Bachelor of Community Welfare

Overview

Description:
 If you enjoy working and communicating with people, have a desire to understand community problems and have a commitment to working for social change, then community welfare can offer you a rewarding career. The Bachelor of Community Welfare at James Cook University is a professional program designed to enhance the knowledge and practical skills of those working or wishing to work in this area.

You will gain the skills required to work with individuals, groups and communities in a multicultural society. Your studies at JCU place an emphasis on the connection between human rights and social justice, and encourage an understanding of the position of disadvantaged groups in our society.

Community Welfare is offered by the School of Social Work and Community Welfare and is available full time or part time on campus, or through distance education.
 
Duration:
 3 years fulltime
 
Mode:
 On campus, full or part time *, external ^
 
Workload:
 Normal workload expectations are a minimum of 10 hours per week for every subject, including class contact hours, preparation and time spent on assessment tasks.
 
Type:
 Undergraduate
 
Credit points:
 72 credit points o
 
Mid-year entry:
 Yes
 
Prerequisite/s:
 English
 
Campus:
 Townsville, Cairns
 
Faculty:
 Arts, Education and Social Sciences
 
Fee Type:
 Commonwealth supported
 
QTAC code:
 311041 Townsville; 321041 Cairns; 331041 Mackay; 311059 External
 

* Duration: Part-time study is available to domestic students only.

^ External: External students are required to spend 10 days on-campus at each level to meet accreditation requirements.

o Credit points: Represent the combined value of individual subjects in a degree. One subject usually constitutes three credit points.
 

Joint Degree Options

Joint degrees give students expertise in a complementary discipline in reduced time and can enhance career prospects. At JCU this degree can be combined with:

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Business

Bachelor of Social Science

Structure

Disclaimer - The list of subjects below is correct for 2008, but may change for 2009. Prospective students should contact the University to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses.

This course includes a prescribed professional placement(s) which may involve contact with young people. Students enrolled in this course are therefore subject to Clause 11.3 of the University Requirements for Undergraduate Coursework Awards, which relates to the Suitability to Work with Children Card.

Students will also be subject to police checks of criminal convictions if this is the policy of the agency in which they are placed for their professional placement(s).

Students are required to select at least 3 credit points from School of Indigenous Australian Studies as an optional subject at any year level. These subjects are prefixed IA.

Level 1

CORE SUBJECTS

PL1001:03 The Political World: An Introduction to Political Science

PY1101:03 Exploring Psychology 1

OR

PY1102:03 Exploring Psychology 2

OR

PY1105:03 Psychology for Social Welfare Practice (Distance Education)

SY1001:03 Australian Society: An Introduction to Sociology

WS1005:03 Human Rights and Social Issues

WS1006:03 Self in Professional Helping

ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS

9 credit points selected from other subjects in the Master Schedule of Subjects.

Level 2

CORE SUBJECTS

SY2005:03 Qualitative Research

OR

SY2012:03 Social Survey Design and Analysis

OR

WS2007:03 Researching Social Issues

WS2121:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Skills and Frameworks for Practice

OR

A 3 credit point IA subject

WS2510:03 Interpersonal Practice

WS2511:03 Professional Values and Ethics

WS2512:03 Organisational Practice

WS2513:03 Community Work

ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS

3 credit points of any level 2 or level 3 SY subject except SY2005, SY2012, SY3005 and SY3012

3 credit points selected from other subjects in the Master Schedule of Subjects.

Level 3

CORE SUBJECTS

IA2016:03 Australian Indigenous Politics

OR

PL3002:03 Policy Analysis and Management

WS3025:03 Group Work

WS3026:03 BCW Field Placement

WS3214:03 Developmental Approaches to Eco-Social Justice

WS3503:09 Field Education 1

WS3515:03 Social Work and Welfare Practice *

* WS3515:03 Social Work and Welfare Practice must be completed prior to, or in the same study period as, WS3503:09 Field Education.

Level 4 (Honours)

WS4010:06 Honours Reading and Research Design Part 1 of 2

WS4011:06 Honours Reading and Research Design Part 2 of 2

WS4016:06 Honours Thesis Part 1 of 2

WS4017:06 Honours Thesis Part 2 of 2

Honours

An Honours program is available for those students who demonstrate high academic performance. Honours consists of an extra year of study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. The Faculty also offers a wide range of postgraduate study opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Community welfare graduates find interesting and challenging work in a wide variety of agencies including government departments, non-government agencies interested in human rights, welfare or advocacy, health units, and community based programs such as women's services, youth projects, family support projects, housing services and corrections facilities.

Practical Experience

Students complete two placements in a community welfare agency as part of their degree program.

Professional Recognition

The program is accredited by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers, and graduates may apply for membership.

Back to James Cook University

To enrol and find out course fees, intake dates, entry requirements and more details about courses and the Institute please click on the Enquiry button and complete our form and one of our staff member will get back to you very soon.