Courses - Faculty of Education And Social Work
Social Work
Stage I
Ko Wai Au, Ko Wai Koe, Ko Wai Tātou?
Introduces historical and socio-political contexts, beginning with te ao Māori, tikanga Māori, and te Tiriti o Waitangi, that underpin analysis of a range of identities, diversities, aspirations, oppressions and cultures in contemporary Aotearoa. Fosters understanding of how one’s cultural location and intersectional experiences can shape values and attitudes, including bias and prejudice, and the impact of 'self' on professional practice.
Restriction: EDPROFM 100, SOCWORK 113
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 100 A and B, or SOCWORK 100
Social Work and Social Justice
The Treaty of Waitangi underpins social work practice in Aotearoa. Social justice and human rights are critically considered alongside an examination of historical and contextual contributors to the development of social work. An introduction to the profession and practice of social work is provided. Relationship building and communication skills are taught within a growing awareness of self.
Restriction: SOCWORK 111, 112, 115
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 101 A and B, or SOCWORK 101
He Tangata: People in Context
Te ao Māori, ecological systems, psychological and lifespan development theories and frameworks are conceptual pillars for introducing human behaviour and experiences across the life course and the complex relationships between individuals and their social environments. Multi-dimensional aspects of human experience, identity and change are explored from a culturally conscientious, equity-oriented perspective.
Restriction: HUMSERV 101, 102
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 102 A and B, or SOCWORK 102
Professional Communication Skills
An introduction into effective personal and professional communication in human services. An experiential and collaborative approach will be used to assist students to explore the place of self in the communication process, to understand the stages, purpose and task of the communication process, and to develop effective interaction.
Special Study
Prerequisite: Programme Director approval, and EDPROFM 100 or SOCWORK 113
Stage II
Ngā Pou for Mana-enhancing Practice
Engages students in developing a framework for social work practice that supports individual, whānau and community aspirations to ora/wellbeing and enhances individual and collective mana. Focusing centrally on whānau-family-aiga systems, and emphasising critical intersectional analyses of the inequitable impact of socio-structural factors on whānau and communities, it builds core social work knowledge and skills applicable across diverse settings and groups.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 101 and 102, or 111 and 115, or 181 or 182
Restriction: SOCCHFAM 215, SOCHLTH 231
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 200 A and B, or SOCWORK 200
Culturally Responsive Practice
An introduction to the study of the personal and professional impact of te Tiriti o Waitangi in social work practice and social workers’ obligations to bicultural and, more broadly, culturally responsive practice with Māori, Pasifika and other diverse communities. Development of critical understandings of cultural responsiveness and opportunities for experiential learning in community settings.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 100 and 101, or 30 points from EDPROFM 100, SOCWORK 112, 113, 180
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 100 and 101, or 45 points from EDPROFM 100, SOCWORK 112, 113, 180
Restriction: SOCWORK 212
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 201 A and B, or SOCWORK 201
Law, Policy and Social Action
A critical exploration of the legislative and policy contexts for social work practice in Aotearoa, including the contradictions inherent between te Tiriti o Waitangi and settler capitalism, and tino rangatiratanga and the colonial doctrine of sovereignty. Exploration of social work ethics, and the challenging processes involved in working for change.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 101 or 112
Restriction: SOCWORK 211, 216
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 202 A and B, or SOCWORK 202
Social Work Theories and Skills
An exploration of theories, models and skills for bicultural social work practice with individuals and whānau in a range of settings and cultural contexts. Informed by the ANZASW Code of Ethics and the SWRB Core Competence Standards, content includes critical engagement with current literature and research guiding assessment and intervention, active skill building, and exploration of personal and professional values.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 100-102, or 111, 112 and 115
Restriction: SOCWORK 213, 214
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 221 A and B, or SOCWORK 221
Special Study
Prerequisite: Programme Director approval, and SOCCHFAM 215 or SOCHLTH 231
Stage III
Social Work Process and Practice
Students are required to integrate a defined range of approaches to practice comprising work with individuals, families and small groups. Knowledge, skills, values and ethics associated with direct practice will be extended. Students will apply the social work process of reflection and use of self in preparation for becoming a mindfully reflexive practitioner.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 214 or 221 or 280
Applied Social Research
Social workers are reclaiming the research agenda in social work. Sound social work practice relies on evidence to inform theoretical frameworks, intervention decisions and practice evaluation. A practical introduction to the principles, theories and approaches that inform social research, with a particular emphasis on social work contexts.
