Overview

NFQ Level 8, Major Award

The Honours Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a four-year, full-time programme that integrates university-based and agency-based learning in order to provide students with academic and professional learning opportunities to develop social work knowledge, skills and values.

To be eligible for the award of the BSW degree a student will be required to have achieved 240 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, Third and Fourth BSW. A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one academic year.

Attendance

The BSW Degree is a professional training programme accredited by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). As a professional training programme, social work students are required to attend every class of each module (including fieldwork placements) unless unavoidably prevented from doing so. If a student's attendance falls below 80% in any module, he/she will be required to repeat that module before being allowed to proceed with their training. The Deputy President and Registrar, UCC will certify whether or not the student's attendance has been satisfactory on the basis of recommendations from the Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies.

Leave of Absence

Students intending to take leave of absence of a year or more must make an  application to the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Office not later than March of the preceding academic year. Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

First Year - Social Work

In First Social Work students study prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in the five subject areas of Applied Psychology, Economics, Social Policy, Social Work, and Sociology.

Second Year - Social Work

No student may register for the Second Year programme until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Social Work. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Social Work, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement.

Third Year - Social Work

No student may register for the Third Year programme until he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Social Work. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Social Work, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement.

Third Bachelor of Applied Social Studies - Alternative Pathway for Students not Proceeding to Fourth Social Work

The Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Ordinary) Level 7/BASS (Hons) Level 8 is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement modules (SS3206 and SS3207) in Third Year of the BSW programme over the summer and/or Autumn Supplemental Examinations, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BSW programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Hons). On successful completion of Third Bachelor of Applied Social Studies, these students may exit with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Ordinary) Level 7. Students also have the option to progress to Fourth Bachelor of Applied Social Studies where, on successful completion, they qualify with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Hons) Level 8.

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible to be considered for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Note: Exemptions in relevant modules passed as part of BSW III will be carried over to BASS III.

Fourth Year - Social Work

Only students who have passed the Third University Examination in Social Work and satisfied all other requirements specified for the Third Year, will be permitted to register for the Fourth Year of the programme. In order to be admitted to the BSW (Hons) Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement. In order to be awarded the BSW (Hons) Degree, candidates must have satisfactorily completed their practice placement.

Fourth Bachelor of Applied Social Studies - Alternative Pathway for Students not Completing Fourth Social Work or who have completed BASS (Ordinary)

The Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Hons) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement modules (SS4208 and SS4209) in Year 4 of the BSW programme over the Summer and/or Autumn Supplemental Examinations or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BSW programme. This option is also available to students who have completed BASS (Ordinary) Level 7. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Hons) and to make up the remaining credits, to a total of 60, from the list of modules for Fourth BASS, in consultation with the School of Applied Social Studies, to be submitted to the Summer Examination Board. After successfully completing these modules these students will then qualify with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS) (Hons).

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible to be considered for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Note: Exemptions in relevant modules passed as part of BSW IV will be carried over to BASS IV.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Applied Psychology
AP1022	Social Psychology	5
AP1023	Lifespan Development	5
Economics
EC1121	Markets, Governments and the Economics of Social Issues	5
EC1122	Markets, Governments and the Economics of Social Issues	5
Social Policy
SS1017	Politics and Social Policy (Part 1)	10
SS1018	Politics and Social Policy (Part 2)	5
Social Work
SS1202	Introduction to Social Work Theory, Methods and Skills	10
Sociology
SC1012	Introduction to Sociology (Part A)	5
SC1013	Key Issues in Sociology (Part B)	10
Year 2
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Social Policy
SS2208	Child Care Policy	5
SS2228	Social justice, Human Rights and Advocacy Approaches in Social Work.	5
SS2220	Introduction To Social Work Practice	5
SS2224	Critical Perspectives On Age and Ageing	5
Social Work
SS2201	Practice Skills Laboratory	10
SS2214	Social Work Practice Contexts	10
SS2216	Social Recovery Approaches to Mental Health	5
SS2217	Social Research	5
SS2225	Social Work with Young People	5
SS2226	Social Work with Families	5
Year 3
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Law
LW3401	Legal Studies	5
Social Work
SS3206	Placement I	20
SS3207	Placement Portfolio	10
SS3208	Life Courses, Biographies and Reflective Learning	5
SS3209	Child Care and Protection Practice	5
SS3210	Deviance, Welfare and Justice	5
SS3216	Community Development	5
SS3217	Groupwork	5
Year 4
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Social Work
LW4401	Legal Studies	5
SS4208	Placement II	20
SS4209	Placement Portfolio	10
SS4211	Anti-Racism and Anti-Discriminatory Practice	5
SS4212	Contemporary Issues in Social Work	5
SS4214	Action Research Study	15
Total Credits		240

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being.
  
• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work.
  
• Reflectively evaluate and implement the values and ethics of the profession of social work as embodied in the Irish Association of Social Workers, CORU and International Federation of Social Workers codes.
  
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice
  
• Demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills.
  
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice.
  
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed.
  
• Engage in a process of self-awareness, self-monitoring and continuous professional development.
  
• Respond reflectively and reflexively as a social worker in a variety of social work settings.