Bachelor of Social Work BSW
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Introduction
The Bachelor of Social Work is a professional four-year degree with a strong practical focus. Social Work graduates are employed in both the public and private sectors, in planning, administration and research, and providing services for young people, families, the aged, people who have committed offences and people with disabilities.
Features of the BSW at UC
- Four-year professional degree
- May be awarded with honours
- Internationally recognised qualification
- New Zealand's longest-established Social Work programme
- Graduates in high demand
- People-orientated degree
- Strong practical component
Recommended preparation
Entry to the first year of the BSW is open to all students with entry to the University. While there are no particular school subjects required for the study of Social Work, a background in subjects which require communication skills such as English, history, geography or te reo Māori are useful. Statistics is useful for higher degrees in Social Work. Volunteer work in the community is also good preparation.
Entry to the third year of the BSW is limited to students who have successfully completed the compulsory 100 and 200-level Social Work courses.
Degree structure
The Bachelor of Social Work consists of two years of general courses and two years of specialist courses with a major focus on fieldwork practice.
The Bachelor of Social Work requires a total of 480 points made up as follows:
- Compulsory Social Work courses: 330 points, including 45 points at 100-level and 45 points at 200-level
- Human Services, Psychology and Sociology courses: 135 points, including at least 30 points at 200-level in one of these subjects (see the BSW elective streams table for the possible combinations)
- Arts course: 15 points.
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Social Work (University Regulations website).
Entry to the first year of the Bachelor of Social Work is open to all students with entry to the University. In your first year, you will take three compulsory courses in Social Work, four courses in Human Services, Psychology and Sociology according to one of three elective streams (see table), and one Arts course of your choice – Māori and Indigenous Studies is recommended.
Entry to Social Work courses at 300-level and above is competitive. Social Work courses at 100 and 200-level can be credited to a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Human Services if you choose not to continue with a Bachelor of Social Work.
Intending students who wish to discuss their planned course of study are welcome to contact the Social Work programme for more information.
In the fourth year of the BSW, fieldwork makes up 80% of the year's work. During this time students work with fieldwork teachers within social service agencies who assist them to integrate the knowledge, values and skills taught at the University with social work practice in the community.
BSW elective streams
| Stream 1 | Stream 2 | Stream 3 |
| 45 points in Psychology and/or Sociology at 100-level | 30 points in Sociology at 100-level, including SOCI 111 and 112 (or their equivalents) | 30 points in Psychology at 100-level, including PSYC 105 and 106 (or their equivalents) |
| 30 points in Human Services at 200-level | 15 points in Psychology at 100-level, including either PSYC 105 or 106 (or their equivalents) | 15 points in Sociology at 100-level, including either SOCI 111 or 112 (or their equivalents) |
| 15 points in Psychology or Sociology at 200-level | 45 points in Sociology at 200-level | 45 points in Psychology at 200-level, including PSYC 206 |
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Social Work (University Regulations website).
Further study
Postgraduate options include:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Social Work BA(Hons)
- Master of Social Work (by thesis) MSW
- Doctor of Philosophy PhD.
Career opportunities
In New Zealand, social workers are employed in both the state and private sectors, providing direct and indirect services. Direct services include those for children, families, the aged, people who have committed offences, and people with disabilities. Indirect services encompass social sector planning, administration and research.
Direct services may include assistance with housing needs, mediation and resolution of family conflict, protection of children who have been abused, facilitating access to benefits and other financial resources, assessment of home and family support for older people, providing group or family therapy, educational programmes for at-risk adolescents, and working with groups aiming to achieve community development.
Social Work graduates work in a wide variety of jobs, including as community development workers, therapists, counsellors, case managers, field workers, youth workers, probation officers, iwi social workers, hospital social workers, service coordinators, policy analysts and researchers.
Social Work graduates are highly sought after internationally, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Contact
For more information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone in NZ 0800 VARSITY (827 748).
For assistance with planning your programme of study contact a College of Arts Student Advisor (advancing students) or Student Liaison (new students) or visit Student Liaison's course planning page (new students).