Qualification Overview

Qualification Title Bachelor of Social Work
Qualification Type Bachelor Degree
Level 7
Credits 480
Subject Area
  • Society and Culture » Human Welfare Studies and Services » Social Work
Strategic Purpose Statement
The aim of this programme is to prepare social work professionals who can engage in current and future issues of social justice in changing technological, social, cultural, environmental and political contexts and meet the educational requirements for registration in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Graduate profile
Graduates of this programme will be able to: 1. Apply knowledge of bi-culturalism to social work practice. 2. Apply knowledge of different cultural contexts to cross-cultural social work practice. 3. Be actively engaged in professional, social, political and sustainability issues at local and/or global levels. 4. Articulate and apply a beginning framework for practice including the relevant knowledge, skills and values, and work within the ethical codes of the social work profession including anti-oppressive theory. 5. Apply anti-oppressive social values, knowledge and skills to complex individual/personal and social situations and intervene to stimulate personal and social change. 6. Apply critical research to practice, the workplace and on-going learning. 7. Be flexible, responsive, resilient, collaborative and critically reflective social work practitioners. 8. Articulate the knowledge of the origins, purpose and development of Aotearoa New Zealand social work within a global context. 9. Be critically reflective in response to feedback and actively engaged in professional supervision and continuing professional development.
Education pathways
Masters in Social Work and other Masters programmes at a variety of tertiary institutes.
Employment pathways
Statutory and non-government social service agencies eg Child, Youth and Family, probation,
prisons, schools, faith-based services. Graduates are able to gain employment in specialised
social work positions as well as generalised service roles such as case management, advocacy,
and community support/service coordination.

Note: Graduates gain graduate competency for two years on completion of the BSW. Graduates
must apply for full competency within two years.To find out more about employment opportunities click on the CareersNZ logo, then the provider who offers this qualification.
Entry Requirements
Academic Requirements
University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at Level 3 and 20 credits at Level 2 or higher)
which must include:
* 14 credits at Level 3 in each of:
- English or an approved literacy* subject
- two other subjects from the list of approved subjects* and
* Literacy* - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in
writing and
* Numeracy* - 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit
standards 26623, 26626, 26627)
OR
NZ2860 New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) BSW Pathway or
equivalent
OR
NZ2992 New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4) or equivalent
OR
If you have undertaken examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate,
Cambridge Examination), Ara will assess your qualification for academic entry equivalency.
* NZQA approved subjects: see here

Alternative Requirements
Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic Requirements, but who can
demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life
experience, may be approved for alternative entry. This may include Recognition of Prior
Learning. Contact Ara for advice.

Additional Requirements
* Provide evidence of good character and personal attributes via two referee reports and a
500-word personal statement.
In your application you need to demonstrate formal or informal experience in a social
work, social services or a related helping role, and the ability to analyse and relate this
experience to a social work context. Your referees reports, word processed personal
statement, and interview (if required) should provide evidence of appropriateness to
study for the social work profession: commitment to social justice, openness to explore
biculturalism, self-awareness and openness to change and being challenged, openness to
participate in interactive group learning, willingness to be honest and reflective about
personal experiences, high level of skill in interpersonal communication and personal
maturity.
* Consent to Disclosure of Information
Successful applicants will be required to complete a New Zealand Police Vetting Service
Request and Consent Form. The form will be sent by Ara to the NZ Police Vetting Service,
and returned in confidence to the Head of Department. For more information go to:
here.
* Applicants who meet academic entry criteria may be required to attend an interview
* Current Class 1 Drivers Licence unless medical verification is provided in relation to a
disability or impairment that prohibits the applicant from being able to drive.

English Requirements
For students for whom English is not their first language evidence of their English language
skills may also be required as listed below. If students have no evidence of their English
language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, then they can make
contact with Ara for an assessment.
* IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.5 in any subtest). Other tests as approved by the
Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) may be used as acceptable alternatives.
Note:
* IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (ie combining
scores from more than one test is not permissible) and are valid for two years from the
date of the test.

* Students who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not
required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.
* All students for whom English is not their first language will be informed of the SWRB
requirement of IELTS 7.0 Academic for registration.
Education Organisation Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Developed By Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Quality Assured By New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Number 3109
Status Current
Created 2015-11-05 17:13:23.0
Next Review 2026-12-31 00:00:00.0
Content
Gain the skills and understanding needed to help people during crucial times in their lives. You will develop the attributes for professional social work practice in New Zealand as you engage in study integrating practice within the classroom. This programme is underpinned by a philosophy of bi-culturalism and anti-oppressive practice. Our four year programme will take you from the fundamentals of professionalism, research skills, critical thinking and informed decision making, in your first year and second year through to your third and fourth years when you will take these skills to an advanced level. Each year has an integrated practice course where learning is linked to the practice environment. In the third and fourth years integrated practice includes significant time in social work agencies. Please note that integrated practice in Level 7 may be outside of Christchurch and a full driver's licence is required otherwise agency options are likely to be limited. The programme includes three compulsory 24-hour marae visits (including overnight stays). By the end of the degree, you will have developed the professional values and attitudes for social work practice as identified by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and the Social Workers Registration Board Code of Conduct and will be able to apply for provisional registration. There is currently a shortage of social workers including people identifying with the following groups: Maori, Pacific, migrant, refugee, male and disabled persons. Word processing of assignments is required during this programme.

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