Social Work BA (Hons)

Course overview

You can still apply to BU (including through UCAS Extra). Please apply through UCAS as soon as possible; your application can only be assessed once we have received it from UCAS.

This course will enable you to develop the skills for pursuing a career in social work by integrating academic study and professional practice. On successful graduation you will achieve a BA (Hons) degree and be eligible to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) and practice as a qualified social worker.

You will be introduced to issues surrounding social welfare, social exclusion and models of intervention, as well as have the opportunity to explore specialist areas such as children and young people, adults and mental health.

This course will equip you with the necessary skills to become a competent social work practitioner. You will:

• Explore the philosophy of social work and develop a personal style of practice, informed by a professional value base
• Acquire knowledge and skills to work sensitively and effectively within the current legal framework
• Understand, evaluate and apply social work research to practice at a national and international level
• Acquire a firm academic and practice base on which to build further study at post qualifying level

Throughout the three year course you will study units alongside other students in the School of Health & Social Care, such as nurses, midwives, sociology & social policy students, and occupational therapists. This interprofessional learning reflects the reality of the health care environment where communication between professions is crucial to ensuring correct and appropriate care of clients.

Your study base will be at our Lansdowne Campus, and you will also experience placements in a variety of locations surrounding Bournemouth.

MA Social Work

If you already achieved an honours degree in a related area, you may be interested in our MA Social Work course, which will still make you eligible to practice, but requires just two years of study and will provide you with a postgraduate academic award.

Professional Regulation

Social Work is a regulated profession. As a social work student you will be expected to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC), the social work profession's regulator, and adhere to the standards set out in the Code of Practice for Social Workers.

As well as regulating individual social workers and students, the GSCC also regulate the performance of social work courses, the reports of which are published on their website, so you can see how each university is performing.

For more information visit: www.gscc.org.uk

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