Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work (MSW) degree structure

Over two years you will enrol in 175 points of coursework subjects and 50 points of field education subjects. In your first year, you will undertake four theory subjects per semester, totalling 43.75 credit points in the first semester and 50 credit points in the second. At mid-year, you will complete a 500-hour (approx. 67 day) supervised field placement block, worth 25 credit points. In your second year, you will undertake four theory subjects totalling 50 credit points in your first semester, followed by another 500-hour supervised field placement worth 25 credit points at mid-year. Your final semester consists of three theory subjects totaling 31.25 credit points, one of which is an elective subject. By completing 25 credit points of research (taken in the MSW as Researching Social Work Practice 1 and 2), you are eligible to apply for the PhD directly after your MSW

Master of Social Work (MSW) degree structure (full-time enrolment)

Not all elective subjects will be available every year. Some may be on a two-year cycle. Students may vary their course plans by negotiation with the Course Coordinator if they wish to undertake a specific elective subject.

As a student of the Master of Social Work you will benefit from:

• a curriculum approved by the Australian Association of Social Workers;
• well-qualified, experienced, research-active and accessible teachers, with strong ties to the profession and community services;
• mixed teaching methods: lectures; tutorials; seminars; collaborative learning; practice simulations;
• a well-developed field education program, including several student units in key agencies in the health, aging, child and family, drug and alcohol and women's services;
• good coverage of particular fields of practice such as: mental health; child and family practice; health; aging; substance abuse;
• excellent student facilities and the backing of a well-resourced major university;
• the excellent employment record for our graduates in a wide range of fields and job descriptions;
• a diverse and talented population of students at entry-to-practice, advanced practice and research levels

Additional Costs

All students undertaking a placement in a hospital, clinic or other health or community environment are required to satisfy a number of requirements, including:

• undergoing a recent National Police Record Check
• holding a valid Working with Children Check for the relevant state/territory, and
• being satisfactorily protected against infectious disease transmission.

Please refer to the Student Placements webpage for detailed information regarding compliance requirements.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The MSW degree:

• Prepares students for professional social work practice in a diverse range of contexts;
• Provides students with foundational theories informing social work practice;
• Introduces students to the methods of social work practice, including casework, counselling, group-work, community development, policy and research;
• Introduces students to the fields of social work practice, including child and family health and mental health;
• Immerses students in practice through two 70 day fieldwork placements;
• Provides a pathway for graduates wanting to pursue doctoral study.

Generic Skills

The MSW aims to offer its students an outstanding graduate course of study, preparing students for professional practice in a diverse range of social work contexts. The course provides students with a nationally and internationally benchmarked course of study, in the theory and practice of social work.

Graduates of the MSW degree will be expected to develop advanced generic skills in the areas of critical thinking, communication and research.

Graduate Attributes

Through the theoretical and practical curricula of the MSW degree, its graduates will be professional social workers who are academically excellent, knowledgeable across disciplines, leaders in communities, attuned to cultural diversity, and active global citizens.