Social Work (3 year full-time course) BSc (Hons) Undergraduate Programme By Ulster University |TopUniversities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Social Work

Degree

BSc

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

The programme is for those who intend to work as professional social workers, and includes a substantial element of practice learning. You will undertake two contrasting practice placements - one of 85 days duration in Year 2, and one of 100 days duration in Year 3. The programme is recognised by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council for purposes of registration as a social worker. Although the programme includes underpinning learning in the social sciences, such as social policy, psychology, sociology and law, the focus of the programme is on the development of skills, values and knowledge required for practice. You must successfully complete a preparation for practice module (Year 1,Semester II) prior to undertaking supervised practice learning on placement. Modules Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course. Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list. Year one Research and Academic Skills for Social Work SWK104 Year: 1 This module is designed to facilitate students at Level 4 in developing essential research, and presentation skills, along with knowledge and skills in critical reflection for academic and professional learning and development. The acquisition of knowledge and skills on reflection and research are critical to academic and lifelong professional development in social work practice. Introduction to Lifecourse Psychology SWK105 Year: 1 This module explores the theoretical underpinnings of social work and neighbouring academic disciplines. Psychology is of particular relevance, for the insights it offers into the drivers of human behaviour, and the interventions it has developed for the caring professions. This module explores these links and connections in the context of social work practice. Introduction to Social Work Practice SWK109 Year: 1 This module aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the social work profession, its roles and functions in the statutory and voluntary sector and, additionally, to provide students with a theoretical and ethical base for practice at Level 5. Preparation for Practice Learning SWK111 Year: 1 The Preparation for Practice Learning module is a pre-requisite in order to progress to your first Practice Learning Opportunity (PLO). The module assessment has three elements; a written tuning-in assignment, a summative skills role-play assessment, and a written evaluation assignment. There is no compensation across these and students must pass all three elements in order to pass the module. Assessment of this module will determine fitness to proceed to Level 5 practice learning, and successful completion is therefore a pre-requisite for placement. Sociology & Social Policy for Social Work SWK112 Year: 1 This module is designed to encourage enquiry based learning by setting tasks that require problem solving and debate for students enabling them to construct their own learning on sociological and social policy concepts. This is important for social work as we want each student to start to develop and reflect on their own values, knowledge and experience of societal issues that in turn impact on service users, carers and providers we work with. Building and Maintaining a Professional Identity SWK115 Year: 1 This module is designed to support the development of a strong professional identity. Identity in social work is essential for sustained, confident and competent professional social work practice. This module is designed to develop the foundations for this development including understanding the influence of self on professional practice and mechanisms for sustaining professionalism. Social Work Law 1 SWK120 Year: 1 This module provides students with a knowledge of the legal system and the legislation pertinent to Social Work practice. It also focuses on the interaction between Social Workers and lawyers, in what some refer to as the emerging discipline of Social Work law. Theories and Methods of Intervention SWK121 Year: 1 This module will provide the opportunity for students to acquire underpinning knowledge of theories and methods of intervention for social work practice. It will enable students to identify and integrate relevant theoretical concepts and methods of intervention, providing a necessary foundation in preparation for practice learning. Year two Assessment and Risk Assessment in Practice Settings SWK307 Year: 2 This second-year module is designed to provide Social Work students with knowledge skills and values relating to the assessment process used in a range of Social Work settings in Northern Ireland. It provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their assessment skills including planning, engaging respondents, analysing information and forming professional judgement. It explores the issues and dilemmas for professional Social Workers in relation to the assessment of need in a resource limited service. Specific frameworks will be introduced to illustrate risk thresholds and risk management strategies in Social Work practice. Required reading, lectures and seminar tasks will introduce departmental guidance and protocols and point to good practice. Theoretical knowledge and research that underpins the assessment frameworks and multi-disciplinary working is taught. The two pieces of coursework encourage students to apply their learning to real-life situations. Assessed Practice 1 SWK327 Year: 2 This direct practice learning module enables students to apply college based teaching in relation to social work knowledge, values and skills to the practice setting, to develop effective helping relationships and to work in accordance with statutory and legal requirements as an accountable member of the organisation. Reflection on Practice 1 SWK328 Year: 2 This self-directed module relates to Level 5 Practice Learning and will equip students with the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, skills and values in direct supervised practice. Case Study SWK329 Year: 2 At first practice learning students must develop skills working through the social work process of preparation, assessment, planning, intervention, endings and review. This module is designed to give them the skills to do this in a sufficiently professional and academic manner, in order to prepare students for the rigor needed in

