Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) / Criminology & Criminal Justice

Program Overview

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The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology & Criminal Justice is a five-year double degree that combines knowledge from law, justice, and social sciences to provide a comprehensive understanding of crime and complex social issues. Students develop critical insights into justice and social systems, gaining skills to help individuals and communities facing challenges such as homelessness, addiction, and discrimination. The program includes unique approaches like real-world case studies and visits to courts and prisons, preparing graduates for careers in the justice and social welfare sectors.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Criminology & Criminal Justice is a five-year double degree that equips students with the skills, experience, and knowledge to interpret how people and complex social issues influence real-life events. The program combines cross-faculty knowledge from UNSW Law & Justice and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture to provide a comprehensive understanding of crime and complex social issues.

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Objectives:

• To develop critical insights into all aspects of the justice and social systems.
• To gain a broad, inclusive perspective that enables students to make a positive impact on people's lives.
• To provide students with the skills and knowledge to understand people and help them through challenging times, such as homelessness, addiction, abuse, mental illness, poverty, ageing, and discrimination.
• To equip students with an understanding of crime and criminality, drawing from psychology, sociology, law, philosophy, and cultural studies.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

The program consists of 38 courses, including:

• 23 Social Work core courses
• 6 Criminology core courses
• 6 Social Science core courses
• 3 Criminology electives

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Course Schedule:

The program is typically completed in five years, with each year divided into three terms. Courses are typically studied in the first and second year to prepare students for courses in later years. Students can study full-time or part-time, with the option to fit two or three courses into a term and one course in a summer term.

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Modules:

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Social Work Core Courses:

• Introduction to Social Work
• Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
• Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities
• Social Work Policy and Advocacy
• Social Work Research Methods
• Social Work Ethics

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Criminology Core Courses:

• Introduction to Criminology
• Criminological Theory
• Criminal Justice Systems
• Crime and Society
• Victimology
• Sentencing and Corrections

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Social Science Core Courses:

• Introduction to Sociology
• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to Anthropology
• Introduction to Economics

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Criminology Electives:

Students can choose from a range of criminology electives, such as:

• Policing and Crime Prevention
• Juvenile Justice
• Gender and Crime
• Drugs and Crime

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the course, but typically include:

• Essays
• Reports
• Presentations
• Exams
• Fieldwork

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Fieldwork
• Guest lectures

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Faculty:

The program is taught by a team of experienced academics from UNSW Law & Justice and UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture.

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Unique Approaches:

The program includes a number of unique approaches to teaching, such as:

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Real-world case studies:

Students work on real-life case studies to gain practical experience and apply their learning to real-world situations.

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Visiting courts and prisons:

Students visit courts and prisons to observe the justice system in action and hear from people involved in the system.

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

Graduates of the program are qualified for a range of careers in the justice and social welfare sectors, such as:

• Social worker
• Mental health professional
• Social researcher
• Policy analyst and adviser
• Research officer
• Project manager and research designer

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Opportunities and Outcomes:

The program provides graduates with the skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Graduates are highly sought-after by employers in the justice and social welfare sectors.