowledge and harnessing of relevant skills, be able to use knowledge of law and social policy competently and creatively.

• Applying Social Work Models and Methods: The unit will help you develop an understanding of the complex and multi-layered nature of social work with a strong focus on the practical applications.

• Developing Professional Relationships (Readiness for Direct Practice): This unit aims to facilitate the development of personal and interpersonal communication skills as well as exploring and understanding theory that will aid the application of these skills in professional practice. It incorporates preparation and assessment of your readiness for direct practice through and provides a range of practical guidance, support and knowledge to develop your capabilities against the Professional Capabilities Framework and the HCPC Codes of practice.

• Psychosocial Perspectives of the Life Course: You’ll develop an understanding of human growth, development and behaviour across the lifespan, and different sociological and psychological explanations for this.

• Professional Practice with Children and their Families: This Unit will be underpinned by research and evidence based judgements and students will develop their understanding and competence in assessment and intervention with children and their families. Students will be expected to examine their own beliefs and values in relation to protection work and to build on their previous learning in both theory and practice.

• Professional Practice with Adults: This unit aims to prepare social work students for practice with adults in a variety of settings; making reference to contemporary social work practice issues. This includes approaches to intervention, the legislative framework which mandates practice, professional accountability, applying critical thinking, working with risk and complexity, and the importance of evidence-informed practice.

• First Substantive Placement: This practice based unit provides essential practice experiences that you require in working toward meeting the regulations of the professional body.

Year 2

Core units
 

• Final Substantive Placement – This practice based unit provides essential practice experiences that you require in working toward meeting the regulations of the professional body including the opportunity to undertake statutory tasks and legal interventions.

Optional units:
 

• Dissertation unit: The dissertation draws on conceptual, theoretical and practical knowledge, developed in other units of the programme. It provides the opportunity to consider existing knowledge in a way that is intellectually critical, and has the potential to expand or redefine the application of existing knowledge and/ or contributes to new approaches to practice.

or
 

• Team Working for Service Improvement: The aim of this unit is to enable students to develop the skills of working in small inter-professional teams to design and develop a service improvement or product to enhance the experiences of people who use services and / or their carers. 

and
 

• Critical Literature Review: You will undertake an intellectually challenging and in-depth literature review exploring a topic relevant to contemporary social work practice as grounded in evidenced-based practice.

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:
 

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:1 in any subject, or equivalent. 

• Applicants with a 2:2 may be considered if they have strong relevant work experience.

​If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. 

​Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:
 

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
• Accommodation and living costs. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. 
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

Career progression may lead to you becoming a:
 

• Social Worker
• Community Care Officer
• Team Leader
• Service Manager
• Academic Lecturer.

Should you wish to work as a social worker outside the UK, the Social Work Master’s qualification is recognised in many countries.