Create a career that improves the quality of life and develops the potential of individuals, groups and communities. Social workers perform a crucial role in helping people confront social problems and improving the quality of their lives.

Your degree in social work will open the door to careers in government, non-government and community-based organisations in many different roles.

This course provides the prerequisite year of tertiary study in social sciences for entry to the three year Bachelor of Social Work degree, which commences at second year.

• Location:
  St Albans and Footscray Park
• Faculty:
  Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
• School:
  School of Social Sciences and Psychology
• Study mode:
  Full Time and Part Time
• Delivery mode:
  On campus
• Course code:
  ABSP
• Duration:
  1 year
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here for the international version of this course

How to apply

Successful completion of this course will lead to enrolment in the Bachelor of Social Work. Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work have a wide variety of employment opportunities in:

• School Social Worker
• Hospital Social Worker
• Homelessness Policy Officer
• Community Health Centre Counsellor
• Local Government Youth/ Community Development Worker
• Drug and Alcohol Worker 
• Sexual Assault Centre Counsellor/Advocate

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

This course provides the prerequisite one year (full-time) tertiary study in social sciences for entry to the three year Bachelor of Social Work course (ABUW) or alternatively continue in the second year of the Bachelor of Arts degree (ABBA).

Broadly the objectives are:

1. Obtain knowledge from the humanities and social sciences that informs social work;
2. Gain an understanding of the socio-economic, political, psychological, and cultural forces that shape people's lives;
3. Become aware of how society has developed and is organised and
4. Obtain knowledge that enables students to broaden an understanding of themselves and the world.

• Knowing and Knowledge A

  Unit code

  ACX1001

  Credits

  12

• Knowing and Knowledge B

  Unit code

  ACX1002

  Credits

  12

• Sociology 1a

  Unit code

  ASS1051

  Credits

  12

• Sociology 1b

  Unit code

  ASS1052

  Credits

  12

• Psychology 1a

  Unit code

  APP1012

  Credits

  12

• Psychology 1b

  Unit code

  APP1013

  Credits

  12

Students must complete a total of 96 credit points including the following:

• Knowing and Knowledge A and Knowing and Knowledge B;
• two units of study in either Psychology and/or Sociology;
• two or four electives (depending on whether both Psychology and Sociology are undertaken).

• Year 12: Satisfactory completion of Year 12 or equivalent with a grade average of D in English. Applicants may also apply on an Alternative Category Entry basis.