Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a full-time four-year undergraduate degree programme in social work which integrates university-based and agency-based learning. Successful completion of the programme leads to an academic qualification (BSW) and will make you eligible to apply to be registered as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland and internationally. The BSW is a course approved by the Health and Social Care Professional Council (CORU) as a social work training course.
Who is the Course for?
The BSW is a programme especially for mature students i.e. students aged 23 years or more on January 1st of the year they commence their BSW studies.There are no official qualifications required to gain entry to the BSW. Candidates are judged on their relevant experience (both work and life experience); their potential to complete a demanding undergraduate programme of study; their demonstrated commitment to social work; their interest in and knowledge of social issues and their commitment to this field of activity. All qualifying candidates are welcome to apply. In recent years the BSW has included students from many different backgrounds, from a variety of nationalities, and a wide range of interests and lifestyles. We encourage this diversity. The BSW is committed to positively contributing to social work. Our vision is to provide a critical educational experience for our students that will contribute to them becoming a positive force in Irish society.
What will I be studying?
Both first and second year of the course are college based and lectures take place over two 12 week semesters. In third and fourth year students undertake one semester in college and another on a fourteen week professional placement.
Year 1: Applied Psychology; Economics; Social Policy; Social Work; Sociology
Year 2: Social Work skills Lab; Childcare Policy; Mixed Economy of Welfare; Social Work Methods 1; Social Work Practice Contexts; Mental Health Practice and Policy Issues; Social Research; Social Policy and Social Work; Introduction to Social Work Practice
Year 3: Social Work Methods 2; Placement; Placement Portfolio; Law; Deviance Welfare and Justice; Child Protection Practice
Year 4: Contemporary Issues in Social Work; Anti-Racism and Anti-Discriminatory Practice ; Placement; Placement Portfolio; Law; Research Project
It is important to note that as a professionally validated course, the BSW has a mandatory attendance policy. In order to have a clear record of attendance, class attendance records are kept.
How to Apply
There are two parts to your application for the BSW course:
First, mature students must apply online through the CAO (Central Applications Office) by February 1st at www.cao.ie. The CAO code for the BSW is CK115 and the CAO charge an application fee of €40 (€30 if you apply before January 20th).
Second, you must register for the MSAP (Mature Student Admissions Pathway) which is a two hour written assessment usually held in mid February. You must register for the MSAP assessment (fee approx €65) by February 1st, using your CAO number. Details of registration and the assessment test are available at www.msap.acer.edu.au.
For more information, please contact UCC's Admissions Office on (021) 4902272.
Candidates who are shortlisted on the basis of both their CAO application and the MSAP assessment will subsequently be invited to attend for interview in UCC. Candidates will be required to provide references and contact details of two referees. Group and individual interviews take place in May and candidates are advised of the outcome sometime in Mid June.
It is important that you give a comprehensive overview of your relevant work and life experience on your CAO application form to make us aware of your interests and ambitions. Some previous applicants to the BSW have suffered because of an absence of appropriate details.
All applicants who are offered and accept a place on the course will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
For an informal discussion about your candidacy, in the first instance please contact the Course Selection Coordinator, Dr. Mary Wilson at 021-4903072 or m.wilson@ucc.ie. In her absence, please contact the BSW Deputy Director, Ms. Lydia Sapouna at 021-4903495, l.sapouna@ucc.ie, or any member of the tutoring team.
FAQ
Where do students go on practice placements?
Practice placements are an integral part of the programme. Students are required to complete two fourteen week fieldwork placements, for at least one of which they may be required to move outside Cork (consideration is given to students with children and other caring responsibilities). The course has a wide range of placements within both voluntary organisations and statutory agencies in Ireland and abroad. The course has strong links with agencies in South Africa, Chicago (USA) and India and several students have completed placements with these organisations.
What are the options for further study after completing the BSW?There are a number of postgraduate opportunities available for graduates of this programme including the Masters in Social Science (MScocSc), the Masters in Social Policy (MSocSc), the MPlan, the MPhil in Social Work and the PhD in Social Work. For further information on postgraduate options please see: http://www.ucc.ie/en/appsoc/study/postgrad/
What are the career opportunities for BSW students?
The BSW is a course approved by the Health and Social Care Professional Council (CORU) as a social work training course. Successful graduates can use their qualification to apply to CORU to be placed on the register of social workers. In Ireland all social workers will need to be registered in order to practice as social workers. International accreditation bodies also recognise the BSW for registration purposes. Social Workers are employed in a wide variety of contexts including hospitals, child protection teams, The Probation and Welfare Service, family support agencies, disability organisations, youth settings, and community organisations. For further information on career opportunities for BSW graduates please contact the UCC Careers Service
It’s been a long time since I was in formal education, how will I manage a university course?The BSW course is a full-time, professional course and requires considerable commitment on the part of students. However, as the BSW is a course expressly for mature students, we have particular interest in trying to support students who may be returning to education after a lengthy absence. This is reflected in the orientation of the course and how it is run. We recognise the valuable life and professional experiences students come to the course with and students are encouraged to critically reflect on these in order to promote the development of their social work practice. The course also incorporates approaches to teaching and learning appropriate for adult learners. These methods include interactive teaching, groupwork, self-directed study, critical reflective learning, peer feedback and continuous assessment.
In recognition of the large number of mature students and students from non-traditional backgrounds that attend courses (including the BSW) within the School, The School of Applied Social Studies also has a dedicated Student Support Officer whose role is to support these students. Support may be offered on a one to one basis or within classes specifically organised to support particular needs. Help is provided in relation to the use of computers, academic writing, essay structuring, etc.
The University recognises the unique contribution that adult learners bring to the academic and social life of the college as a considerable asset. It also acknowledges that those who have been away from education for some years may experience difficulties in returning and consequently provides specific support services for mature students throughout the year. Please click on the links below to find out more about the support services available to students attending the university:
Mature students - www.ucc.ie/en/mature
Disability Support Service - www.ucc.ie/en/dss
Student Health Service - www.ucc.ie/en/studenthealth
Student Counselling Service - www.ucc.ie/en/studentcounselling
Student Peer Support Service - www.ucc.ie/en/pass/ulinkpeersupport
Is there anything I can do in order to improve my chances of being selected for the course?Students are selected onto the BSW in accordance with the criteria set out in the section on ‘How to Apply’. Therefore it is beneficial to have work experience (either voluntary or paid) that is related to social work. Many organisations have opportunities for voluntary involvement. The Cork Volunteer Centre is a not for profit organisation which helps link volunteers with volunteering opportunities.
It is also important to be aware of current social issues and issues related to social work. Keeping up to date with current affairs through reading the newspaper or relevant television programmes is important. It would also be beneficial to be familiar with social work related websites in order to be informed about current debates and issues within the profession. A useful link might be the Irish Association of Social Workers website.
Many people have found it very useful to have undertaken a foundation course in social studies or a related area in advance of embarking on the BSW degree. It is very helpful to have had some experience of researching and writing assignments, and also to gain some familiarity with relevant subject areas. Such courses are available through UCC Centre for Adult and Continuing Education and Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa. Local VEC office should be able to provide you with information on such courses in your area also.
