The Honours Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a four-year, full-time programme that integrates university-based and agency-based learning in order to provide students with academic and professional learning opportunities to develop social work knowledge, skills and values.

To be eligible for the award of the BSW degree a student will be required to have achieved 240 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, Third and Fourth BSW. A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one academic year.

Attendance

The BSW Degree is a professional training programme accredited by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). As a professional training programme, social work students are required to attend every class of each module (including fieldwork placements) unless unavoidably prevented from doing so. If a student's attendance falls below 80% in any module, he/she will be required to repeat that module before being allowed to proceed with their training. The Deputy President and Registrar, UCC will certify whether or not the student's attendance has been satisfactory on the basis of recommendations from the Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies.

Leave of Absence

Students intending to take leave of absence of a year or more must make application to the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Office not later than March of the preceding academic year. Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

In First Social Work students study prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in the five subject areas of Applied Psychology, Economics, Social Policy, Social Work, and Sociology.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Applied Psychology: AP1022, AP1023 (5 credits per module)
Economics: EC1121 (5 credits), EC1122 (5 credits)
Social Policy: SS1017 (10 credits) and SS1018 (5 credits)
Social Work: SS1202 (10 credits)
Sociology: SC1012 (5 credits) and SC1013 (10 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

No student may register for the Second Year programme until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Social Work. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Social Work, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Social Policy: SS2208, SS2228, SS2220, SS2224 (5 credits per module)
Social Work: SS2201, SS2214 (10 credits per module), SS2216, SS2217, SS2225, SS2226 (5 credits per module)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

No student may register for the Third Year programme until he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Social Work. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Social Work, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Law: LW3401 (5 credits)
Social Work: SS3206 (20 credits), SS3207 (10 credits), SS3208, SS3209, SS3210, SS3216, SS3217 (5 credits per module)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Third Bachelor of Applied Social Studies - Alternative Pathway for Students not Proceeding to Fourth Social Work

The Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Ordinary) Level 7/BASS (Hons) Level 8) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement modules (SS3206 and SS3207) in Third Year of the BSW programme over the summer and/or Autumn Supplemental Examinations, or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BSW programme. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Hons)). On successful completion of Third Bachelor of Applied Social Studies, these students may exit with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Ordinary) Level 7). Students also have the option to progress to Fourth Bachelor of Applied Social Studies where, on successful completion, they qualify with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Hons) Level 8).

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible to be considered for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Law: LW3401 (5 credits)
Social Work: SS3208, SS3209, SS3210 (5 credits per module), SS3216, SS3217 (5 credits per module)

Students must take AT LEAST ONE of the following options - SS2018 (10 credits) and/or SS2028 (10 credits) - and make up the following credits from the following options: SS2004, SS2007, SS2025, SS2026 (5 credits per module).

Note: Exemptions in relevant modules passed as part of BSW III will be carried over to BASS III.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for the programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Only students who have passed the Third University Examination in Social Work and satisfied all other requirements specified for the Third Year, will be permitted to register for the Fourth Year of the programme. In order to be admitted to the BSW (Hons) Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily attended the prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all the subjects of his/her programme including the placement. In order to be awarded the BSW (Hons) Degree, candidates must have satisfactorily completed their practice placement.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Social Work: LW4401 (5 credits), SS4208 (20 credits), SS4209 (10 credits), SS4211 (5 credits), SS4212 (5 credits), SS4214 (15 credits).

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Fourth Bachelor of Applied Social Studies - Alternative Pathway for Students not Completing Fourth Social Work or who have completed BASS (Ordinary)

The Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Hons)) is an alternative degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement modules (SS4208 and SS4209) in Year 4 of the BSW programme over the Summer and/or Autumn Supplemental Examinations or who decide not to continue with their professional training in the BSW programme. This option is also available to students who have completed BASS (Ordinary) Level 7. Such students may opt instead to register for the Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Hons)) and to make up the remaining credits, to a total of 60, from the list of modules for Fourth BASS, in consultation with the School of Applied Social Studies, to be submitted to the Summer Examination Board. After successfully completing these modules these students will then qualify with a Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (BASS (Hons)).

Note: Students who opt for this Pathway are not eligible to be considered for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Programme Requirements

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Social Research Project
Social Policy: SS4210 (10 credits), SS4215 (20 credits)

and 30 credits from the following:

Society, Welfare and Politics
Social Policy: SS3049 (5 credits), SS3050 (5 credits)

Social Policy and Social Services
Social Policy: 15 credits from SS3005, SS3006, SS3008, SS3010 (5 credits per module)

Social Policy, Community and Society
Social Policy: 15 credits from SS3015, SS3016, SS3021, SS3033 (5 credits per module)

Note: Exemptions in relevant modules passed as part of BSW IV will be carried over to BASS IV.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations

Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2022/2023 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2022/2023.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being.
• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work.
• Reflectively evaluate and implement the values and ethics of the profession of social work as embodied in the Irish Association of Social Workers, CORU and International Federation of Social Workers codes.
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice
• Demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice.
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed.
• Engage in a process of self-awareness, self-monitoring and continuous professional development.
• Respond reflectively and reflexively as a social worker in a variety of social work settings.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (Hons) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and understand the impact of social and political contexts in contemporary society;
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed and employs principles of problem based learning;
• Apply social policy concepts and theory to understand changes in the contemporary welfare state;
• Be able to critically analyse policy responses in sectoral areas across the social services;
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights and equality;
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of human behaviour within culturally diverse contexts;
• Apply knowledge of theoretical frameworks to understand and critically analyse social structures at macro and micro levels;
• Develop the ability to undertake and apply social research methods;
• Demonstrate the capacity to pursue comparative research in applied social studies and the ability to write in an appropriate academic style.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Bachelor of Applied Social Studies (Ordinary) (NFQ Level 7, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and understand the impact of social and political contexts in contemporary society;
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed;
• Understand social policy concepts and theory to understand changes in the contemporary welfare state;
• Be able to critically analyse policy responses in sectoral areas across the social services;
• Understand principles of social justice, human rights and equality;
• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of human behaviour within culturally diverse contexts;
• Apply knowledge of theoretical frameworks to understand and critically analyse social structures at macro and micro levels;
• Develop the ability to undertake social research.