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

Campus

Wagga Wagga

Duration

3-4 years full-time, 6-8 years part-time

Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Course structure

More information about subjects and course structure.

Career opportunities

Ready to make a real difference to the world? Discover more about where this course could take you.

Admission requirements

To study this course, you will need to indicate your likelihood of success through previous studies and other attainments and experience.

Cost of study

When weighing up the costs of study, consider the benefits of having the qualification you need to achieve your personal and professional goals.

The course consists of two components, a master and a doctoral degree. Students will receive a credit package of 64 points towards the Doctorate on successful completion of the master degree.

Coursework - Master component

Students undertaking the CSU Master degree must complete the following course structure:

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice)

The course comprises 2 core subjects (24 points in total) and restricted electives (40 points in total) based on option chosen.

Core subjects

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16 points)
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory

Restricted electives (40 points max):

General coursework option:

Either
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points) or
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points)
plus any two of the following:
MGT501 Management Theory and Practice or
WEL418 Case Management
SWK404 Advanced Group Work
SWK414 International Social Work and Development
HCS510 Social Work Practice in Mental Health
HCS512 Mental Health Policy and Community Services

Dissertation option:

SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
And Either
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points) or
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points)
And
SWK500 Social Work/Social Welfare Dissertation (16 points) or
SWK505 Social Work/Social Welfare Dissertation (16 points)

Couple and Family Therapy option

HCS541 Introduction to Systemic Practice (8)
HCS542 Relationships Theory and Practice (8)
HCS543 Systemic Therapy Special Issues (8)
HCS544 Advanced Clinical Practice (16)

Doctoral coursework component

Students complete the following four core subjects:
SWK701 Social Work in Practice (16 points)
SWK702 Advanced Human Services Research (16 points)
SWK703 Social work research critique and publication (16 points)
SWK704 Dissertation development (16 points)

Doctoral dissertation

Students complete the following subjects:
SWK705 Dissertation (64 points) full-time
SWK715 Dissertation (64 points) part-time

Enrolment pattern

Master component

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) - Part-time enrolment pattern coursework option

Session 1 (16 points)

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16 points)

Session 2 (16 points)

SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory

Session 3 (16 points)

One of the advanced social work Practice areas:
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points)
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points) Session 4 (16 points)
2 Electives

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) - Full-time enrolment pattern coursework option

Session 1 (32 points)

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16 points)
And either
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points) or
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) ( or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points)

Session 2 (32 points)

SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory
2 Electives

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) - Part-time enrolment pattern - Dissertation option

Session 1 (16 points)

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16 points)

Session 2 (16 points)

SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory

Session 3 (16 points)

One of the advanced social work Practice areas:
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points)
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points)

Session 4 (16 points)

SWK505 Social Work/Social Welfare Dissertation (16 points)

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) - Full-time enrolment pattern dissertation option

Session 1 (32 points)

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16 points)
And either
HCS516 Community Development (Advanced Specialisation) (16 points) or
HCS515 Mental Health & Mental Disorder (16 points) or
SPE501 Advanced Social Policy Analysis and Planning (16 points)

Session 2 (32 points)

SWK504 Human Services Research Methods
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory
SWK505 Social Work/Social Welfare Dissertation (16 points)

Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice) (Couple and Family Therapy) - Part-time enrolment pattern

Session 1

HCS521 Practice Leadership in the Human Services (16)

Session 2

HCS541 Introduction to Systemic Practice (8)
SWK501 Advanced Social Work Practice Theory (8)

Session 3

HCS542 Relationships Theory and Practice (8)
HCS543 Systemic Therapy Special Issues (8)

Session 4

HCS544 Advanced Clinical Practice (16)

Doctoral component (part-time)

Session 5

SWK702 Advanced Human Services Research (16 points)

Session 6

SWK701 Social Work Practice (16 points)

Session 7

SWK703 Social Work research critique and publication (16 points)

Session 8

SWK704 Dissertation development (16 points)

Session 9

SWK715 Dissertation (64 points) (commenced)

Session 10

SWK715 Dissertation (continued)

Session 11

SWK715 Dissertation (continued)

Session 12

SWK715 Dissertation (completed)

Doctoral component (full-time)

Session 5

SWK702 Advanced Human Services Research (16 points)
SWK701 Social Work Practice (16 points)

Session 6

SWK703 Social Work research critique and publication (16 points)
SWK704 Dissertation development (16 points)

Session 7

SWK705 Dissertation (64 points) (commenced)

Session 8

SWK705 Dissertation (completed)

Articulation

The Master of Social Work (Advanced Practice)

Contact

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

 

 

 

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3

Australian and New Zealand students

Apply online

Admission code: On campus RTS - KAWR
Distance education RTS - EAWR
Fee-paying
On campus - GASW
Distance education- OASW

Mail your application

International Students

Apply online

Admission code: On campus - IASZ
Distance education - JASZ

Mail your application

Recruitment agent

Contact a Recruitment agent in your country who can answer your questions about CSU as well as help with the student visa application process.

More information:

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