Social Work
2021 applications can still be made. It is not too late to apply to begin your journey into a career in Social Work.
Social Work builds on the ambition students have for making a positive difference in the lives of others, producing passionate graduates for a growing industry. Qualified social workers are sought after both within New Zealand and overseas.
Social Work programmes at Waikato are interdisciplinary enabling students to develop values, knowledge and skills to be competent professional social work practitioners. Our curriculum reflects the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversities that are central to social work, and is underpinned by a range of perspectives from subjects such as Human Development, Māori and Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.
Throughout your social work studies, you will learn a range of skills and gain new knowledge to help you thrive as a social worker. At the end of your studies, you will have a critical understanding of how socio-structural inadequacies, discrimination, oppression and social, political and economic injustices affect human functioning and development at all levels and a diverse range of skills and tools to address these challenges and enhance wellbeing.
The Social Work programme is currently offering a four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, which may be awarded with honours at the Tauranga Campus. The BSW degree is recognised by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and will enable graduates to obtain professional registration as a social worker in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Key information
| Study Location: | Tauranga |
|---|---|
| Area of Study: |
Study Social Work in these qualifications
Study Social Work as a specialisation of
Career opportunities
- Child and Family Services Worker
- Child Protection Worker
- Community Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Probation Officer
- Social Worker
- Therapist/Counsellor
- Youth Worker
Papers
Available Social Work papers
Year 1
Students must take HMDEV100, MAORI150, PHILO103, PSYCH101, SOCIO101, SOCPY100, SOCWK101 and SOCWK102.
In the event a required paper (excluding SOCWK papers) is not offered, students may substitute an alternative paper identified and approved by the Social Work Programme Convenor.
Year 2
Students must take MAORI222, SOCPY200, SOCPY201, SOCWK201, SOCWK202, SOCWK205 and SOCWK302.
In the event a required paper (excluding SOCWK papers) is not offered, students may substitute an alternative paper identified and approved by the Social Work Programme Convenor.
Year 3
Students must take SSRES200, HMDEV340, SOCWK300, SOCWK303 and SOCWK306 plus a further 15 points at 200 level or above chosen from one of the following subjects: Human Development, Māori and Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology and Te Reo Māori.
In the event a required paper (excluding SOCWK papers) is not offered, students may substitute an alternative paper identified and approved by the Social Work Programme Convenor.
Year 4
Students must take 120 points, consisting of SOCWK400, SOCWK403 and either:
i) SOCWK401 plus a further 15 points at 300 level chosen from one of the following subjects: Human Development, Māori and Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology and Te Reo Māori or a paper approved by the Social Work Programme Convenor
OR
ii) SOCWK490. Students wishing to be considered for the award of Honours must include SOCWK490 in their programme of study. Admission to this paper is at the discretion of the Convenor of Social Work.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMDEV100 | Lifespan Development | 15.0 | 21A (Hamilton), 21B (Online) & 21B (Tauranga) |
| HMDEV100 focuses on understanding and enhancing human development through an exploration of biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that influence patterns of development and learning over the lifespan. | |||
| MAORI150 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi | 15.0 | 21A (Hamilton), 21A (Tauranga) & 21B (Hamilton) |
| This paper seeks to provide a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It reviews historical and contemporary interpretations and takes into account the interplay of contextual issues of the time. | |||
| PHILO103 | Critical Thinking | 15.0 | 21A (Online) & 21G (Online) |
| This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University. | |||
| PSYCH101 | Social Psychology, Health and Well-being | 15.0 | 21B (Hamilton) & 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper will introduce major issues in psychology particularly as they relate to health, wellbeing, mental illness, forensic psychology, lifespan development, and social factors in a range of contexts. | |||
| SOCIO101 | Introduction to Sociology | 15.0 | 21B (Hamilton) & 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper prepares students for further study in a range of social science subjects. It introduces the main sociological theories, concepts and practices that enable an understanding of contemporary societies. | |||
| SOCPY100 | Introduction to Social Policy | 15.0 | 21A (Hamilton) & 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the values behind social policy and introduces students to some of the important issues and debates in New Zealand and other democratic societies. | |||
| SOCWK101 | Introduction to the Social Work Profession | 15.0 | 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides students with an opportunity to examine the history and purpose of social work practice internationally and in the context of culture, colonisation and diversity in Aotearoa. | |||
