Master of Social Work

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Social Work is to provide the learner with in-depth and advanced knowledge, skills and understanding of social work theories, research methods, and evidence-based interventions. The qualification will equip learners with advanced research skills in a chosen field of social work. This qualification will develop the learner with the knowledge base and skills to engage in independent social work research, selecting from a range of appropriate research designs, technologies, methods, and techniques in the chosen focus area of social work.

In addition, the qualification will

• equip the learner to engage in research projects that are feasible and methodically sound.
• develop the learners' ability to produce and communicate the research findings and conclusions.
• advance in-depth knowledge of a specific field of social work and social welfare.
• provide the learner with the competencies to effectively, critically, and systematically access, analyse, process, transform, and critically evaluate existing knowledge to achieve an integrated synthesis in the research field.
• allow the learner to have access to advance in their careers in PhD and professional development as social work practitioners, researchers, managers, and policymakers.
• provide the learners with advanced career opportunities within social work supervisory roles, policy advocacy, and research positions.
• provide the learner with advanced research methods that contribute to the development of the social work field.
• provide the learner with multidisciplinary versatility that empowers the learner to function in sectors such as healthcare, education, nonprofit organisations, and criminal justice.
• provide the learner with opportunities to facilitate networking and career development opportunities with multidisciplinary professionals, agencies, and communities.

Learners will be able to provide their clients, groups, and society with improved speciality knowledge and implement evidence-based strategies or interventions to social work practice. Learners will be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of their position concerning major debates within social work and the chosen field of social work and social welfare. Learners will be empowered to engage in scholarly activities to contribute to the advancement of knowledge within the social work discipline. Learners will obtain the required knowledge, skills, and values to practice social work competently and ethically across diverse settings and populations. Learners will develop cultural competence to effectively work with individuals and communities from diverse backgrounds, recognizing and respecting their unique perspectives, values, and experiences.

The qualification will develop the following graduate attributes

• Graduates will demonstrate evidence of original and innovative thinking in research and contribute to the knowledge base of social work fields.
• Graduates will develop research organisation skills that they will use to execute their research and research report.
• Graduates will demonstrate the technical capabilities that enable ethical collection, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of data.
• Graduates will be active participants in academic activities, including submitting a paper to journals, attending and submitting papers at local and international conferences, symposiums, workshops etc.
• Graduates will have the ability to implement innovative and evidence-based social work qualifications or interventions in solving identified problems.
• Graduates will demonstrate ethical competence and compliance with research ethics and professional conduct, which will be evident in the in-depth discussion in the thesis.
• Graduates will develop the ability to conceptualise and reflect critically, work independently, and arrive at defensible conclusions and solutions, based on appropriately substantiated and defensible premises and analysis.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to provide the necessary advanced expertise, knowledge, and research skills in social work, thereby promoting the achievement of social work's core purposes. Since social work encompasses such a broad spectrum of themes, fields, and/or interdisciplinary areas, it is essential to provide a qualification that enables learners to acquire advanced skills, research competencies, knowledge, and values in Social Work as well as a degree of independent thinking. Social work plays a major role in addressing the developmental needs of South African society through social work services provided within many sectors such as government departments, businesses, non-governmental organisations, and private practice. Dynamic and professionally sound leadership is vital within these sectors for social work to impact and meet developmental needs in society. This social work qualification is also designed to enable learners to pursue further personal and professional development and to promote life-long learning.

Upon completion of this qualification, the graduates will contribute to addressing various needs of the South African society through social work services provided within related sectors, namely government, business, non-government organisations, and private practice. The social development approach, as the country's adopted social welfare policy directive, strives to integrate economic and social policies within a dynamic development process to achieve social welfare objectives.

The qualification will attract the following prospective learners

• Qualified social work practitioners who are working in various fields of social work (i.e., working with children and families, military social work, medical settings, NGOs, local and international, community development, etc.)
• Qualified individuals who possess a Bachelor of Social Work degree and who want to advance their knowledge, including pursuing a career in academia.
• Qualified individuals who possess a Bachelor of Social Work but practice as researchers, policymakers, managers, directors, and heads of departments in non-social work settings.

All learners must be registered as qualified social workers with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). Social work education and practice collaborate with various stakeholders from Government departments, Private/ Public organisations, etc. The Schools of Social Work in South Africa have established collaborative linkages with other national and international structures:

Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) - The ASASWEI seeks to promote social work education, training, and research in South Africa in collaboration with the international community in pursuit of enhanced psychosocial functioning of individuals, families, groups, organisations, and communities, and of human rights, social justice, and equality of all the people of South Africa.

International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) - The IFSW and its national members strive for social justice, human rights, and inclusive, sustainable social development through the promotion of social work best practice and engagement in international cooperation. Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA) - The ASSWA seeks to advance social work education in Africa by striving to uphold the social work values, principles, and human rights of all people and social justice. International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW).

The IASSW seeks to promote social work education and engage the international social work community.

• Graduates will be able to secure employment opportunities that align with personal and professional goals, including positions in direct practice, administration, advocacy, research, or academia.
• Graduates will be able to work as managers, directors, heads of departments, coordinators of various qualifications/projects, policy analysts, grant writers/fundraisers, and researchers in all Government and Non-government sectors.

