Master of Social Work

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Course description

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) provides graduates with a postgraduate professional social work qualification that will allow them entry into the profession. It is specifically designed for graduates holding degrees with specified social and behavioural science components. Students who have already completed a Bachelor of Social Work are not eligible to apply.

The program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, values and ethical foundations for social work practice in contemporary social policy and human service contexts.

Graduates are likely to be employed in a variety and range of settings and contexts including government and non-government agencies in a range of health and human service sectors.

This program has been approved by the Australian Government for student income support payments from 1 January 2008 (Youth Allowance, Austudy and the Pensioner Education Supplement). Students should contact Centrelink ^{(new window)} for more information about their eligibility for student income support.

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Career outcomes

This degree prepares graduates for practice in a range of social work roles including working with individuals, groups and families, community work, advocacy, research, planning and policy development and management and administration. The frameworks for practice embedded in the program are designed to ensure graduates are effective, ethical, and innovative thinkers, communicators, problem-solvers, change facilitators and leaders.

There are career opportunities for social workers in government, non-government and private sector agencies with jobs in hospital and community health settings, youth work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, child and family welfare, child protection, youth and adult offending, employment and income support, aged care, community development, family support, disability services, services for women, multicultural services and many other social welfare organisations.

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Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers ^{(new window)}

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must hold a suitable bachelors degree or postgraduate equivalent in related fields (other than Social Work)* and covering:

• required courses in psychology and social sciences:
  • at least the equivalent of two courses/units in studies in society (i.e. social science) and
  • two courses/units in studies of human behaviour and/or development (i.e. psychology).

* This will include (but not be limited to) programs in human services, social sciences, behavioural sciences, psychological sciences, nursing and education.

This program is not available to international students.

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Program Fees

This postgraduate program has Commonwealth supported places. If you are eligible, the Australian Government will contribute to the cost of this program but you will also be required to make a contribution. If you are ineligible for a Commonwealth supported place, you will be required to pay full tuition fees.

CSP eligibility

Domestic students* are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) in an eligible program if they have:

• sufficient Student Learning Entitlement
• provided a signed or an electronically completed Request for Commonwealth Support and HECS-HELP form**
• met the University's entry requirements for their chosen program.

* Domestic students are any students who are:

• Australian citizens
• or New Zealand citizens residing in Australia
• or holders of an Australian permanent residency visa
• or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

HECS-HELP eligibility

**Not all Commonwealth supported students are eligible for HECS-HELP

To be eligible for HECS-HELP, a student must be:

• a Commonwealth supported student and
• an Australian citizen or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa.

New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place are not eligible for HECS-HELP. They must pay their total student contribution charge by the relevant Griffith University census date and do not receive a discount.

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How to apply

This program is restricted and enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this program.

Please complete the application form below.

2012 Master of Social Work Application (PDF, 138 KB)

Applications should be emailed to: apply@open.edu.au or faxed to: +61 3 8628 2989.

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On-Campus Requirements

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) commences with an introductory 3039HSV Social Work in Context which is offered in Sessions 2 and 3 of each year. This introductory unit includes a compulsory five day face-to-face intensive at Griffith's Gold Coast campus. The focus of the intensive is to assess a student's interpersonal communication skills in preparation for their subsequent practical placement. The second on-campus intensive is part of the final unit, 4002HSV Critical Reflective Practice. Both of these intensives are compulsory and are required as part of the accreditation standards.

Students must pass the introductory course 3039HSV Social Work in Context to continue in the program and undertake the practicum course 7034HSV Social Work Field Placement 1. The face-to-face intensive will provide students with an invaluable opportunity to meet and network with their student cohort, lecturers and industry practitioners.

• The Session 2 intensive is scheduled in October
• The Session 3 intensive is scheduled in February.

Award requirements

The Master of Social Work degree program requires the completion of 12 core units and 1 elective unit

Designated courses for the purposes of exclusion

The courses listed below are designated for the purposes of the Griffith University Policy on Academic Standing, Progress and Exclusion. A student who fails a designated course will be subject to review by the Health Assessment Board and may be excluded from the program.

• 3039HSV Social Work in Context
• 7034HSV Social Work Field Placement 1
• 7044HSV Social Work Field Placement 2

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Recognition of prior learning / credit

Griffith University may award additional credit for courses complete at postgraduate level, where these courses are equivalent in content to our MSW course. Students can apply for credit by lodging a credit transfer application form.

Recognition of Prior Learning can also be assessed on the basis of work experience for field placement. This is an internal application process within the School of Human Services and Social Work.

Course structure