Course Title: Social Work Field Analysis
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Social Work Field Analysis
Credit Points: 12
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HWSS1134 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban & Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015 |
HWSS1134 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
330H Social Science & Planning |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006 |
Course Coordinator: Ronnie Egan
Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 1105
Course Coordinator Email:ronnie.egan@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
History and Trends in Social Work
Course Description
This course provides you with an introduction to human services practice and contexts. You will have the chance to study the interaction of social policies, programs and practices, and how they constitute the field of social work. This course is closely related to History and Trends in Social Work and provides you with an opportunity to observe and critique contemporary social work practice.
This course will introduce you to a rich and fascinating and dynamic network of agencies and organisations where social and social welfare workers are employed. We will explore the surprising variety of roles and responsibilities and work programs those workers have. You will be able to identify, in the ‘real world’ how structures and processes relevant to social work practice operate. You will have opportunity to observe and reflect on how, in practice, social policies, programs and practices relate. This course will also provide you with the opportunity to gain some practical experience in researching the social work field.
You are encouraged to begin to build your own social work networks – essential for all social workers, and relevant from the time you undertake your field placement responsibilities in third and fourth year. The course will allow you to apply your learning in History and Trends in Social Work.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Beginning capabilities will be developed in integrating social work concepts and practice, and showing a greater understanding of the diverse fields of practice, roles and responsibilites in which social workers are engaged.
- You will gain an understanding of the Human Services field, and of a range of political, social and organisational processes;
- You will gain an understanding of the organisational, research and political skills required to access information in these contexts;
- You will gain and develop a capacity to record, analyse and report on the information, data and observations; and,
- You will develop communication and analytical and presentation skills.
Overview of Learning Activities
There will be a series of presentations involving a range of speakers and input to support your analysis of the social work field. This will be complemented by participatory workshop activity to explore the issues raised.
You will choose to study an area of practice that is of particular interest to you, for example; mental health, aged, children and families, refugees or a local geographic area. You will identify key organisations and people from the field so as to develop an understanding of key issues relevant to social workers practising in this area. Students will spend on average three hours per week in class activity or on location. Students will work in small groups. Each group will have opportunities to discuss progress and any issues arising from their work.
Overview of Learning Resources
Overview of Assessment
How will I demonstrate my learning in this course?
You will be able to prepare assessment tasks up to a word length or equivalent of 4000 words.
Course Grades available
Numerical
(No Decimals) Result
HIGH DISTINCTION 80-100 HD
DISTINCTION 70-79 DI
CREDIT 60-69 CR
PASS (higher grading available) 50-59 PA
PASS (no higher grading available) PX
FAIL (some work submitted) 1-49 NN