The Social Work programme
The social work programme is introducing a new curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 2012. This webpage outlines the new structure for social work and prospective students are encouraged to apply based on the information contained here.
Advice for students currently enrolled in Social Work or HUMS degrees about how to transition to the new degrees - Options for 2012 can be found in the link directly below.
Go to the page with advice on transition options
General Information about the Social Work programme
- Professional qualification
- Research
- Topics we include in our teaching
- What subjects should you take at school?
Social workers seek to promote well-being and develop potential by working with individuals, families and groups to create positive change in people's lives. The challenge of social work lies in its complexity and diversity.
"It is seldom routine and involves working with people all of whom are unique, in situations which are complex, frequently messy and obscure, rarely easy to understand, and almost never amenable to standardised or prescribed responses" Yelloly and Henkel
Professional qualifications
If you have a strong interest in people, the make-up of New Zealand's society, and contemporary social issues then consider completing an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification with us.
Our professional bachelor degree (BSCW) is recognised by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW). This four year degree provides a widely recognised, high quality, qualification for people wishing to become registered social workers. This degree is also available as a two year option for students already possessing a bachelor degree in another field.
The University of Otago also offers a two year Master of Social Work (MSW) degree which is targetted towards professional practitioners seeking to undertake a research intensive qualification related to their professional practice.
For further information on our degrees check out our professional programmes page.
Research
We encourage postgraduate research and provide opportunities for students to undertake research in a range of associated areas.
Topics we include in our teaching
- Social policy, social problems and social change conduct;
- Parenting work, family life, gender, family therapy, family development;
- Mental health practice, disability studies;
- Child attachment and trauma, child psychotherapy, social work for children and young people;
- Adolescent development, alternative care, iwi social services;
- Community development, social problems, social policy, community care;
- Social work ethics, supervision and management;
- Women and older adults;
- Law and social work, community resources, community work and development;
- Criminal justice, voluntary sector welfare, effectiveness of social work, action research.
What subjects should you take at school?
English and Māori are highly recommended. Social science subjects such as geography, history, and social studies are desirable but not essential.