Bachelor of Social Work

Studying the Bachelor of Social Work degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills to work with individuals, whanau/families, and communities to address social problems and promote well-being. You'll be able to advocate for social justice, support people in crisis, and help them access resources and services when needed.

Programme outline

This programme is designed to meet the professional and educational requirements of the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) Code of Ethics and in doing so provides those who choose to study at Whitireia with a sound social work education, a recognised qualification, and a pathway to higher qualifications.

More detail about this qualification

Teaching and learning

The course is made up of both on-campus learning days and online tutorials. The online tutorials will take place on the non-campus days and are an essential part of your learning journey and will include course content and Tūāpapa tautoko.

The online tutorials will require you to have a computer and internet access at home. 

Year one

The foundations for social work education are established and begin to be contextualised. The ākonga starts to develop an awareness of their personal practice base and can see how theory informs social work practice and can apply knowledge of professional and legal responsibilities.

Year two

Ākonga understanding of social worker identity opens them to communication skills for different audiences, gain knowledge and practices that inform them of safe social work practices and become more aware of the social work context they are developing.

Year three

Year three continues to prepare ākonga to develop more specialist social work knowledge and skills. It contains the first 12 weeks of social work field placement where they will be aware of themselves and the ‘others’ with whom they engage on placement. Maintaining safe practice for themselves, their clients, and the organisation by drawing on their knowledge of ethics, law, and social work practice theory.

Year four

Ākonga are enabled to prove the competencies expected of them as new social work practitioners. Take responsibility for their actions, are informed by the many dimensions of social work knowledge, and can critically reflect on their actions and responses, as well as those of others. They are able to demonstrate an integrated philosophical approach to, and critical thinking about, Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a variety of work situations, ranging from the governance and management levels of an organisation to their own personal supervision and practice theory with clients in their last 12 weeks of placement.

Fieldwork placements

Students must complete their fieldwork placement experience of 12 weeks (60 days) in both Years 3 and 4. Over this 12-week period, students can expect to complete 60 days full time, with varied hours of work.

Please note, fieldwork placements may not be in the area that you live.

The cost of transportation to and from fieldwork placements is the student’s responsibility. If students are working part-time priority must be given to attending fieldwork placements.