People, diversity, community – mana tangata
Human troubles are endemic in today’s societies. Many people in our world struggle with social and personal problems caused by complex, interacting systems and forces. A social work education prepares you to respond to these problems thoughtfully, creatively and practically. You will be asked to look beyond the individual to the systems impacting upon them.
If you are concerned with issues of justice and desire pragmatic, hands-on responses to help individuals and communities, then social work is for you. A social work education will prepare you for learning and engagement in diverse fields beyond the world of academia.
Why study Social Work?
People who are interested in helping others and their community will be drawn to studying social work. The purpose of social work is to enable people to develop their potential, promote their human rights and pursue social justice. Professional social work focuses on problem- solving and change. Social workers are change agents in the lives of individuals, families and communities, as people's problems are often related to factors in all these domains.
Social work ranges from direct work with individuals and working with organisations to become more responsive to people's needs, right through to the development of social policy and legislation. The various roles include counselling, clinical social work, family therapy, helping people obtain services and resources, agency administration, community work, social policy, and political organising.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Social Work as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Master of Social and Community Work (Applied) (MSCW(Applied))
A two-year programme, including two fieldwork placements, suitable for aspiring social workers and for social workers seeking a qualification in social work
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Welfare (PGDipSW)
An exit qualification for students who withdraw from the Master of Social Work programme
Master of Social Work (MSW)
A two-or-more-year, post-professional programme for social/community workers to develop their skills and knowledge in their chosen field with specialised study
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers |
|---|
The programme shall consist of approved papers from the schedule of papers available for the degree of Master of Social Work to the value of 120 points. With prior approval, one paper at 400-level or above in a related subject offered by the University or another tertiary institution up to the value of 30 points may be included in the programme. |
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | SOWK 551 Theories and Methods of Social Work | 20 |
| SOWK 552 Child and Family Social Work | 20 | |
| SOWK 553 Communities and Organisations – Analysis and Theory | 20 | |
| SOWK 554 Kaupapa Māori and Indigenous Approaches to Social Work | 20 | |
| SOWK 570 Introduction to Professional Practice | 20 | |
| SOWK 592 Fieldwork Practice 1 | 25 | |
| Year 2 | SOWK 562 Micro Intervention: Theories and Skills | 20 |
| SOWK 563 Communities and Organisations – Advanced Practice | 20 | |
| SOWK 580 Research Project | 20 | |
| SOWK 593 Fieldwork Practice 2 | 25 | |
| Plus |
Plus one of the following papers: SOWK 504 Care and Protection SOWK 505 Lifespan Issues – Advanced Practice with Older Adults SOWK 506 Social Problems: Policies and Practice Models SOWK 508 Pasifika and Social Services SOWK 509 Decision-making in Child Welfare SOWK 510 Advanced Social Service Counselling SOWK 511 Advanced Family Practice SOWK 515 Iwi Social Services I – Contextual Issues SOWK 516 Iwi Social Services II - Development and Facilitation SOWK 517 Social Policy Development SOWK 521 Advanced Studies Special Topic | 30 |
| Papers | Points |
|---|---|
| HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities | 30 |
| SOWK 590 Research Dissertation | 60 |
| Plus three of: | |
| SOWK 504 Care and Protection | 30 |
| SOWK 505 Lifespan Issues - Advanced Practice with Older Adults | 30 |
| SOWK 506 Social Problems: Policies and Practice Models | 30 |
| SOWK 508 Pasifika and Social Services | 30 |
| SOWK 509 Decision-making in Child Welfare | 30 |
| SOWK 510 Advanced Social Service Counselling | 30 |
| SOWK 511 Advanced Family Practice | 30 |
| SOWK 512 Working with Children and Adolescents | 30 |
| SOWK 513 Mental Health and Specialist Practice | 30 |
| SOWK 514 Advanced Community Development | 30 |
| SOWK 515 Iwi Social Services I - Contextual Issues | 30 |
| SOWK 516 Iwi Social Services II - Development and Facilitation | 30 |
| SOWK 517 Social Policy Development | 30 |
| SOWK 518 Social Services Supervision | 30 |
| SOWK 519 Social Services Management | 30 |
| SOWK 520 Social Services Research and Evaluation | 30 |
| SOWK 521 Advanced Studies Special Topic | 30 |
| SOWK 522 Advanced Studies Special Topic | 30 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
SOWK papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOWK111 | 2026 | Working with People: The New Zealand Context | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK201 | 2026 | Fields of Practice | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK236 | 2026 | The Treaty and Social Services | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK301 | 2026 | Theories and Methods of Social Work | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK302 | 2026 | Social Work for Children and Families - Analysis and Theory | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK303 | 2026 | Communities and Organisations - Analysis and Theory | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK304 | 2026 | Kaupapa Māori, and Indigenous Approaches to Social Work | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK320 | 2026 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK392 | 2026 | Fieldwork Practice 1 | 36 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK402 | 2026 | Micro Intervention: Theories and Skills | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK403 | 2026 | Communities and Organisations - Advanced Practice | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK404 | 2026 | Care and Protection | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK405 | 2026 | Social Work Issues Across the Lifespan | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK406 | 2026 | Social Problems: Policies and Practice Models | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK407 | 2026 | Kaupapa Māori and Social Work Practice | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK408 | 2026 | Pasifika and Social Services | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK409 | 2026 | Decision-making in Child Welfare | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK411 | 2026 | Advanced Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK480 | 2026 | Research Project | 20 points | Full Year |
| SOWK490 | 2026 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| SOWK492 | 2026 | Fieldwork Practice 2 | 40 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| SOWK504 | 2026 | Care and Protection | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK505 | 2026 | Lifespan Issues - Advanced Practice with Older Adults | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK506 | 2026 | Social Problems: Policies and Practice Models | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK508 | 2026 | Pasifika and Social Services | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK509 | 2026 | Decision-making in Child Welfare | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK510 | 2026 | Advanced Social Service Counselling | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK511 | 2026 | Advanced Family Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK514 | 2026 | Advanced Community Development Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK515 | 2026 | Iwi Social Services I - Contextual Issues | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK516 | 2026 | Iwi Social Services II - Development and Facilitation | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK517 | 2026 | Social Policy Development | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK518 | 2026 | Social Services Supervision | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK521 | 2026 | Advanced Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| SOWK551 | 2026 | Theories and Methods of Social Work | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK552 | 2026 | Child and Family Social Work | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK553 | 2026 | Communities and Organisation - Analysis and Theory | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK554 | 2026 | Kaupapa Māori and Indigenous Approaches to Social Work | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK562 | 2026 | Micro Intervention - Theories and Skills | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK563 | 2026 | Communities and Organisations - Advanced Practice | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK570 | 2026 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| SOWK580 | 2026 | Research Project | 20 points | Full Year |
| SOWK590 | 2026 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027) |
| SOWK592 | 2026 | Fieldwork Practice 1 | 25 points | Semester 2 |
| SOWK593 | 2026 | Fieldwork Practice 2 | 25 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
Contacts
Social and Community Work Programme
Email socialwork@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/social-community-work
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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