Course Catalogue

Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (SSCWK1)

2026

Course Structure

Our Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is a two-year, full-time course comprising of core units in social work and two, 500 hours of field placements. Core units include an introduction to social work contexts and critical approaches to practice; culturally responsive practice with families, individuals and groups; social work theory and integrated methods; community development; advocacy, research; social policy and social change. Field placements are held in second semester each year and facilitate direct and indirect practice opportunities within a host organisation. The course uses a blend of online and face to face learning opportunities, with students required to attend 20 days of on campus workshop and skill development training across the length of the course. Students are required to pay for course related costs such as attendance at intensives and placements.

A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Unit type

Credit Points

Specific requirements

Core Units
(11 units)

160cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below.

SWK521 Analysing Social Work Foundations (intensive) #
SWK523 Social Work Theory for Professional Practice
SWK525 Loss, Grief and Mental Health
SWK526 Leadership in Social Policy
SWK533 Interpersonal Skills for Social Work Practice A (intensive) #
SWK534 Interpersonal Skills for Professional Practice B (intensive) #
SWK535 Research for Community Development
SWK536 Skills for Culturally Responsive Practice (20cp) (intensive) #
SWK558 Cultural Security on Child Protection Practice
SWK530 Field Education A (Masters) (30cp) ##
SWK631 Field Education B (Masters) (30cp) ##

160cp

Total Credit Points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.

# Intensive block: Students are required to attend a 5 day on-campus intensive block as a part of this unit as accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
## Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office based on the recommended hours outlined by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Further Assistance

For further assistance please contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (freecall) or student.central@cdu.edu.au. Student Central staff will assist you with applying for or enrolling in a course and provide assistance with timetables, fees, HELP (Higher Education Loan Program), external materials, enrolment changes and many other issues.

Unit Catalogue - provides general information about each unit including a brief description, the semester and mode offered as well as the fees for Commonwealth Supported places.
Timetables - provides information about individual class times for units offered internally. Timetables for the following academic year are published early in December each year.
Bookshop - if text books have been prescribed, recommended or ordered for units in this course, details are available by unit code through the Casuarina Campus Bookshop.