| SOCWK102 | Introduction to Social Work Theory | 15.0 | 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides students with an introduction to major traditions in social work theory that inform and guide social work practice, including systems, behavioural, psychodynamic, critical, feminist, anti-oppressive and indigenous theories. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAORI222 | He Ao Hurihuri He Ao Tuakiri: Evolving Māori Culture and Identity | 15.0 | 21B (Tauranga) |
| A critical examination of the diverse realities of being Maori in a changing world, highlighting local and global impacts on Maori culture and identity. | |||
| SOCPY200 | Social Policy and Social Issues | 15.0 | 21A (Hamilton) & 21A (Tauranga) |
| The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social problems, such as poverty. | |||
| SOCPY201 | Social Policy, Families and Children | 15.0 | 21B (Hamilton) & 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper further develops students' theoretical understanding of social policy, while focusing specifically on policy related to families and children, providing insight into the relationships between policy and lived experience. | |||
| SOCWK201 | Working with Violence in Human Services | 15.0 | 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the causes and effects of neglect, abuse, and violence across the life span. It examines interactions between biological, psychological, socio-structural, economic, political, cultural and spiritual aspects of abuse, neglect and violence, along with prevention and intervention strategies. | |||
| SOCWK202 | Social Work Approaches and Fields of Practice | 30.0 | 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper discusses various approaches, methods and models of social work practice including Maori modalities and critically examines their application to various fields of practice including mental health, health, addictions and disability. | |||
| SOCWK205 | Community Development | 15.0 | No occurrences |
| This paper critically explores the evolution, dimensions and practice of community development in Aoteoroa New Zealand including Maori development. It also focuses on the strategies, skills and tools necessary for community development practice. | |||
| SSRES200 | Social Science Research Methods | 15.0 | 21A (Online) |
| This paper introduces the core research methods used in the social sciences. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are introduced, along with consideration of aspects such as ethics and the Treaty of Waitangi. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMDEV340 | Perspectives on Counselling | 15.0 | 21A (Hamilton) & 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the philosophical, psychological and sociological principles that underpin the aims and methods of the helping professions in general, and counselling in particular. | |||
| SOCWK300 | Social Work Placement 1 | 45.0 | 21X (Tauranga) |
| This first placement of 60 days in a social service agency under supportive supervision provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical learning, skills and social work values to day-to-day social work practice. This paper gives focus to social work competencies. | |||
| SOCWK302 | Bicultural and Multicultural Social Work Practice | 15.0 | 21B (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines bi-cultural and multicultural dimensions of social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Students consider how their value base shapes practice working with people from cultures similar to, and different to their own. | |||
| SOCWK303 | Children and Young People at Risk | 15.0 | 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper critically examines the application of social work theories and research to social work practice issues with children and young people at risk. | |||
| SOCWK306 | Social Work Professional Skills | 15.0 | 21X (Block - Tauranga) |
| This paper enables students to critically examine, review and develop a range of professional skills required for social work. With a focus on encouraging students to evidence how they apply knowledge and skills into social work practice. | |||
400 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCWK400 | Social Work Placement 2 | 45.0 | 21X (Tauranga) |
| This 60 day placement in a social service agency enables students to develop practice to a level of competence close to entry-level social work. Under professional supervision, students initiate, develop and sustain relationships with clients, whanau, groups and organisations and demonstrate independent practice. This is the second... | |||
| SOCWK401 | Social Work Decision Making | 30.0 | 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides students with a critical research-based approach to support decision-making in social work practice. Students examine and evaluate evidence for its socio-economic and cultural context and develop skills to transfer this learning into practice. | |||
| SOCWK403 | Social Justice, Ethics and Law | 30.0 | 21A (Tauranga) |
| This paper critically examines social justice issues, principles and models of justice and human rights. Students develop an understanding of the judicial system in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of social workers. | |||
| SOCWK490 | Social Work Decision Making Research Project | 45.0 | No occurrences |
| Students plan, undertake and report on a supervised research project on social work decision making. Students critically consider the place of evidence in making choices about appropriate and effective decisions in social work practice. | |||
Scholarships and prizes
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Subject links
Subject Requirements
For more information about subject requirements, please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice, contact one of our friendly student advisors on phone:
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4030
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]