Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Course Overview

Social work is an academic, practice-based profession that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (AASW Practice Standards 2013). Consistent with this statement, upon completing the course, you will be equipped with a sound knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts, and critical skills in social work as well as demonstrated capabilities in critical thinking, ethical and reflective practice, and continuous professional development. The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will incorporate theoretical content that builds on knowledge acquired in previous higher education.

In line with the accreditation standards set out by the AASW (ASWEAS 2021), the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) course will prepare you with the requisite theoretical knowledge, skills, and ethical framework for social work practice within diverse client systems across various practice contexts. This two-year course will encompass required AASW (ASWEAS 2021) core curriculum content on constructions of social work purpose, place, and practice; power, oppression, and exploitation; culture, identity, and discrimination; psychosocial health and wellbeing across the life course; and working with First Nations people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The course will focus on assisting individuals, groups, and communities at the personal and structural levels to bring about positive social change. In keeping with this dual focus, the contemporary curriculum is ensconced within a human rights and social justice framework and the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will develop your knowledge about a wide range of fields and methods of social work practice, including direct practice, social policy and research, group work, community development, management, and leadership, while at the same time situating this knowledge to take into account local, national, international, and global trends.

You will be encultured into the profession of social work through an integrated curriculum that merges direct practice with leadership and advocacy social work roles within a contemporary and transformative approach to practice and social change. Field education through placements will contribute to opportunities for experiential learning, application, and development of theoretical knowledge and understanding across a variety of workplace settings where social work takes place. Experiential learning via classroom activities, online activities, and field practicums will assist you in linking theory to practice and applying learning to practice.

Course Description

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) course spans six trimesters, with three trimesters in each academic year. Units are taught concurrently within each trimester, and you are expected to complete the course within two years of full-time study.

You will need to complete two separate field education placements at an approved agency, totaling 1,000 hours. These placements will meet the requirements set by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) (ASWEAS 2021) and adhere to their guidelines and protocols.

Course Structure

Qualifications for this award will require successful completion of 96 credit points including the units listed in recommended sequence below comprising 14 core units.

Units

Core units

MSWFE401 Field Education Preparation 1

MSWSW401 Becoming a Social Worker

MSWTP401 Social Work Theory & Practice 1

MSWCU401 Working with First Nations People (Online)

MSWSTP402 Social Work Theory & Practice 2

MSWSTP403 Social Work Theory & Practice 3

MSWRE402 Social Work Research (Online)

MSWFE402 Field Education 1

MSWFE501 Field Education Preparation 2

MSWCU502 Culture Identity and Discrimination (Online)

MSWCU503 Challenging Systems & Cultures of Oppression, Violence & Abuse

MSWSW501 Human Rights, Ethics, Law (Online)

MSWTP504 Social Work Theory & Practice 4

MSWSW503 Leading Sustainable Community Change

MSWFE502A/B Field Education 2

MSWRE501A Capstone Seminar

#This is hurdle requirement that must be completed to proceed to MSWFE402, MSWFE501

^This is a hurdle requirement that must be completed to proceed to MSWFE502A/B

* Upon completing the Bachelor of Community Services at Acknowledge Education, you will receive exemptions for those units.

Academic Requirements

To meet the academic entry requirements for the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), you will need to meet one of the following criteria:

Direct Entry

You must have completed a relevant three-year AQF Level 7 degree course that includes at least one year (equivalent to 8 units) of full-time studies in the social and behavioural sciences.

Examples of studies in behavioural science include:

• Psychology, including psychology research and policy

• Counselling/therapeutic roles in areas such as play therapy, rehabilitation counselling, art therapy, disability, and inclusion

• Specialist clinical areas such as child development, drug and alcohol, working with ageing/disability populations, emergency services, education, family violence

• Allied health areas such as nursing/midwifery, health promotion, occupational/speech/physiotherapy, occupational health, audiology

Examples of studies in social sciences include:

• Anthropology

• Community development

• Criminology

• Economics with a health/social focus

• First Nation/Indigenous studies

• Geography

• International relations

• Legal studies with a health/social focus

• Politics/political sciences

• Public health

• Sociology/social sciences

• Sustainability with a health/social focus

Graduate Certificate Pathway

If you have successfully completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree with four relevant units of study in social and behavioural sciences AND have successfully completed Acknowledge Education’s Graduate Certificate in Health and Community, you are eligible for a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.

Pre-requisite Unit Set Pathway

If you have successfully completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor’s degree but do not have any relevant units of study in social and behavioural sciences, you have the opportunity to complete 4 units of our Bachelor of Community Services course. By successfully completing Acknowledge Education’s Graduate Certificate in Health and Community, you will be eligible for a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.

Applying for Credit Transfer

If you have completed a three-year social welfare program, you may be granted a maximum of 25% or four units of credit, provided you meet all required learning outcomes for Australian social work graduates as defined in ASWEAS 2021.

Any articulation, RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning), or credit transfer will be done in accordance with criteria specified in the ASWEAS (2021) guidelines. Please click here to download Awarding Credit in Higher Education Programs Procedure and Awarding Credit in Higher Education Programs Policy.

English Requirements

Direct Entry: If you are seeking direct entry into the Master of Social Work (Q) course, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Completed a Year 12 or equivalent secondary school qualification in English. or

• Completed a higher qualification in English as the medium of instruction, consistent with the requirements for admission to a Level 9 degree course in Australia. or

• Achieved a minimum score of 7.0 or higher in each component (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) of the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, or equivalent, upon course commencement.

Pathway Entry: If you are entering the Master of Social Work (Q) course through any pathway options, you must have an IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent, upon commencement of your pathway course.

Please click here to download Admissions Procedure for Overseas Students (HE and VET)

Other requirements required prior to commencing fieldwork placements:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Record

• National Police Record Check and/or Police clearance from country of residence

• Working with Children Check

Upon completing the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), you are eligible to seek full membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

For more information, please visit the AASW website.

The Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) for the Master of Social Work are designed to align with the AASW Attributes of Australian Social Work Graduates and the Australian Quality Framework specifications for Master’s Degrees (AQF Level 9).

Occupational titles for graduates with this qualification may include:

• Social Worker

• Program Coordinator

• Child Protection Officer

• Mental Health Practitioner

• Family Counsellor

• School Counsellor

• Case Manager

• Youth Worker

• Juvenile Justice Officer

• Child and Family Practitioner

• Community Development Worker

View all 2024 dates here.

2025 intake: February, May, September

* AE has reached its full capacity for overseas student at Perth and would not be accepting any new enrollments for all HE courses for study at this location until further notice.