Doctor of Social Work

What is this course about?

CSU's Doctor of Social Work course supports eligible students in advanced and critical reflection on professional social work practice, to meet the needs of social work professionals aspiring to the highest levels within their discipline.

About the course

The Doctor of Social Work is designed for professionals who wish to extend their levels of professional practice, explore theoretical and practice issues within the profession and to acquire advanced research skills.

In particular the program will:

• allow candidates to extend their knowledge of social work theory and the practice underpinning their profession through dedicated study and reflection
• enable candidates to successfully identify, investigate and resolve problems confronting the social work profession through the acquisition of skills in reflection, research and writing
• enable candidates to present findings of research in a dissertation
• encourage candidates to publish at least one paper in their area of expertise
• provide candidates with professional supervision to reflect on their own practice and to demonstrate a standard of excellence in their field

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Admission requirements

Candidates admitted to the course will:

1. hold either a Class 1 or Class 2 Division 1 Bachelor (Honours) degree in social work, or a Master degree by coursework in social work, social welfare or human services  (attained at a course credit point average of 5.00 or better), or a Master degree by research in social work, social welfare or human services;

2. have at least three years of full time (or equivalent) practice in professional social work, social welfare or human services or in a cognate area, a significant amount of which should be able to be shown to be current;

3. meet the University's English language proficiency requirements.

The Course Coordinator can, in consultation with the Course Management Committee, assess variation to admission requirements based on alternative academic qualifications, professional practice and/or high quality professional practice-based research and publication.

These admission requirements are necessary to ensure that candidates have sufficient academic ability and professional experience to conduct research that leads to advanced, critical reflection on professional practice in the fields of social work, social welfare or human services.

English proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 7.0, and with no score lower than 6.5, within the last 12 months;  or
2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.

NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

fee-paying
international-distance

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3