1. Home
  2. Social Work Theory and Practice 2: A Focus on Theories [SWK3121]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Work Theory and Practice 2: A Focus on Theories

  • Unit Code

    SWK3121

  • Year

    2026

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    4

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Obed ADONTENG-KISSI

Description

The unit introduces students to the role and function of theoretical thinking in social work practice with particular emphasis on the utility of social work theories in facilitating appropriate and effective practice responses. Specific theories of social work practice are identified and studied on the basis of their historical and contemporary contribution to the social work profession. Students develop skills in analysing and critiquing social work theories of practice.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

This unit is delivered in 5-day Block format on the Mount Lawley Campus. Students undertaking this unit must attend one 5-day Block classes on the Mount Lawley campus.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from SWK3113

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critique social work theories in response to personal practice experiences including cross cultural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, rural and other practice settings.
  2. Reflect on the impact of personal factors in the helping relationship.
  3. Analyse the relationship between values and theories to apply reflective practice.
  4. Apply communication, analytical and collaborative skills to present a case study.

Unit Content

  1. A critical introduction to the nature and value of theories and models of practice.
  2. Applying theories in practice.
  3. Integrating values, theories and practice.
  4. Social work theories and their application to cases.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

City CampusJoondalupSouth West (Bunbury)
Term 4Not Offered5 x 8 hour seminar5 x 8 hour seminar

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, workshop-based tutorials and student presentations.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayTheoretical analysis paper50%
PresentationCase study50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

  • Plagiarism: Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).
  • Unauthorised collaboration (collusion): Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).
  • Contract cheating: Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.
  • Cheating in an exam: Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment Procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment Procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SWK3121|4|1