Organisations and Management
Examines the variety of organisational frameworks from which human services are practised and the impact of these contexts on professional identity and practice in the workplace. Contemporary management approaches will be examined with reference to theory and roles and responsibilities assumed by human service managers in a complex and dynamic environment.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 202 or 30 points from SOCWORK 211, 216, 283
Supervised Field Practice and Professional Development 1
A practicum course which focuses on developing a professional identity and a philosophy of practice that is shaped by integrating personal experience and professional knowledge, values and skills gained from the first two years of the Bachelor of Social Work programme. A significant part of this course includes a period of 12 weeks supervised agency-based practical experience for which the student will be prepared through developing individual learning goals.
Prerequisite: EDUCSW199, and SOCWORK 200-202, or 212, 213 and 214
Stage IV
Statutory Social Work
An examination of social work practice in statutory settings and theoretical and research-informed intervention frameworks applicable across a range of fields of service. These include family violence, child welfare, youth justice, prisons, and working with vulnerable adults. Critical investigation of questions of context, relationships, power, ethics, human rights and social justice in authoritative settings will be undertaken.
Prerequisite: SOCCHFAM 332 or 314, SOCWORK 317
Restriction: SOCWORK 701
Social Work Interventions for Best Practice
An in-depth examination of contemporary issues in social work practice, focusing on evidence-based practice and intervention skills that have direct application to complex practice situations.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 311, 317
Restriction: SOCWORK 711, 712
The Social Work Discourse
The application of sociological analysis to consideration of the role and characteristics of social work practice. An exploration of the professional discourse is framed and how major social trends impact on that discourse in practice and the public domain.
Restriction: SOCWORK 713
Professional Practice Project
A student directed project intended to develop a field of proficiency applicable to current or future professional interests. The project will involve research investigation, critical reflection and analysis, evaluation, and the preparation of resources or development of new practice. On completion students will showcase their project in a verbal presentation.
Practice with Communities
An introduction to change-oriented social work practice with communities, with particular emphasis on diverse and indigenous communities and critical analysis of current and historical factors shaping community well-being. Building their own theories of change, students learn models and skills for integrating partnerships with communities into their practice, including engagement, capacity building, community development, organising, activism, and policy advocacy.
Prerequisite: Any 60 points passed at Stage III
Restriction: SOCWORK 356, 726
Field Education 2
An advanced, supervised, field education placement of a minimum of 480 hours (60 days) in a social service setting, requiring students to integrate critical reflection, professional supervision and ethical practice with the knowledge, skills and practice experience of the social work profession.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 317, 411, SOCHLTH 313, 334, SOCCHFAM 332
Restriction: SOCWORK 415, 715, 727
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Clinical Social Work
Examines the area of clinical social work practice within the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Content will include a range of theoretical approaches to clinical practice. Theories will include Cognitive Behavioural theory, Narrative theory and Solution-Focused methods. There will be a strong focus on the use of clinical theories when working with Tangata whenua or when working across cultures. Individual, whānau/family, and group work methods will be explored.
Statutory Social Work
An advanced examination of social work practice in statutory settings and theoretical and research-informed intervention frameworks applicable across a range of fields of service. These include family violence, child welfare, youth justice, prisons, and working with vulnerable adults. Critical investigation of questions of context, relationships, power, ethics, human rights and social justice in authoritative settings will be undertaken.
Prerequisite: SOCCHFAM 332 or 314, SOCWORK 317
Restriction: SOCWORK 401
Social Work with Older People
Critically explores advanced research, theories and practice of social work with older people from an ecological systems perspective. Content will examine opportunities and challenges presented as people live longer and develop the contributions of social work and social policy to positive aging strategies. Consideration will be given to the bicultural and diverse contexts of practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Social Work Interventions for Best Practice
An in-depth examination of contemporary developments in social work practice, with an emphasis on the employment of evidence-informed interventions that have direct application to complex practice situations.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 311, 317
Restriction: SOCWORK 411, 712
Social Work in Statutory Settings
An advanced examination of fields of practice in statutory social work. Will include areas such as family violence, child welfare, disability, health, mental health, and working with vulnerable adults. A critical investigation of context, relationships, power, ethics, interventions and best practice in these settings will be undertaken.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 721, 722, 723, 724 and 725
Restriction: SOCWORK 411, 711
The Social Work Discourse
A critical analysis of contemporary social work practice, utilising sociological perspectives and contemporary social theory. An in-depth exploration of how the professional discourse of social work is framed and how major social trends impact on that discourse in practice and the public domain.
