Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Want to make a rewarding and positive contribution to society? Social workers engage with individuals, whānau and communities to promote human rights, help improve people’s life outcomes and pursue social justice.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.If you have a strong interest in people, the makeup of New Zealand society, and contemporary social issues, then the Bachelor of Social Work could be for you.Programme structureThe Bachelor of Social Work is applied for at the end of the second year of the BA (pre-professional Social Work). It covers years three and four of the degree.You learn key elements of social work practice: theories and models of practice, working with families and children, key skills for practice, organisations and policy settings, and kaupapa Māori and Indigenous approaches to practice.In the second year, you’ll cover interpersonal practice and community development, as well as honing your applied research skills. You'll complete two fieldwork placements (totalling 120 days) with social service organisations, giving you the opportunity to learn within a professional setting supervised by a registered social worker.