Social Work

Why study BA Social Work at Goldsmiths

Drawing on current research, government guidance and legislative frameworks, this degree focuses on the issues that are key in facilitating your development as a social worker.

• Both an academic and professional qualification, so it's ideal if you're interested in pursuing a professional career in social work.

• We'll equip you with the knowledge, values and skills you'll need to practise as a reflective and ethical social worker, equipped for the challenges of contemporary social work practice.

• Our social work programmes are highly regarded by potential employers within London and further afield, and our graduates have an excellent record of securing employment.

• The degree includes practice placements in two settings and with different service user groups, so you'll be able to gain invaluable real-world experience.

• You will cover topics including: social work practice methods; anti-oppressive practice; social theories; developmental perspectives; research methodologies; and social policy. The knowledge that you gain will help you develop the broad set of skills and perspectives needed for successful social work practice in a variety of settings.

• We'll encourage you to think deeply about human rights and social justice, and to embed these values in your practice.

• Social work education at Goldsmiths has a long and distinguished record – you'll be taught by established social work academics and associate lecturers who have considerable research and/or practice experience in their fields.

• The degree also prepares you according to the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), the Quality Assurance Agency subject benchmark for social work, and the Department of Health's requirements for social work training.

• You will study with a cohort of other social work students from London and elsewhere, and some of your modules will also allow you will also study alongside students from other programmes, including Youth Work and Community Studies. Interdisciplinarity is a strength of our programme.

Please note the BA Social Work only accepts applications for first year entry and does not accept applications for deferred entry.

Year 1
In your first year of study, you are introduced to social work as a professional activity and an academic discipline. You consider key concepts such as the nature of need, community, social work services, and the significance of the service user perspective. Major theoretical approaches within the social sciences and their relationship to social work will be investigated, as will studies in professional development for practice, where you will have the opportunity to shadow a qualified social worker.

You will study the following modules:
Introduction to Social Work, Community Development, and Youth Work
Group Work
Introduction to Applied Social Science Research
Professional Development for Practice
Foundation to Social Work
Introduction to Social Science
Race, Racism and Professional Practice

Year 2
In your second year, you address issues of life-span development and are given a grounding in methods of intervention.

Your assessed practice consists of 70 days in a student social work role. This gives you the chance to develop your communication and social work practice skills with service users, and to work in partnership across professional disciplines and agencies. You are also provided with an introduction to assessment in social work and to the links between social work theory and practice.

You'll take the following modules:
Social Work Skills and Methods 1
Introduction to Law and Social Work
Applied Social Research Methods
Theory, Policy and Practice
Theories of Individual Development
Social Work 70-Day Placement and Practice Integration

Year 3
Your third year gives you an overview of the legal and organisational context of social work and extends your knowledge and skills in one of the two main specialist areas of social work practice: working with children and families, or working with adults in need.

A theory and practice module looks at methods of intervention and theories applied to a particular area of social work, while another assessed practice element enables you to meet the professional requirements for social work training via 100 days of practice under the guidance of a practice educator.

You are expected to demonstrate competence across a range of standards and this is formally assessed. The learning on the degree builds over the three years and prepares you to apply that knowledge to practice situations.

You take these modules:
Social Work Skills and Methods 2
Social Justice and Social Work
Social Work 100-Day Placement and Practice Integration

Practice placements
You are required to spend 170 days in practice settings. These placements are arranged through the allocation system devised by the College.

In Year 1, you are expected to complete two days shadowing an experienced Social Worker as well as a period of voluntary work, both of which you arrange.
In Year 2 there is a practice placement lasting 70 days.
In Year 3 the practice placement lasts 100 days.
The practice placements will be supported by 30 days for the development of practice skills.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

You’ll be assessed through a combination of presentations, role play, written reflection, portfolio, practice placements, practice placement portfolios, examinations and extended essays.