Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) course will be conducted over six trimesters, three trimesters in each academic year. Units will be taught concurrently within the trimester, with the course being completed within two years of fulltime study. You will be required to complete two separate field education placements at an approved field education agency, a total of 1,000 hours (combined). These placements will be consistent with the requirements set out by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) (ASWEAS 2021) and adhere to placement guidelines and protocols.In the second year the student cohort divides into one of two pathways, the Capstone pathway, or the Dissertation pathway.Students in the Capstone pathway undertake a Capstone seminar unit (MSWRE501A) to prepare for the Capstone project which is integrated into the final field education placement and culminates in designing a project for the placement organisation where the final field education placement takes place. This project brings together learning from across the two-year program to create a project that allows the student to exhibit their mastery of knowledge, skills, values, and ethics to produce an outcome that has the potential to bring about change for the placement organisation. This project builds a portfolio of skills and knowledge that the student can carry into the workforce for employment post-graduation.The Dissertation pathway culminates in a dissertation allowing these students to apply for future entry into higher degrees. Students in this pathway undertake a Research Dissertation seminar unit (MSWRE501B) to prepare for developing their dissertation and are also enrolled in the Research Dissertation Unit (MSWRE502) that guides them via academic supervision through the process of producing their dissertation thesis. MSWRE502 Research Dissertation stretches across the full second year and students in this pathway develop their dissertation alongside their other studies and the final field education placement. NB: This pathway is subject to availability of suitably qualified staff to supervise the thesis.[114804E]