Master of Social Work

This qualification includes the various specialisations. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The Master of Social Work contributes to the enhancement of social work`s knowledge base by utilising appropriate research methods, techniques and procedures, providing leadership in the various fields of social work practice, and managing and providing a full range of needed client services in a wide spectrum of practice settings.

A five-year strategic plan of action for the reconstruction and rationalisation of the social welfare delivery system was adopted in 1997 in terms of the White Paper on Social Welfare. According to this policy statement a holistic, developmental approach was adopted whereby services to individuals, families, groups and communities have to be rendered on a multi-professional level. Specially trained personnel, such as social workers, are needed for this purpose. This does not only include entry level practitioners (i.e. social workers with a Bachelor of Arts (Social Work) degree), but also highly qualified personnel with post-graduate training that could provide leadership in the various fields of social work practice.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor of Social Work, NQF Level 7.

And

• Registration as a social worker with the SA Council for Social Service Professions.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the eco-systems approach and its use in researching and solving a variety of social problems and needs,
• Organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities and services responsibly and effectively,
• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written persuasion within the sphere of especially social work research and services
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health and welfare of others,
• Contribute to the full development of him/herself and the social and economic development of the society at large, by being aware of the importance of:
• Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively,
• Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local communities and regions,
• Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts,
• Explore education and career opportunities, and
• Develop entrepreneurial opportunities.

Exit level outcomes for stream 1 (Dissertation)

• Identify a research problem in the social work field that is in line with the research focus area of the School.
• Formulate a research design and procedure,
• Collect data by means of various procedures,
• Organise, analyse and interpret data,
• Present and report on the research data in the form of a dissertation of high quality, and, in this process, working effectively with co-researchers and research teams, respondents, organisations and communities regarding research related issues.

Exit level outcomes stream 2 (Coursework)

• Identify individual, family, group and community social problems, needs and issues of a complicated nature that will require a high degree of critical thinking,
• Collect, analyse, organise, interpret and critically evaluate information as far as social problems and needs are concerned,
• Identify trends in the occurrence of social problems, needs and issues within a community or within an organisation`s field of service,
• Conceptualise and develop strategies for addressing the identified problems and needs,
• Manage other social workers` implementation of these strategies, evaluating the intervention strategies, processes and results, and, in this process, working effectively with other social workers and members of the multi-professional team as far as especially macro service provision is concerned, and completing a practice related research project of a more limited scope than in the case of the research masters.

• Identify a relevant, original and viable research theme
• Formulae of a clear, concise and focused statement of the research problem, research question(s), objectives and hypotheses,
• Formulate an appropriate research design and procedure,
• Formulate and implement data collection procedures,
• Integrate theoretical and empirical data in order to arrive at scientifically verifiable and transferable knowledge, and
• Write a research report of a high quality and standard.

Additional assessment criteria for stream 2

• Apply the scientific social work processes in a variety of practice settings and situations.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment will be continuous and integrated, using a range of formative and summative methods according to the institution's assessment policy. It will cover the following.

Integrated assessment re stream 1 (Dissertation)

Integrated assessment re stream 2 (Coursework)

Course unit aims is arrived at through

• Written assignments,
• Written tests and exams,

And

• A research report.