Bachelor of Social Work

Our Bachelor of Social Work is a four-year degree that equips you to be an advocate for change within the South African context with the view to promote social transformation and socio-economic development, cohesion and inclusion, human rights, equality, empowerment and social justice for all.

The Bachelor of Social Work  is a professional qualification that provides an understanding of roles, functions, principles and characteristics of management and administration within social service delivery. It also encompasses the ethical requisites of the profession and the complexities of ethical decision-making in day-to-day social work practice. Most importantly, the degree’s strong practical component enables you to apply the core values and principles inherent in professional social work practice.

As a successful graduate, you will be able to pursue further specialisations such as clinical social work, probationary social work, forensic work, adoption work and research. Or, you can continue your studies with articulation into a master’s degree in specialised fields of social work, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally.

What you can expect

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of:

• A range of theories, approaches, perspectives and models of intervention that are relevant to social work, developmental social welfare, psychology and other related social sciences.
• The historical evolution of social work internationally, regionally and within the South African context.
• Global standards for social work training and practice.
• Pertinent global, regional and national declarations, policies and legislation relevant to social welfare and social work.
• The ability to apply and uphold the basic values and principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the S.A. Constitution in relation to social work service delivery.
• The importance of protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens through the implementation of various legislations and policies for the purpose of promoting social justice, respect for the dignity and worth of the individual, and strengthening universal human rights to enhance human well-being and social functioning.
• The importance of collaboration with National, Provincial and Local structures for the delivery of developmental social welfare services through the role of social work in social welfare policy planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

You will also develop:

• The skills and competencies to implement appropriate social work intervention strategies, projects and programmes to provide preventative, protective, developmental and other social work interventions including rehabilitation, aftercare and reintegration services with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities.
• The ability to conduct holistic assessments and interventions with individuals, families, groups and communities including assessing client systems and social functioning.
• The ability to advocate for social justice in society by engaging people in social action to the improvement of psycho-socio-economic and political structures in the various fields of social work.
• The ability to address many of the consequences of poverty, social inequality, exclusion, and marginalisation through evidence-based social work interventions to protect the vulnerable and marginalised including women and children, older persons, people with disabilities, women, the poor, etc.

Study at South African College of Applied Psychology