Social Work
Social Work is the arena of the boundary pushers. The professionals who stand against what is wrong.... and fight for what’s right. Study social work to gain a social justice-focused career and make a positive difference in the lives of others and communities around you.
Nau mai, haere mai
Apply now for the 2022 Bachelor of Social Work intake. It is preferred that applications are made prior to the 31st October, 2021, however applications will still be considered beyond this date.
The Social Work programme is currently offering a four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, 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.
Social Workers are critical thinkers and problem solvers, who challenge societal inequities to generate social change. The Social Work programme strives to offer bicultural education that is grounded on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our curriculum is also founded on the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversities that are central to social work.
Throughout your social work studies, you will gain new knowledge to help you thrive as a social worker. At the end of your studies, you will have a critical understanding of socio-structural inadequacies, discrimination, oppression and social, political and economic injustices. The programme will help you gain the practice skills to work with individuals, families, whānau, hapū, iwi and diverse communities.
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
- Kaupapa Māori Services Worker
- Manager
- Probation Officer
- Social Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
- Therapist/Counsellor
- Youth Worker
Papers
Available Social Work papers
Year 1
Students must take HMDEV100, MAORI101, MAORI150, PSYCH101, SOCWK101, SOCWK103, and 15 points from any 100-level paper from [Sociology] (https://papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/SOCIO), and 15 points from any 100-level paper from [Social Policy] [Social Work] (https://papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/SOCPY).
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 SOCWK203, SOCWK204, SOCWK206 and 15 points from any 200-level MAORI coded paper and 15 points from any 200-level paper from one of the following subjects listed for the degree: Human Development, Māori and Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Policy, [Social Work] (https://papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/SOCWK), 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 3
Students must take HMDEV340, SOCWK301, SOCWK310 and 15 points from one of the following subjects listed for the degree: Human Development, Māori and Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Policy, [Social Work] (https://papers.waikato.ac.nz/subjects/SOCWK) 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 SOCWK403, SOCWK405 and SOCWK410.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMDEV100 | Lifespan Development | 15.0 | 22A (Hamilton), 22B (Online) & 22B (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. | |||
| MAORI101 | Introduction to Conversational Māori for Absolute Beginners | 15.0 | 22A (Hamilton), 22A (Tauranga) & 22B (Hamilton) |
| For absolute beginner students, this introductory paper to conversational Maori pays particular attention to pronunciation, greetings, and forms of language associated with certain cultural functions, such as mihimihi, as well as tasks such as thanking people, farewelling, communicating personal information, and naming everyday obj... | |||
| MAORI150 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi | 15.0 | 22A (Hamilton), 22A (Tauranga) & 22B (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. | |||
| PSYCH101 | Social Psychology, Health and Well-being | 15.0 | 22B (Hamilton) & 22B (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 | 22A (Hamilton) & 22A (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. | |||
| SOCIO102 | The Sociology of Crime, Deviance and Social Justice | 15.0 | 22B (Hamilton) & 22B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides students with an introduction to criminology and the criminal justice system, with a focus on the New Zealand context. | |||
| SOCPY100 | Introduction to Social Policy | 15.0 | 22A (Hamilton) & 22A (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. | |||
| SOCPY101 | Social Policy & the Welfare State | 15.0 | 22B (Hamilton) & 22B (Online) |
| This paper covers the rise of the welfare state as the primary means of social policy delivery in New Zealand. | |||
| SOCWK101 | Introduction to the Social Work Profession | 15.0 | 22A (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 | No occurrences |
| 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. | |||
| SOCWK103 | Social Work Fields of Practice | 15.0 | 22B (Tauranga) |
| In this paper, the role and scope of social work practice in the fields of community development, health, disability, mental health and addictions are discussed. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAORI222 | He Ao Hurihuri He Ao Tuakiri: Evolving Māori Culture and Identity | 15.0 | 22B (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 | 22A (Online) & 22A (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 | 22B (Hamilton) & 22B (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 | No occurrences |
| 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 | No occurrences |
| 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. | |||
| SOCWK204 | Working with Diverse Individuals and Communities | 30.0 | 22B (Tauranga) |
| Students will critically examine cross-cultural social work theory and practice, considering ethnic and cultural groups in individual, commmunity and hapu settings in order to practise inclusively. | |||
| 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. | |||
| SOCWK206 | Identifying and Responding to Violence Across the Life Span | 30.0 | 22B (Tauranga) |
| Students will critically examine prevention and intervention strategies around the causes and effects of neglect, abuse, and violence across the life span; with reference to bio-psychosocial, structural and cultural spheres. | |||
| SSRES200 | Social Science Research Methods | 15.0 | 22A (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 | 22A (Hamilton) & 22A (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 | No occurrences |
| 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. | |||
| SOCWK301 | Managing Risk to Safeguard Children | 30.0 | 22A (Tauranga) |
| Students will critically examine the application of social work theory and research to practice issues with children and young people, within the context of assessing and managing risk. | |||
| SOCWK302 | Bicultural and Multicultural Social Work Practice | 15.0 | No occurrences |
| 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 | No occurrences |
| 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 | No occurrences |
| 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. | |||
| SOCWK310 | Field Placement 1 | 60.0 | 22X (Tauranga) |
| This paper is the first of two social work field education papers that meet the SWRB requirements. This 60-day supervised field placement in a social service agency provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical learning, skills and social work values to practice. | |||
400 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCWK400 | Social Work Placement 2 | 45.0 | No occurrences |
| 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 field education paper, leading to a total of 120 days in field education by the end of the programme. | |||
| SOCWK401 | Social Work Decision Making | 30.0 | No occurrences |
| 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 | 22A (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. | |||
| SOCWK405 | Research for Social Work Practice | 30.0 | 22A (Tauranga) |
| In this paper, learners examine a range of methodological approaches to social work research and analyse the application of research evidence to inform social work decision-making. | |||
| SOCWK410 | Field Placement 2 | 60.0 | 22X (Tauranga) |
| This paper extends previous field placement learning to meet the SWRB requirements. This 60-day supervised field placement in a social service agency provides students with the opportunity to apply and further develop theoretical learning, skills and social work values to practice. | |||
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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]