Undergraduate
Bachelor of Social Work
2020
As a social worker, you will work with people to achieve changes to improve their lives. You will guide and support the individual client, family, or community to meet their goals.
You will do this by providing support, counselling, case management, and/or community development. You will be an advocate for social change to create a more socially just society. You will walk beside those who are vulnerable, identifying their strengths and capacity for making change.
With the Bachelor Social Work, you will gain the knowledge and skills required to work with individuals, families, groups and communities. You will develop practical skills to work effectively and safely with those in crisis, vulnerable or impacted by poverty and social disadvantage.
Key areas of your coursework include multi-disciplinary practice, cross-cultural practice and working in virtual contexts and with practical skills based on the entry/application requirements of organisations.
Career opportunities
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in areas including child protection, income support, community health, community development, counselling, youth work, mental health, hospital social work, education and corrections.
Professional recognition
Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work qualify for membership to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
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The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2019.
Applicant background (Semester one intake 2019) No. of Students % of all Students A. Higher education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)18 48.6 B. Vocational education and training (VET) study 15 40.5 C. Work and life experience
(Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)<5 N/P D. Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)
<5 N/P - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
<5 N/P - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
<5 N/P International students N/A N/A All students N/A N/A Notes
"<5" - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students. -
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Course structure
The course is a 4 year full-time program comprised of core, common and elective units including introductory units in social work, psychology and sociology, direct practice with individuals and groups, community work and community development, theories of social work practice, legal issues, social policy and remote and regional practice. The core units include practical skill development combined with theoretical knowledge. Students will undertake two practicums undertaking contact with clients and in social policy/research roles.
The BSW is offered both internally and online. As part of the requirements for completion of the degree students are mandated to attend 20 days of face to face classes, as a requirement of the professional accreditation with AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers).
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 320 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Common Units (2 units) |
20cp |
Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below. CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory) Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. |
| Core Units (25 units) |
290cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 290 credit points as per the list of units detailed below. PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A |
| Specialist Electives (0 units) |
0cp | Specialist Elective units totalling 0 credit points
There are no specialist elective units for this course |
| Electives (1 unit) |
10cp | Elective units totalling 10 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University
|
| 320cp | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 320 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 120 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 80 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Study plan
All students are required to attend compulsory intensive workshops.
Students Commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard full time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge and pre-requisites for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. SWK201.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU |
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | IAS222 Global Sociology (replaces SOC145 from 2020) | CO |
| IAS123 Sociological Perspectives (replaces SOC140 from 2020) | CO | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO |
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services | CO | SWK103 Social Work Skills A (contains 5-day intensive) | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| IAS245 Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives (replaces ATI200 from 2020) | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations | CO | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work | CO |
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities | CO | SWK203 Social Work Skills B (contains 5-day intensive) | CO |
| SWK311 Social Policy | CO | SWK302 Social Work Theory and Practice (contains 5-day intensive) (only available in Study Period 2 from 2019) | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| SWK312 Social Research Methods | CO | SWK314 Ethics, Rights and Social Justice | CO |
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership | CO | SWK330 Field Education A (30cp) | CO |
| SWK315 Social Work Practice in Mental Health | CO | ||
| SWK323 Legal Issues and Social Work (previously SWK403) | CO | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| SWK402 Integrated Methods in Social Work (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | SWK316 Building Safe Communities (previously SWK401) | CO |
| SWK430 Field Education B (30cp) | CO | SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and Grief (previously SWK404) | CO |
| SWK318 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK405) | CO | ||
| Elective 1 | E | ||
Students Commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard full time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. SWK201.
Elective units may be selected from any undergraduate higher education units on offer (in any discipline).
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | ||
| IAS222 Global Sociology (replaces SOC145 from 2020) | CO | ||
| SWK102 Communication Skills | CO | ||
| SWK103 Social Work Skills A (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work | CO |
| IAS123 Sociological Perspectives (replaces SOC140 from 2020) | CO | SWK203 Social Work Skills B (contains 5-day intensive) | CO |
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services | CO | SWK302 Social Work Theory and Practice (contains 5-day intensive) (only available in Study Period 2 from 2019) | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| IAS245 Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives (replaces ATI200 from 2020) | CO | SWK314 Ethics, Rights and Social Justice | CO |
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations | CO | SWK330 Field Education A (30cp) | CO |
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities | CO | ||
| SWK311 Social Policy | CO | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| SWK312 Social Research Methods | CO | SWK316 Building Safe Communities (previously SWK401) | CO |
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership | CO | SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and Grief (previously SWK404) | CO |
| SWK315 Mental Health Social Work | CO | SWK318 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK405) | CO |
| SWK323 Legal Issues in Social Work (previously SWK403) | CO | Elective 1 | E |
| Year 5 | |||
| SWK402 Integrated Methods in Social Work (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | ||
| SWK430 Field Education B (30cp) | CO | ||
Students commencing in Summer Semester
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a reduced load. Students entering this course in Summer Semester would normally commence with one, two or three external units and should use the table below as a guide to creating an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester | |||
| Calendar Year 1 | |||||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | ||||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||||
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | ||||
| Calendar Year 2 | |||||
| IAS123 Sociological Perspectives (replaces SOC140 from 2020) | CO | IAS222 Global Sociology (replaces SOC145 from 2020) | CO | ||
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services | CO | SWK102 Communication Skills | CO | ||
| IAS245 Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives (replaces ATI200 from 2020) | CO | SWK103 Social Work Skills A (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | ||
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations | CO | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work | CO | ||
| Calendar Year 3 | |||||
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO | ||
| SWK311 Social Policy | CO | SWK203 Social Work Skills B (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | ||
| SWK312 Social Research Methods | CO | SWK314 Ethics, Rights and Social Justice | CO | ||
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership | CO | SWK302 Social Work Theory and Practice (contains 5-day intensive) (only available in Study Period 2 from 2019) | CO | ||
| Calendar Year 4 | |||||
| SWK315 Mental Health Social Work | CO | SWK316 Building Safe Communities (previously SWK401) | CO | ||
| SWK330 Field Education A (30cp) | CO | SWK317 Dynamics of Loss and Grief (previously SWK404) | CO | ||
| SWK318 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK405) | CO | ||||
| Calendar Year 5 | |||||
| SWK323 Legal Issues in Social Work (previously SWK403) | CO | SWK430 Field Education B (30cp) | CO | ||
| SWK402 Integrated Methods in Social Work (contains 5-day intensive) | CO | ||||
| Elective 1 | E | ||||
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual course tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points for commencing students in 2020 is AUD $25,832.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.