University of York

University of York

Master of Social Work Honours in Social Work

The Master of Social Work Honours in Social Work in Humanities and Social Sciences is offered by University of York.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Master of Social Work Honours in Social Work offered by the University of York

Start your career as a social worker with an advanced four-year course which knits together study and practice.

The Master in Social Work (Hons) is a professional qualification which entitles you to apply to register as a social worker: a challenging and rewarding career. 

This four-year course, which includes two years of postgraduate study, provides an advanced alternative to standard three-year BA Social Work degrees. You'll gain a Masters-level qualification which is highly valued by employers. You'll have opportunities to gain experience on placements in three diverse social work settings and receive a broader grounding in the social sciences.

Through a carefully tailored programme of coursework and practical learning, you'll gain the knowledge and skills required as a professional social worker. You will develop abilities that enable you to join a rapidly changing and fast-paced profession. The integration of practice, theory and research means you will be a competent and critically reflective social worker, able to make informed judgements based on sound analysis, often in unpredictable circumstances.

You will develop professional skills and knowledge to improve the lives of vulnerable people. Service users and carers contribute directly to our teaching, giving you an unparalleled insight into the complexities of social work. You'll gain the ability to face complex and difficult human situations with confidence, creativity, compassion and integrity. You'll learn to work alongside people and to incorporate principles of social justice into your everyday practice.

Join a thriving department, internationally recognised for its teaching and research excellence and gain a solid foundation from which to begin your professional journey.

Accreditation
After completing this degree you can apply to register as a social worker with Social Work England. As a social work student you will be expected to adhere to the standards set out in the Social Work England professional standards.

Course content

This course follows the British Association of Social Workers Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). Throughout your four years you'll focus on the PCF's nine key domains:
  • Professionalism
  • Values and Ethics
  • Diversity
  • Rights and Justice
  • Knowledge
  • Critical Reflection
  • Intervention and Skills
  • Contexts and Organisations
  • Professional Leadership

Three placements, including two which provide statutory social work experience, will cultivate a wide range of essential skills and ensure that you are well-prepared for the realities of social work in different sectors. You will spend 200 days on placement, and complete 30 skills days which are integrated into modules throughout the course.

Year 1
In your first year you'll study four core modules which introduce fundamental social and sociological theory.

Core modules
Introducing Social Policy (30 credits)
Introduction to Social Work (30 credits)
Introducing Sociology and Social Psychology (30 credits)
Exploring Social Policy and Social Justice (30 credits)

Academic integrity module
In addition to the above you will also need to complete the online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2
The four core modules of your second year will introduce more practical elements, building on Year 1's theoretical foundation. You'll develop essential skills for social work, which you'll have a chance to refine on placement with a voluntary organisation or independent social care agency. You'll also learn how to evaluate and develop service provision, and carry out practice-related research.

Core modules
Community Development and Social Change (30 credits)
Skills for Social Work (30 credits)
Social Research Methods (30 credits)
Private, Voluntary and Independent Sector Placement (30 credits)

Year 3
In the first half of Year 3 you'll prepare for your first statutory placement with a range of core modules which ensure you're ready for practice. You'll explore the ethical, legal and policy contexts for social work, which will equip you to manage the competing pressures of social work practice.

The placement begins in the Spring Term and lasts for 70 days, after completion of a module designed to support your professional development.

Core modules
Autumn Term and Spring Term

Social Work Across the Life Course (40 credits)
Law and Policy (20 credits)
Communication Skills (10 credits)

Spring Term and Summer Term

Preparation for Practice (10 credits)
Placement I (30 credits)
This counts towards the 200 days of practice which you must complete before you can register as a social worker. You'll spend 70 days at a social work agency as well as Skills Days at the University, developing specialist techniques for working with individuals, families and groups.

You'll work with a qualified social work practice educator who will support and assess you throughout the placement. Your placement is a chance to develop and follow your own professional interests, with guidance from our academic staff.

Knowledge into Practice (10 credits)
As part of your placement report, you will complete written work which will evidence how you have brought the knowledge gained in the classroom into your professional practice.

Year 4
As part of your fourth year you'll undertake your final statutory placement. This will take 100 days and will contribute 40 credits toward your course. You'll also choose a module that will allow you to study a particular branch of social work in more depth.

Throughout the year you'll work on your Masters dissertation. This is a 16,000-word extended essay based on your own original research. You'll work with your supervisor to choose a topic which interests you and design an empirical study or systematic literature review to explore your research question in depth.

You'll also choose an option module to focus your studies and practical skills in a specific area of social work; and in the ‘Power, Participation and Practice’ module you will explore how power operates in social work practice, and study methods and tools that will help you develop anti-oppressive practice.

Placement II (40 credits)

This counts towards the 200 days of practice which you must complete before you can register as a social worker. You'll spend 100 days at a social work agency, developing skills for career-long learning, self-care and leadership.

Dissertation and Research Skills (60 credits)

The dissertation will allow you to demonstrate your skills in research as well as applying insights from the taught modules and your placement experience.*

Power, Participation and Practice (10 credits)

Option modules
Choose one of the following modules:

Evidence in Practice (Children and Families) (10 credits)
Evidence in Practice (Adults) (10 credits)

*Examples of recent dissertation titles include:

A case study of a community mental health team's experience using cognitive behaviour therapy for the treatment for adult depression
Back to real social work? The implications for the practice of care managers following the introduction of individual budgets
Domestic violence - whose problem is it? An analysis of multi-agency services and responses to domestic violence
Self harm: the experience of professionals



Locations where you can study Master of Social Work Honours in Social Work en University of York


Schools where you can study Master of Social Work Honours in Social Work en University of York

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