Social work is a dynamic profession that promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Social Workers intervene at the points where people interact with their environments.

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to Social Work practice. Social Work is practised worldwide in a variety of settings across all sectors of society and in close collaboration with other sectors such as education, development, health, law and business. Social Workers also engage in private practice.

Social Work (BSW)

Social work is a dynamic profession that promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Social Workers intervene at the points where people interact with their environments.

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to Social Work practice. Social Work is practised worldwide in a variety of settings across all sectors of society and in close collaboration with other sectors such as education, development, health, law and business. Social Workers also engage in private practice.

Professional registration and conduct

Practice in the field of Social Work is regulated by the South African Council for Social Service Professions, with which all Social Workers must register. The Council lays down the minimum standards of both academic and practical training requisite for professional registration, and the Department of Social Development provides training according to these standards. The University offered a 3-year BSocSc degree in Social Work for students who first registered before 2007. These students were required to complete an appropriate Honours degree offered by the Department of Social Development in order to obtain professional registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions.

From 2007, students registered for a 4-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in order to obtain professional registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions. Students registered for the professional degrees in social work are required by statute to register from their second year of study with the South African Council for Social Service Professions as a student social worker. As such they are bound by the Council’s professional code of conduct. Students who do not adhere to this code of conduct may be required to terminate their registration in the Faculty.

Should a student in the course of his/her studies or who qualifies for the award of the degree that allows for professional registration with the said Council be deemed unfit to practise as a social worker following a professional assessment, the Dean will report the outcome of such professional assessment to the Council and inform the student accordingly.

Becoming a Social Worker

The four year programme offered in the Department of Social Development allows the student to move into other fields such as Social Development, Social Policy and Management, Probation and Correctional Practice, or Clinical Practice.

Courses offered in the department focus on a range of relevant topics, such as professional interaction; human development; social and economic empowerment; child abuse; crime; alcoholism and substance abuse; human sexuality; social welfare policy and social development; and social research. Apart from the subject social work, you will also major in either Sociology or Psychology.

Learning is guided and facilitated through interactive lectures, workshops and tutorials. From the beginning of the second year, students work with people in different communities, doing their practical work in the context of a range of government and Non-Profit Organization settings, such as schools, hospitals, development programmes, industry, prisons, rehabilitation and trauma centres. To assist students to integrate their theoretical knowledge of assessment and intervention strategies, they receive supervision from a specialist in the field.

The programme leads to a professional qualification and provides a solid foundation for all people-centred careers and social service professions. The education and training provides knowledge for life and opportunities for lifelong learning. By the time of graduation, the student has relevant work and professional experience and is registered with a professional body to practice.

Social work and related social development services are declared a scarce skill in South Africa and with the existing pool of qualified professionals extremely limited, there is an increasing demand from government and non-governmental sectors for social work and social development graduates.

The Department’s core academic programmes benefit from contributions made by cognate Departments such as Psychology and Sociology.

BSW Degree Structure

The Social Work Programme is one that will prepare you for a professional career, equips you with excellent life skills and enables you to be versatile in marketing your skills upon graduation.
The following constitutes the curriculum for the next four years.  No doubt they will be some of the most memorable in your life.

 Year 1 

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Careers and vocational training in Social Work

From the beginning of the second year, students work with people in different communities, doing their practical work in the context of a range of government and Non-Profit Organization settings, such as schools, hospitals, development programmes, industry, prisons, rehabilitation and trauma centres.

To assist students to integrate their theoretical knowledge of assessment and intervention strategies, they receive supervision from a specialist in the field. The programme leads to a professional qualification and provides a solid foundation for all people-centred careers and social service professions.

The education and training provides knowledge for life and opportunities for lifelong learning. By the time of graduation, the student has relevant work and professional experience and is registered with a professional body to practice.