The Degree of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
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The following regulations apply to students commencing study within the 2012 academic year (January 2012-December 2012). For previously published regulations, refer to the Calendar archive (Academic Quality Assurance Unit website).
Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Work
See also General Course and Examination Regulations.
Every candidate for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Work shall follow a course of study as laid down in these Regulations consisting of not fewer than 480 points.
To qualify for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Work a candidate must pass courses which shall be selected from the Schedule to these regulations and have a minimum total value of 480 points comprising:
These regulations took effect from 1 January 2011. A candidate enrolled before 2011 may complete under the 2010 regulations, providing they complete their course of study before 31 December 2013. Candidates may apply to the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences for such variation as the Dean may determine.
Progress in Social Work courses is subject to limitations of entry. Candidates not proceeding in Social Work beyond the 100-level or 200-level may apply to have their credit points transferred to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.
A personal course of study having an EFTS value (course weight) of more than 150 points for a full-year course of study or 75 points for a single semester course of study is regarded as excessive. Candidates who wish to enrol for a course of study whose total course weight exceeds 150 points for a whole year or 75 points for a single semester course of study must first seek the advice of the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences.
A candidate enrolled for courses for credit to the Bachelor of Social Work taken from the Schedule to the Regulations of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts will be entitled to the concessions applying to those courses in Bachelor of Arts Regulation 4.
Note: Approved credit for nursing and allied health studies includes the following: a Comprehensive Nursing Studies programme completed at a New Zealand Polytechnic; hospital-trained registered nurses, including those with Advanced Diploma credit; Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy qualifications completed at a New Zealand Polytechnic.
The Degree of Bachelor of Social Work may be awarded with or without Honours. A candidate who has fulfilled the requirements herein prescribed for the degree and whose work has been of a sufficiently high standard may be recommended by the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences for admission to the degree with first or Second Class Honours. The candidates obtaining Second Class Honours shall be listed in two divisions (Division I and Division II).
The class of Honours awarded shall be determined by the candidate's performance in the third and fourth years of the (full-time) BSW. Part-time students shall be eligible for Honours only if they complete the third and fourth year BSW papers within four years of enrolment in any of the third year papers.
Candidates who have passed all courses and completed all other requirements for a BSW(Hons) but whose performance in the courses is deemed by the Head of the School of Social Work and Human Services, upon recommendation by the examiners, not to be of Honours standard, will be awarded a Degree of Bachelor of Social Work without Honours.
Enrolment into SOWK 301, SOWK 308, SOWK 451, SOWK 471 and SOWK 472 is limited in accordance with the Limitation of Entry Regulations.
Application for admission to SOWK 301 and SOWK 308 must be made in the previous year by 30 September. Every candidate shall have been accepted as a candidate by the Head of the School of Social Work and Human Services following an interview, review of application materials, and Police vetting.
Application for admission to SOWK 451, SOWK 471, and SOWK 472 shall be made in the previous year by 30 September. Every candidate shall have been accepted as a candidate by the Head of the School of Social Work and Human Services following a review of application materials, including a repeat request for disclosure of information to the Licensing and Vetting Service Centre, Police National Headquarters.
Candidates shall not enrol in limited entry social work courses unless they meet criteria in relation to suitability, including criteria identified in School of Social and Political Sciences application documentation; the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board's Entitlement to registration fit and proper person policy statement; and the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics.
A student's enrolment in limited entry social work courses may be refused or cancelled if a student, in the opinion of the Programme Coordinator, does not meet suitability criteria, including in general terms the suitability "fit and proper person" criteria for registration of social workers in New Zealand, set down by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003.
For Fieldwork courses SOWK 471 and 472, candidates will be required to undertake fieldwork practice in social service agencies under the supervision of accredited fieldwork educators. Before being recommended to agencies by the Fieldwork Co-ordinator, candidates must:
Candidates enrolled in SOWK 301, SOWK 308, SOWK 451, SOWK 471 and SOWK 472 whose circumstances change in regard to character or suitability must inform their Director of Programme immediately. Changes in circumstances, whether notified by the candidate or others, may result in the candidate being required to undergo a reassessment of suitability arranged by the Programme Coordinator.
Fieldwork is assessed and a pass must be obtained in Fieldwork 471 before enrolment is permitted in SOWK 472.
Schedule to the Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Work
For full course information, go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses
Group A: Required courses
Students are required to select courses totalling 375 points from Group A. Full-time students are required to complete: SOWK 451, SOWK 456, and Fieldwork courses (SOWK 471 and SOWK 472). Part-time students must complete: SOWK 301 with SOWK 308, and SOWK 451 with SOWK 471 and SOWK 472 in the last two years of study.
| Course Code | Course Title |
| SOWK 101 | Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Human Services |
| SOWK 102 | Human Services in Aotearoa |
| SOWK 104 | Youth Realities |
| HSRV 103 | Violence in Society |
| SOWK 201 | Communication in the Human Services |
| SOWK 202 | Human Behaviour and Human Systems |
| SOWK 203 | Policy Debates in the Social Services |
| HSRV 204 | Culture, Indigeneity, and Citizenship: Critical Debates for the Human Services |
| HSRV 206 | Child Protection Practice |
| SOWK 301 | Foundations of Social Work Practice |
| SOWK 303 | Mental Health |
| SOWK 304 | Indigenous Practice |
| SOWK 308 | Social Work Principles and Skills |
| SOWK 309 | Social Work Practice and the Law |
| SOWK 310 | Research Methods in Social Work |
| SOWK 451 | Social Work Practice Integration |
| SOWK 456 | Research Project |
| SOWK 471 | Social Work Practicum 1 |
| SOWK 472 | Social Work Practicum II |
Note: Fieldwork courses (SOWK 471 AND SOWK 472) are assessed and a pass must be obtained.
Group B: Elective courses
The following courses listed in the Schedule to the Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, amounting to 90 points and taken either as Elective Stream 1, or as Elective Stream 2, or as Elective Stream 3:
Elective Stream 1
Elective Stream 2
Elective Stream 3
Note: Prerequisites, restrictions and limitations may apply as shown in the BA Schedule.
Group C: Optional courses
A minimum of 15 points from courses at any level listed in the Schedule to the Regulations for the Bachelor of Arts.
Note: Prerequisites, restrictions and limitations may apply to courses in Groups B and C as shown in the BA Schedule. Details can be seen in the Course Catalogue section.