Social Work BA (Hons)

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Change people's lives for the better. Protect vulnerable people in very challenging situations. Make the world a fairer place.

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Overview

BA (Hons) Social Work is the essential first step to becoming a qualified Social Worker. When you have graduated, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England.

Social Workers improve the lives of a huge range of people. For example, you could work with people with learning difficulties, children and families, older people, people who have problems with drug and alcohol misuse, people who experience mental health problems or disabled people.

Why us?

Our Social Work courses are ranked 27th in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2023)
This course has 100% Overall Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2022)
Approved by Social Work England

Our small cohorts mean that almost all teaching is done in small groups, based primarily on discussion, debate and group exercises with opportunities for all students to get involved
You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who, if possible, will stay with you during your three years of study. We pride ourselves on the support we offer to students and feedback consistently identifies that staff are approachable and supportive.

Course structure

This Social Work course is taught via workshops, small group work, lectures, computer-based learning, presentations and independent learning.

Your progress will be assessed with group projects/presentations, written assignments, portfolios of work and exams at the end of some modules. Throughout the degree you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff.

You will learn about the role of a social worker and the legislation which is applicable to social work theory, research, ethics and values.

Two practice learning opportunities (70 and 100 days) in your second and third year will help you to put your learning into practice.

You will develop skills in problem-solving, communication, working with others and patience. You will also learn about law, partnership working, assessment, intervention, mental health and disability issues.

A part-time version of the Social Work degree is also available.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Skills for Practice (20 credits)

Gain the basic academic and professional skills required to successfully complete the course. Develop knowledge and understanding of the social work interviewing process, the relevance of ‘community’, and the economic, cultural, and social aspects of community context on the lives of the people living within it. Build on your communication, research, and reflection skills.

Social Work Theory and Practice 1 (20 credits)

Get a critical introduction to the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), the professional standard for social work and explore the relationship between theory and practice. Examine the role of social work and how this has been defined and developed and consider the importance of personal and professional behaviour and boundaries. Reflect upon your personal values and how they can apply to our own practice as a social worker. Understand how diversity relates to discrimination and explore how social workers can challenge this.

Psychology and Human Growth and Development (20 credits)

Explore the major areas of schools of psychological thought relevant to social work practice including cognitive, behavioural, psychodynamic, and humanistic approaches and their implications. Extend your knowledge by the exploration and application of social psychology, including attitude formation and development of prejudice. Gain the ability to critically evaluate the use of psychological theory and apply knowledge of human growth and development to social work practice.

Law for Social Workers (20 credits)

Gain an understanding of the legal context of social work, including sources of the law and processes of lawmaking and decision-making. Discover the main statutes and other legal instruments relating to social work interventions with a range of service users and carers, including children and families, and adults. Consider the degree to which the law supports social work values and enhances or constrains ethical decision-making in practice.

Introduction to Social Policy (20 credits)

Examine the significance of social policy in relation to social work practice. Explore your own understanding of the political and policy context for practice and learn about key political ideologies in relation to the development and restructure of the welfare state in Britain. Gain an understanding of the policy making process and examine the influences which shape this and develop skills in evaluating outcomes of policy initiatives.

Introduction to Social Theory (20 credits)

Get a broad introduction to key perspectives in social theory and acquire systemic knowledge of fundamental features and changes in social life. Explore the conceptual awareness of the relationship between the individual and the social, and the different theoretical interpretations of this relationship. Learn about the characteristics of modern society in order to understand the nature of this and see links between different aspects of modern life, such as the connections among different events, institutions, and trends.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Working with Children, Young People and Families (20 credits)

Use your understanding from previous modules to enable your appreciation of the societal, policy, legal and service context of social work with children and their families. Address the understanding of the ages and stages of children’s social, emotional, intellectual, physical, sexual, and spiritual development, attachment, separation and loss, and the application of this understanding to practice with children and their families within an anti-oppressive framework. Explore the impact of neglect and abuse on children and develop an awareness of the safeguarding process.

Working with Adults (20 credits)

Develop your knowledge base to inform professional judgements when working with adults to promote their independence and provide support, balancing rights, and risk. Examine and analyse policy relating to social work with adults and carers, including key agendas in adult social care. Gain the knowledge of legal frameworks underpinning social work practice with adults and explore the role of values and ethics in promoting service-user involvement and empowerment.

Mental Health Social Work (20 credits)

Understand and explore the social work role within the complexities of mental wellbeing, mental illness, and mental distress. Examine the different explanations of mental illness and the ways it can impact individuals and those around them. Gain an understanding of how factors such as age, gender, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, and poverty can increase someone’s vulnerability but also their resilience. Consider models of intervention; how different professions work with people and with each other within the legal policy framework.

Social Work Theory and Practice 2 (30 credits)

Understand a variety of different social work theories, explore various aspects of the assessment process, and examine a range of specific models of social work intervention. Assess a range of psychological, behavioural, and social theories in detail. Consider the importance of critical thinking and reasoned decision-making on evidence gathered from a range of sources. Learn about the value of evaluating and reviewing hypotheses and apply your learning to several case scenarios.

First Placement (30 credits)

Undertake a 70-day placement, enabling you to demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills, and commitment to core values in social work. Operate in a social work/care setting under the supervision of a Practice Educator, learning from them and other team members. Actively engage in direct work with a range of people and situations where there may not be simple clear-cut solutions.

