Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Social Work

• Overview
• Why study at Sydney University?
• Course Structure
• Field Education
• Graduate Outcomes
• Staff

Course Duration: 5 years full-time
Assumed Knowledge: Depends on subjects chosen.

2006 UAI: 83.80
UAC Code: 511615
UAC Fee Code: 521615


This degree is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and prepares students for employment in an environment which is complex, diverse and changing.

Graduates are expected to be reflective, versatile and skilful in a range of practice areas and to be able to translate professional values into action.

Social workers may use many different types of intervention such as:

• community work
• individual and family counseling
• group work
• policy development
• advocacy; and
• research

They work in varied contexts such as:

• health services
• aged care
• women’s services
• disability services
• child and family services
• international development, and
• migration and refugee services

A commitment to promoting social justice is central to social work.

• The combined degree makes it possible to obtain a qualification as a professional social worker while undertaking in-depth study in other areas of interest at tertiary level.
• It is possible to complete honours in the Bachelor of Arts before proceeding to the final two years of the Bachelor of Social Work.

Year One, Two and Three

Students initially complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree in the first three years of study.

Year Four and Five

Students complete both class work and field education. Class work provides a framework of knowledge and skills required for the analysis and development of theory and research, and the interaction of personal and professional values and ethics as they relate to social policy and social work.

More information about course content

Year Four: 60 days of field education

Year Five: 80 days of field education

More information about field education

• Understand the contribution of social work and social policy in working towards social justice
• Have skills in communication, empathy, self-awareness in practice, providing resources, assessment and exercising professional judgment
• Have the ability to undertake research in practice
• Make appropriate and constructive responses at all levels of intervention and across the range of workplace contexts
• Understand the interdependence of theory, practice, policy and research, and
• Critically and constructively reflect upon their practice