Changes to the Bachelor of Social Work
- Why change the program?
- What does this mean for me?
- Changes to courses in 2017
- How to transfer into the new Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
Why Change the Program?
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a national framework of qualifications in the Australian education and training sector. This framework covers qualifications in higher education (including universities), vocational education and training (TAFE) and schools. With this framework Australian qualifications are more easily compared with qualifications from other countries, and also with qualifications from different institutions within Australia.
Currently the Bachelor of Social Work is an AQF level 7 Bachelor Degree program. In 2017 the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work are introducing the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) that is an AQF level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree program. This honours program will replace the Bachelor of Social Work as the undergraduate social work program.
An information session regarding this change was held on 26 October 2016. For your reference this session was recorded and has now been made available online, please see the below resources.
The below information provides a guide for students regarding the changes. Should students wish to seek advice regarding their specific situation they are welcome to contact the School (nmsw@enquire.uq.edu.au or 3365 2068).
What does this mean for me?
I commenced prior to 2015.
Students who commenced the Bachelor of Social Work prior to 2015 have the option of graduating with on-course honours. In order to graduate with an honours award (and classification), students are required to achieve the minimum GPA and complete a specified list of courses to undertake the Honours Stream (this GPA and list of courses can be found at online). The class of honours will be determined on the basis of academic performance in specified courses and in accordance with PPL 3.50.12.
If students who commenced the program prior to 2015 choose to transfer to the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) program they will be eligible to receive credit for all their Bachelor of Social Work courses, with the exception of SWSP4100 and SWSP4033. Please see refer to the ‘Changes to Courses’ section below for more details.
I commenced in 2015 – 2016.
Students who commenced the Bachelor of Social Work in 2015 or 2016 do not have the option in their program rules to graduate with on-course honours. Therefore to graduate with honours they will need to transfer to the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) program.
Students who elect to transfer to the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) program, will be eligible to receive credit for all their Bachelor of Social Work courses, with the exception of SWSP4100 and SWSP4033. Please see refer to the ‘Changes to Courses’ section below for more details.
Changes to Courses in 2017
The full course list for the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) is available online.
| Course Change |
Remain in BSocWk |
Transfer to BSocWk (Hons) |
|---|---|---|
|
#2 unit BA elective replaced with HLTH1000 Professions, People and Healthcare |
No change - students to complete the #2 unit BA elective. |
No change - students complete the #2 unit BA elective and receive credit for HLTH1000. |
|
SWSP3302 Research in Social Work and Human Services Practice replaced with SWSP3303 Advanced Research in Social Work and Human Services |
No change - students to complete SWSP3302. |
Students who have completed SWSP3302 will receive credit for SWSP3303. Students who have not yet undertaken SWSP3302 to complete SWSP3303. |
|
SWSP4033 Research & Evaluation for Social Work Practice (#2) and SWSP4100 Contemporary Social Work: Frameworks for Advanced Practice (#2) replaced with SWSP4034* Advanced Research and Evaluation for Social Work Practice (#4) *SWSP4034 is a year-long course offered in Year 4. |
No change - students to complete SWSP4033 and SWSP4100. |
No credit will be granted for SWSP4034. Students who have already completed SWSP4033 and/or SWSP4100 are encouraged to remain in the AQF7 program. Students who elect to transfer will not receive credit for SWSP4033 and/or SWSP4100, and are required to complete SWSP4034. |
|
Advanced Field Specialisation (AFS) The structure and content of these courses has been reviewed and are now #2 units each, reduced from #4. SWSP4179 Health and Aging #4 *** SWSP4178 Child, Youth and Family #4 *** SWSP4176 Mental Health #4 This change will enable students to undertake a broader range of courses for their minor or Part C. |
Students who have completed the #4 unit AFS course are unaffected by this change. Students who have not completed a #4 unit AFS course to complete two #2 unit AFS courses. Alternatively, students are able to complete a minor and #2 units from Part B. |
Students who have completed a #4 unit AFS course will receive #4 units of credit towards their minor or Part C. Students who have not completed a #4 unit AFS course will be required to complete two #2 unit AFS courses. |
|
Child, Youth and Family Minor PSYC2311 Developmental Disorders of Childhood is no longer offered. |
All students undertaking the Child, Youth and Family minor are able to undertake SOCY2040 Families, Households and the Life as a replacement | |
Transferring to the new Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) Program
There will be two opportunities for students to transfer to the new Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) program. Students will be required to lodge an internal program change request, via mySI-net.
Opportunity 1:
Program Change Open: 2 January 2017
Program Change Close: 17 February 2017
Opportunity 2:
Program Change Open: 5 July 2017
Program Change Close: 14 July 2017
Students who lodge a program change request will not be required to submit a credit application. All eligible credit will be transferred automatically.
From 2018 onwards, students who wish to transfer into the new Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) program will be required meet the minimum OP or entry rank at time of request. Students will be required to lodge an internal program change request.