Restriction: SOCWORK 413
Applied Research in Social Services
Examines the role of applied research within professional practice. An in-depth examination of research methods, traditions and techniques particularly used in analysing, evaluating and auditing social service programmes and practices. Aims to enhance and develop the knowledge and understanding of students with regard to the nature and application of a broad range of research methods, the role of theory, ethics and politics in research and in developing a research proposal.
Theories and Skills in Social Work Practice
An in-depth examination of theoretical perspectives, skills and approaches in social work practice related to interpersonal work with individuals, families and groups living through challenging situations. Content will include a critical engagement with contemporary literature and the examination of evidence-informed interventions and critically reflective strategies that help guide professional practice in collaborative and safe environments.
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 721 A and B
Developing Social Work Professional Identity
Examines contemporary and historical social work cultural identity, language and discourse as a global profession. Socialisation to the profession and its values is explored through a defined range of practice fields, premised on a human rights and social justice framework. Systemic models of practice are reviewed. Inter-professional practice, professional ethics, anti-oppressive and bicultural practice and registration are analysed in the New Zealand setting.
Social Work in the New Zealand Context
Examines the history, policy, law, social patterns, trends and issues that contribute to the working environment for bicultural social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Content will encourage an understanding of the organisational, statutory and community context of social services, professional practice and the reflective social worker operating in settings that can be examined, challenged and changed.
Applied Social Work Research Methods - Level 9
Consolidates critical awareness of the role of research and knowledge in a specialised field of social work practice, leading to the development of an independent research proposal. Integrates advanced knowledge and critical reflection in understanding the nature and application of a range of applied research methods and traditions and links to social work practice.
Supervised Field Placement I
A first practicum course which focuses on developing a professional identity and a philosophy of practice that is shaped by integrating personal experience and professional knowledge, values and skills. A significant part of this course includes a period of a minimum of 50 days of supervised agency-based practical experience for which the student will be prepared through developing individual learning goals.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 722, 723
Corequisite: SOCWORK 721, 724
Practice with Communities
An advanced consideration of change-oriented social work practice with communities, with particular emphasis on diverse and indigenous communities and critical analysis of current and historical factors shaping community well-being. Building their own theories of change, students learn models and skills for integrating partnerships with communities into their practice, including engagement, capacity building, community development, organising, activism, research and policy advocacy.
Prerequisite: 60 points passed at Stage III
Restriction: SOCWORK 356, 426
Advanced Field Education
An advanced practicum course that includes a minimum of 480 hours (60 days) of supervised agency-based practical experience, building on the knowledge and skills gained in the first practicum and subsequent coursework. Students engage in critical interrogation of the relationships between critical reflection, professional supervision and ethics and their application to professional social work practice.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 317, 411, SOCHLTH 313, 334, SOCCHFAM 332
Restriction: SOCWORK 415, 427, 715
Professional Social Work Research in Practice - Level 9
An independent, applied research-based project relating to an aspect of social work practice and undertaken in a practice context. Students will gather and critically analyse authentic data using appropriate research strategies and ethical practice principles, and produce a substantial research report.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 721-725
Restriction: SOCWORK 414, 714
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 734 A and B
Supervised Field Placement II
An advanced practicum course which includes a critical interrogation of the relationships between critical reflection, professional supervision and ethics and their application to professional social work practice. Includes a minimum of 70 days supervised agency-based practical experience, building on the knowledge and skills gained in the first practicum and concurrent coursework.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 721-725
Research Project - Level 9
An integrated approach to social work research where students apply specialised practice research principles and data analysis software to existing qualitative and quantitative datasets to engage in problem definition, critical review of relevant literature, research strategies and design, generating data analysis and reporting of research findings to inform professional practice – and integrated practice research – in social work and social services.
Prerequisite: SOCWORK 312
Restriction: SOCWORK 414, 714, 734
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 780A and B, or SOCWORK 780
Thesis - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in SOCWORK 796 A and B