Bachelor of Social Work
Why ECU?
Course overview
Choose student typeEntry requirements
70 Indicative ATAR
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Course code
K41
Fees
Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $14,500
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
---|---|---|
Joondalup | ||
Mount Lawley | ||
South West | FT PT | FT PT |
Online | FT PT | FT PT |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Entry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Course code
K41
CRICOS code
060864K
Fees
International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $30,800
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
---|---|---|
Joondalup | ||
Mount Lawley | ||
South West | FT | FT |
Online |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
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All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- AQF Cert IV;
- Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- University Preparation Course;*
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
- Experience Based Entry Scheme.*
* Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.
For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.
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International students are required to provide an English language test approved by ECU with a score equivalent to an IELTS Academic overall minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 7.0). Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.
Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
- University Preparation Course;
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
- AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).
Course Details
Choose student typeSemester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time at South West or Online
Semester 1: Study part-time at South West or Online
Semester 2: Study full-time at South West or Online
Semester 2: Study part-time at South West or Online
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time at South West
Semester 2: Study full-time at South West
Course Structure
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
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SWK1115 | Social Inclusion and People with Intellectual Disabilities | 15 |
SWK1106 | Psychology for Social Work | 15 |
SWK1110 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 15 |
SWK1112 | Introduction to Social Research | 15 |
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
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RPS1130 | Rural, Regional and Remote Community Development | 15 |
SWK1102 | Philosophy, Knowledge and Ethics | 15 |
SWK1103 | Culture and Daily Life | 15 |
SWK1107 | Introduction to Australian Society | 15 |
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
SWK2104 | Human Behaviour in the Social Environment | 15 |
SWK2108 | Addictions and Practice | 15 |
SWK2111 | Aboriginal Histories of the Present | 15 |
SWK2116 | Gender, Families and Professional Practice | 15 |
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
SWK2010 | Theory and Practice for Child Protection | 15 |
SWK2112 | Australian Politics and Policy | 15 |
SWK2114 | Community Health and Well-being | 15 |
SWK2115 | Human Rights and Social Justice | 15 |
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
RPS3110 | Applied Research Methods | 15 |
SWK3110 | Organisational Contexts | 15 |
SWK3112 | Social Work Theory and Practice 1: Advanced Interpersonal Skills | 15 |
SWK3113 | Social Work and Mental Health | 15 |
Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
SWK3116 | Field Placement 1 | 45 |
SWK3121 | Social Work Theory and Practice 2: A Focus on Theories | 15 |
K41|4
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Semester timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
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Students who elect to study online will be required to attend for face-to-face, classroom-based activities for a minimum of 20 days (140 hours) spread over the four years of the course. This is a requirement set by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) for accredited programs that are offered online. Graduates of accredited programs are eligible for membership to AASW.
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Students are required to undertake two 14-week social work field placements.
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Graduates are eligible to apply for membership with Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Course Learning Outcomes
- Apply broad discipline coherent knowledge of the role and value of social work in addressing social inequalities to build sustainable communities through a variety of social work practices which are informed by human rights values and social justice.
- Communicate social work knowledge and ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
- Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and social work practice development, including reflective thinking skills and innovative practice through continued professional development.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills, global outlook and cultural awareness when collaborating in professional settings and with culturally diverse groups, including Indigenous cultural competence.
- Think creatively to apply social work knowledge effectively in practice with individuals, groups and communities in diverse contexts.
- Use critical thinking to explore knowledge of human behaviour and society, as well as social, cultural, political, legal, economic and global contexts of social work practice to generate and evaluate complex ideas.
- Use digital technologies and information literacy to evaluate relevant research knowledge which informs decision making in social work practice.
- Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social work professional values and ethics in decision making in a socially sustainable way.
Professional Recognition
Accredited by: Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Need some help deciding what to study?
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
Fees and Scholarships
Choose student typeAUD $14,500 *
* Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee
The 'Estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
AUD $30,800 *
* International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee
The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, and has been calculated based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for each individual unit you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
Possible future job titles
Community Development Officer, Mental Health Worker, Human Service Manager, Child Protection Officer, Youth Worker, Policy Research Officer, Hospital Social Worker, Community Health Worker, Family Support Worker, Disability Advocate
Similar courses to consider
Courses you can consider if you are interested in progressing further in this area.
- Bachelor of Social Work Honours
Students who have achieved a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70 per cent of higher in the first five semesters may be invited to undertake Honours by transferring to the Bachelor of Social Work Honours.
Become World Ready
Quick guide to uni-speak
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ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
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CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
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A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
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Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
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If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
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If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
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Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
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A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
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We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
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These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
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An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
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