Programme overview

Main Subject

Social Work

Degree

BSc

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

The programme is for those who intend to work as professional social workers, and includes a substantial element of practice learning. You will undertake two contrasting practice placements - one of 85 days duration in Year 2, and one of 100 days duration in Year 3. The programme is recognised by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council for purposes of registration as a social worker. Although the programme includes underpinning learning in the social sciences, such as social policy, psychology, sociology and law, the focus of the programme is on the development of skills, values and knowledge required for practice. You must successfully complete a preparation for practice module (Year 1,Semester II) prior to undertaking supervised practice learning on placement. Modules Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course. Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list. Year one Research and Academic Skills for Social Work SWK104 Year: 1 This module is designed to facilitate students at Level 4 in developing essential research, and presentation skills, along with knowledge and skills in critical reflection for academic and professional learning and development. The acquisition of knowledge and skills on reflection and research are critical to academic and lifelong professional development in social work practice. Introduction to Lifecourse Psychology SWK105 Year: 1 This module explores the theoretical underpinnings of social work and neighbouring academic disciplines. Psychology is of particular relevance, for the insights it offers into the drivers of human behaviour, and the interventions it has developed for the caring professions. This module explores these links and connections in the context of social work practice. Introduction to Social Work Practice SWK109 Year: 1 This module aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the social work profession, its roles and functions in the statutory and voluntary sector and, additionally, to provide students with a theoretical and ethical base for practice at Level 5. Preparation for Practice Learning SWK111 Year: 1 The Preparation for Practice Learning module is a pre-requisite in order to progress to your first Practice Learning Opportunity (PLO). The module assessment has three elements; a written tuning-in assignment, a summative skills role-play assessment, and a written evaluation assignment. There is no compensation across these and students must pass all three elements in order to pass the module. Assessment of this module will determine fitness to proceed to Level 5 practice learning, and successful completion is therefore a pre-requisite for placement. Sociology & Social Policy for Social Work SWK112 Year: 1 This module is designed to encourage enquiry based learning by setting tasks that require problem solving and debate for students enabling them to construct their own learning on sociological and social policy concepts. This is important for social work as we want each student to start to develop and reflect on their own values, knowledge and experience of societal issues that in turn impact on service users, carers and providers we work with. Building and Maintaining a Professional Identity SWK115 Year: 1 This module is designed to support the development of a strong professional identity. Identity in social work is essential for sustained, confident and competent professional social work practice. This module is designed to develop the foundations for this development including understanding the influence of self on professional practice and mechanisms for sustaining professionalism. Social Work Law 1 SWK120 Year: 1 This module provides students with a knowledge of the legal system and the legislation pertinent to Social Work practice. It also focuses on the interaction between Social Workers and lawyers, in what some refer to as the emerging discipline of Social Work law. Theories and Methods of Intervention SWK121 Year: 1 This module will provide the opportunity for students to acquire underpinning knowledge of theories and methods of intervention for social work practice. It will enable students to identify and integrate relevant theoretical concepts and methods of intervention, providing a necessary foundation in preparation for practice learning. Year two Assessment and Risk Assessment in Practice Settings SWK307 Year: 2 This second-year module is designed to provide Social Work students with knowledge skills and values relating to the assessment process used in a range of Social Work settings in Northern Ireland. It provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their assessment skills including planning, engaging respondents, analysing information and forming professional judgement. It explores the issues and dilemmas for professional Social Workers in relation to the assessment of need in a resource limited service. Specific frameworks will be introduced to illustrate risk thresholds and risk management strategies in Social Work practice. Required reading, lectures and seminar tasks will introduce departmental guidance and protocols and point to good practice. Theoretical knowledge and research that underpins the assessment frameworks and multi-disciplinary working is taught. The two pieces of coursework encourage students to apply their learning to real-life situations. Assessed Practice 1 SWK327 Year: 2 This direct practice learning module enables students to apply college based teaching in relation to social work knowledge, values and skills to the practice setting, to develop effective helping relationships and to work in accordance with statutory and legal requirements as an accountable member of the organisation. Reflection on Practice 1 SWK328 Year: 2 This self-directed module relates to Level 5 Practice Learning and will equip students with the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, skills and values in direct supervised practice. Case Study SWK329 Year: 2 At first practice learning students must develop skills working through the social work process of preparation, assessment, planning, intervention, endings and review. This module is designed to give them the skills to do this in a sufficiently professional and academic manner, in order to prepare students for the rigor needed in

Admission Requirements

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements. The entry conditions below apply to applicants presenting qualifications from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain.

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