Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) equips graduates with the skills required to work in a variety of community social services.

This course is primarily intended for those graduates of Australian TAFE and Registered Training Organisations offering the two-year full-time (or equivalent) Diploma of Community Welfare or similar, developed under the CHC08 Community Services Training Package approved in 2009, and the superseded CHC02 Community Services Training Package V3.

These courses include:

• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs)
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
• Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling)
• Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services Work
• Diploma of Community Development
• Diploma of Counselling
• Diploma of Disability
• Diploma of Youth Work

Completion of the Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) provides a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) for those students wishing to gain membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Your course is recognised by industry

CSU's Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) is widely recognised as a base grade qualification for employment with many human service providing agencies within Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory governments as well as non-government charities and private service providers.

The course is ideal for students whose employment preferences do not require their eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) upon graduation. For those students who wish to gain a recognised social work qualification, the course provides all the pre-requisite studies necessary for entry to the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying).

Professionals teaching you

The course is taught by academic staff in social work and human services and the foundation disciplines of psychology, sociology, as well as practitioners with a wide range of industry experience who are field education supervisors.

Credit

Applicants can request credit for studies undertaken elsewhere, providing these studies have currency and are evidenced by a certified university or TAFE transcript.

Students of the TAFE pathway are granted the maximum credit of 16 x 8 point subjects. The abridged course of study comprises 8 x 8 point subjects, all in distance education mode with no residential school or professional field education requirement. The prescribed subjects include psychology, sociology, social policy and research methods, as well as an elective choice.

If you are entering the course with a recognised diploma, you will have received credit for most of the subjects listed under the course structure. Please see the enrolment pattern for details of subjects to be studied.

Admission requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through successful completion of a two year full-time (or equivalent) Diploma of Community Welfare or similar, developed under the 2009 CHCO8 Community Services Training Package or the superseded CHC02 Community Services Training Package V3, and offered by Australian universities, TAFEs and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

Examples include:

CHC50708 Diploma of Community Development
CHC50208 Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs)
CHC50408 Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health)
CHC52008 Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
CHC52108 Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling)
CHC50308 Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
CHC50608 Diploma of Community Services Work
CHC51708 Diploma of Counselling
CHC50108 Diploma of Disability
CHC51408 Diploma of Youth Work

Admission may also be granted to students transferring from the CSU Bachelor of Social Work.

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

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.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2