This qualification will allow social work practitioners to be specialists in their field of choice (i. e. School social work, mental health, forensic social work, clinical social work, medical social work, geriatric social work, child and youth social work, disaster and environmental social work, etc.)

• Graduates will qualify to be academics, social workers in private practice, and as international social workers.
• Graduates will be uniquely positioned to assume leadership roles within organizations, communities, or the broader social work profession to advocate for systemic change, policy reform, and social welfare reforms.
• Graduates will be capacitated to foster meaningful change in their professional practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities by addressing social issues, promoting social justice, and advocating for vulnerable populations.
• Graduates will be able to engage in continuous professional development that is informed by best practices, current research, and emerging trends in the social work profession.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, which is applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules, and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations, should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption from modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal, and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Social Work, NQF Level 8.

Or

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Social Work, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at National Qualifications Framework Level 9, totalling 192 Credits.

Compulsory Module, NQF Level 9: 192 Credits

• Dissertation Research, 192 Credits.

1. Demonstrate advanced application of research concepts, methods, ethics, theories, and analytical processes concerning a chosen focus area of social work and social welfare.
2. Access, analyse, transform, and critically evaluate existing knowledge.
3. Access, process, produce, and communicate information effectively to colleagues and other groups.
4. Engage in independent social work research and produce findings in the form of a research report, selecting from a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, and technologies in the chosen focus area.
5. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of own position on major debates within social work and the chosen field of social work and social welfare
6. Demonstrate specialist forefront knowledge and expertise in the chosen field of social work and the competency to apply these creatively within the chosen field.
7. Critically analyse and evaluate the outcomes of social work interventions, techniques, strategies, or processes in the chosen field.
8. Demonstrate advanced understanding of social work values, principles of human rights and social justice and competency in their application in the chosen focus field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate advanced understanding of the context (including policy, legislation, and global issues) of appropriate concepts, methods, ethics, theories, and analytical processes in the chosen social work field.
• Present, reflect the appropriate application of concepts, methods, ethics, theories, and analytical processes in the chosen social work field.
• Critically analyse written work and demonstrate a degree of intellectual independence in the chosen field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Access, analyse, and transform systematically current literature and research in a chosen focus area.
• Evaluate and demonstrate clear evidence of effective application of the principles of social work research practice.
• Justify conclusions and recommendations using appropriate evidence and arguments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Discuss, reflect, obtain, process, and communicate information effectively to colleagues and other groups.
• Display presentations, analytical skills, and a degree of intellectual independence.
• Convey written and oral communication and appropriately highlight the information to specific target groups.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Plan and conduct the research inquiry based on a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, and technologies for the specific research problem.
• Appropriately identify and demarcate research themes
• Analyse the research theme, including a comprehensive and critical review of current literature and investigation.
• Select research methods, techniques, and technologies are based on a clear understanding of social work research theory and practice.
• Critically and coherently describe research reports, theoretical arguments, the research process, methodology, results, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Display research reports skills in extrapolating key findings, justifiable conclusions, and making feasible recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Base motivations on own positions to specific debates and on a sound integration of relevant theory, practice, research, and a degree of independent and creative thinking.
• Discuss and demonstrate an understanding of one's position and its feasibility in major debates.
• Write clearly in oral formats and cogently communicate explanations of own position

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Analyse the problem and issues reflect a purposeful and critical application of advanced theory, current knowledge, and expertise in the focus area.
• Intervene and/or recommend and reflect purposeful and creative plans to seek solutions based on theory and proven methods in a chosen field.
• Discuss interventions that reflect advanced application of appropriate skills, strategies, and techniques in accordance with corresponding theoretical assumptions in the chosen field.
• Research/interventions, include the appropriate and creatively use social work tools and /or data relevant to the chosen field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Evaluate and comprehensively describe outcomes of interventions, techniques, strategies, or processes in relation to the stated goals and in accordance with the corresponding theoretical assumptions.
• Evaluate and critically analyse outcomes in accordance with the identified needs and issues within the chosen focus area.
• Evaluate and purposefully use as the basis for planning, implementation, and recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Discuss, reflect on the integration of social work values with human rights principles and social justice in the chosen field.
• Describe and demonstrate a coherent understanding of the application of social work values, human rights principles and social justice in the chosen focus field.
• Analyse and/or practice reflect the purposeful application of social work values, human rights principles, and social justice in the chosen focus field.
• Analyse and/ or practices exhibit a critical understanding of the ethical principles guiding social work practice in the chosen field.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Formative

Before submission of a dissertation, a learner will be required to complete a research proposal on a selected area of focus. Even though the assessment of the research proposal is provided for in the form of a formative assessment, it serves as the basis for the research study is based.

Summative

As a research-based qualification, a learner enrolled for this qualification will be required to submit a dissertation manuscript to be examined as provided for in the Rules for Master's Degrees by Research (MR11 Examination)

The college academic affairs board shall appoint for each dissertation two examiners, at least one of whom shall be responsible for external examination.