Year 3 (national level 6):

Critical Social Work Theory and Practice (20 credits)

Build upon previous modules and examine values in social work with a more in-depth analysis of the origins, development, and meanings of those values, including anti-discriminatory principles. Understand the tensions between values as absolute and values as instrumental. Examine the social worker’s role as an agent of the state with responsibilities to protect, control, care and promote justice. Focus on decision-making, including risk assessment, reflection and analysis, and critical writing.

Contemporary Issues in Social Welfare (20 credits)

Examine emerging social issues in detail and their implications for practice. Revisit and extend your understanding of the political and ideological context for social policy and practise responses to such issues. Develop a more complex understanding of human rights principles and explore current debates around the impacts of inequality on health, welfare, and economic wellbeing in relation to a contemporary social issue.

Social Work Research Methods (10 credits)

Developing on your understanding of the use of research in social work from previous modules, learn a detailed analysis of the difference between quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Examine different research methods and discuss their relevance to social work. Debate and discuss the benefits and disadvantages of different approaches and explore the importance of values and ethics. Learn how to gather data, analyse information, and present research material.

Social Work Dissertation (30 credits)

Explore the nature of social work research in relation to a specialist topic chosen by you in consultation with your supervisor. Examine the principles and practice of social work research and develop your own capacities to inquire into complex issues systematically and thoroughly. Gain a critical understanding of the application of research to social work, the ability to interpret conflicting findings, an understanding of the validity of evidence-based research and the awareness of how to apply messages from research to social work practice.

Final Placement (40 credits)

Undertake a 100-day placement, enabling you to demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills, and commitment to core values in social work. Operate in a social work/care setting under the supervision of a Practice Educator, learning from them and other team members. Actively engage in direct work with a range of people and situations where there may not be simple clear-cut solutions. Finish by writing a reflective account of practice during placement.

Facilities

You'll be based at The Reg Vardy Centre, situated on the award-winning St Peter's riverside campus. The location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1250/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 3 subjects) ACT (score of 30+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

If English is not your first language, you will also need International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a score of 7.0 in all components.

Social Care experience

To apply for this degree you must have experience (voluntary or paid) in a social care setting. You can include placements which you have undertaken as part of college, but we do expect more experience than this. Experience could include volunteering during weekends, evenings, or holidays. We may also consider any personal experience you might have.

You should clearly describe this experience in the personal statement section of your application and show how this relates to a career in social work.

Social Work involves working with some of the most vulnerable people in society, and social work education is regulated by Social Work England. We must therefore be satisfied that you are 'fit to practise' before we can accept you onto this degree course.

In addition to the academic qualification and work experience, you will need:

Two satisfactory references
A satisfactory health clearance
An Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
A completed declaration form about previous criminal convictions and any disciplinary hearings or investigations related to vulnerable adults or safeguarding young people

We also require you to complete a declaration form about any previous criminal convictions and any disciplinary hearings or investigations related to vulnerable adults or safeguarding young people. Social Work is listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 [amended 2013] so this means that we must ask you for an enhanced DBS check.

Some spent convictions and cautions are now ‘protected’, which means that we can't take them into account when deciding on your suitability for this course. You must read the Disclosure and Barring Service Filtering Guide carefully to decide whether or not you need to tell us about your spent convictions or cautions.

Driving

While it is not mandatory that you hold a driving licence and have access to a vehicle to undertake this course, please be aware that the availability of placements may be limited by not driving. Many Local Authorities in the North East also require driving or access to mobility support as an essential requirement for employment.

Vaccination

We are required to adhere to relevant government policy regarding Covid-19. This has placed particular expectations on certain groups to be vaccinated. This may include students involved in providing health or social care, including in placement or partnership settings. As a result, our placement providers may require confirmation of Covid vaccination status.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

Fees for this course are:

£9,250 if you are from the UK/Europe*
£13,000 if you are an international student

Part-time fees are £6,935 per 120 credits. Part-time study is not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

*European Union (EU), EEA (European Economic Area) and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme are classed as international, however, for 22/23 admission you will receive a European student fee scholarship and will pay the home tuition fee rate for the duration of your studies. The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn more in our Help and Advice article.

A limited number of Social Work bursaries are available. See the NHS Business Services Authority website for more information.

If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces, then the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme may be able to help cover your funding for this course. For more information, see our Funding for Armed Forces personnel page.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Career ready

BA (Hons) Social Work is a highly practical qualification. After graduation, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a social worker with Social Work England.

Social Work is a very broad discipline. You could work with older people, young offenders, people with mental health issues, foster carers, children at risk of abuse or any other individuals at risk of harm to themselves or others.

Social Workers work in a variety of organisations including local authorities, NHS Trusts, residential care, schools, the voluntary and private sector.

Centre for Applied Social Sciences

The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Applied Social Studies (CASS) regularly hosts research seminars presented by faculty academics and also visiting speakers and it can be an excellent way to learn about current and up to date research on contemporary social care issues. You may also find opportunities to collaborate with the academic team.

Practice learning opportunities

Placements are an essential part of your Social Work degree, accounting for 70 credits in total. Placements allow you to apply your learning in a real-life context and get a sense of what type of social work you might want to specialise in. When you’re ready to start searching for a job in social work, you will already have a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right opportunities.

Meet the students

The tutors were able to give me time and guidance when it was needed.

Iain Yassin
Lecturers are qualified social workers, bringing real-life experiences to teaching

Michelle Dias

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Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Education and Society.

Page last updated: 26 September 2022

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

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