Entry requirements
Admission criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
Secondary education (Year 12)
- Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.
Higher education study
- Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.
Work and life experience
- Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
- A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
- Qualify for special entry.
Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.
Degree Structure: Bachelor of Social Work
Program code: BSOCW
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 144 units for all Core courses, and
- 36 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for Electives
Study plan
A study plan sets out the courses you will need to complete and the recommended timing for each one. This will help to guide your enrolment in each study period, alongside any additional information provided below. If you have received a personalised plan or alternative advice from your Program Director, please refer to that guidance in the first instance, or seek help from your Program Director or Student Assist if you are unsure.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 4
Semester 1
Semester 2
Enrolment information
Find details about the rules and notes that apply to your program, along with other essential information required for successful enrolment. Supplementary supporting resources may also be provided where applicable.
Some programs include additional enrolment advice. If available for your program, it will be displayed here.
Mid-Year Entry Students
Please enrol into the following courses in Semester 2, 2026:
POLI1011 Governance and Citizenship in Australia
PSYC1009 Group Work
PSYC1010 Applied Psychology
SOWK2001 Working with Community
Notes
1. Within the first 6 months of enrolling in the program all students are required to have obtained a National Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and, a Working with Children, Aged, NDIS and Vulnerable People clearance through the Department of Human Services (DHS).
2. Field Education consists of 1000 hours of supervised placement to be undertaken during the third and fourth years. Students are advised that they will be required to attend field education placements generally but not exclusively during normal working hours in both teaching and non-teaching weeks, for between 3 and 5 days per week. Students are strongly encouraged to undertake one rural placement.
3. Prior to commencing placement, all students must have successfully completed a 1-day Child Safe Environments Course.
4. Most placements will require students to hold a current driver's licence and to be willing to drive an agency car. Some agencies will require a recognised First Aid Certificate. Not having a current driver's licence will limit your placement choices.
5. The program is designed to graduate professional social workers who can function effectively in demanding environments. It satisfies professional and employer requirements through its content and its assessment processes. Students are advised that the program does require consistent participation in a wide range of potentially challenging classroom, assessment, and field activities.
6. Students are required to pass the Interview assessment to enrol in placement. Students failing the Interview will be given the chance to retake the assessment.
7. Students studying externally will be required to attend a minimum of 20 days on campus spread over the four years of the program to meet the Australian Association of Social Workers accreditation requirements around attendance.
8. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work are eligible to apply to transfer to the 4 year Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) (HSOCW) program if they have achieved a GPA of 5.0 or higher. Transfer into the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) (HSOCW) program for students is encouraged at any point in the first three years of the program but is highly encouraged in the first two years to ensure a smooth transition prior to the first placement.
9. The first year and a half of the Bachelor of Social Work is in common with the Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services). Transfer between the degrees is possible. Transferring by mid-year of second year ensures smooth transition between the degrees and avoids any problems in relation to field education and AASW field education requirements.
Courses
Listed here are all the courses that contribute to your program, including elective options that can be chosen. These courses come together to form your study plan. Courses fall into different categories, each of which have specific unit values that need to be met under the program rules.
What courses you'll study
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 144 units for all Core courses, and
- 36 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for Electives
Complete 144 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Human Service Provision
|
Course code
SOCI1009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Communication Skills in Social Work and Human Services
|
Course code
SOWK1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Social World
|
Course code
SOWK1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Child Development
|
Course code
SOWK1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Governance and Citizenship in Australia
|
Course code
POLI1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Applied Psychology
|
Course code
PSYC1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Group Work
|
Course code
PSYC1009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australian Social Policy
|
Course code
POLI2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Working with Community
|
Course code
SOWK2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Service Intervention
|
Course code
SOWK2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Social Research Methods
|
Course code
SOCI2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Interviewing Skills in Social Work and Human Services
|
Course code
SOWK2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing
|
Course code
SOWK2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Preparation for Field Placement
|
Course code
SOWK2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Service Workers and the Law
|
Course code
SOWK2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Australians and the Human Services
|
Course code
SOWK2006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Policy Practice
|
Course code
POLI3021
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Social Work Theory and Practice
|
Course code
SOWK3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Working with Human Service Organisations
|
Course code
SOWK3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Child Centred Practice
|
Course code
SOWK3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Leading and Managing in Human Service Organisations
|
Course code
SOWK4011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Social Work with Older People
|
Course code
SOCW4009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Trauma Informed Practice (UniSA)
|
Course code
SOWK4003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Development
|
Course code
SOWK4005
|
Units
6
|
|
Work Integrated Learning description
Complete 36 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Social Work Field Education 1
|
Course code
SOWK3002
|
Units
18
|
|
|
Course name
Social Work Field Education 2
|
Course code
SOWK4004
|
Units
18
|
|
Electives description
Complete 12 units comprising:
- 0 to 12 units from Closed electives, and
- 0 to 12 units from University-wide electives
A full list of university-wide elective options can be accessed below.
University-wide elective options| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Protecting Children
|
Course code
SOWK4009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Informed Practice with Children
|
Course code
SOWK2007
|
Units
6
|
Notes
-
Free electives - 1. The Justice & Society Study Tour course can be chosen in place of an elective course as part of this program. Additional fees apply for the study tour component of this course, and enrolment is conditional upon successful application in a competitive Expression of Interest process as well as successful completion of 48 units.
Your program team
Dr Michele Jarldorn
Program Director
College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences
School of Social Work and Social Care