University of Southern Queensland
Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
A dynamic, accredited pathway for career-changers to become ethical, reflective social work professionals equipped to make meaningful contributions across diverse and evolving communities.
Course overview
Overview
- Become a social worker in just two years if studying full-time with UniSQ and embark on a career as a societal change agent. You’ll be prepared to enter an in-demand profession and work with people experiencing emotional, social and economic challenges.
- The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) can be the start of a new career in social work and can build on your existing skills to make a difference in society.
- Develop effective communication, creative thinking and solution-based skills and get 1000 hours of hands-on experience during field placements to prepare you for professional practice. Graduates can work clinically with individuals and families or in counselling, advocacy, community engagement, disability services, social action and international development.
- You will be able to practice as a critical ally with marginalised people and communities, foster cultural safety, be culturally responsive and work alongside First Nations peoples.
- Choose a professional or research pathway in your final year to tailor the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) to your desired career path.
Further study
Upon completing the UniSQ MSW(Q) degree (Research pathway), you can apply to study a PhD to gain further research experience.
Professional accreditation
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). UniSQ graduates will be eligible for membership with AASW.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn this degree, students must complete 16 units, comprised of:
- Eight units of core courses
- Six units of placement courses
- Two units of Professional or Research Pathway courses
Unless otherwise indicated, each course is worth one unit.
Complete the following core courses:
- Landscape of Critical Social Work Practice
- Social Work Elevate 1 (0.5 units)
- Social Work Elevate 2 (0.5 units)
- First Nations Peoples: Decolonisation and Cultural Safety
- Health and Mental Health as Social Ideas
- Practice in Action 1: Building Relationships
- Practice in Action 2: Trauma-Informed Social Work
- Research for Critical Social Work Practice
- People as Place: Complexity and Eco-social Justice
Entry requirements
- Completion of an Australian university three-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of one year of Social Science subjects.
- Participate in an interview with a panel of staff from the Social Work and Human Services discipline in the School of Psychology and Wellbeing.
- Additional requirements apply before you start any industry placements.
Inherent requirements
There are inherent requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete this degree. Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.
English language requirements
To meet the English language requirements for this degree, UniSQ accepts the minimum English language proficiency scores from one of the following tests. Your test must be completed within two years of applying to UniSQ.
- IELTS (Academic): Minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in the four components - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Pearson Test of English: Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 94 and minimum score in each test section: 24 for listening and reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking.
Contact the university for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. This will help reduce the number of courses you must take to finish your program. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Synthesise evidence-informed knowledge, theory and skills to enable authentic critical social work practice locally, nationally and internationally.
- Utilise advanced and nuanced communication skills when building relationships with individuals, groups and communities, including oral, written and digital skills.
- Seek and contribute to respectful and just relationships with individuals, groups, families and communities, including co-participatory and collaborative approaches that foster cultural safety with First Nations peoples, environmental justice and wellbeing.
- Undertake socio-political analysis and anti-oppressive practice at micro, meso and macro levels, disrupting the status quo and driving activism for social justice and human rights by utilising critical theories, critical analysis and contextual knowledge.
- Be critical social work allies working with respect and empathy alongside First Nations peoples and marginalised individuals and communities, including people living with disability, older adults and people with diverse gender identities; through the promotion of voice, agency and human worth of all global citizens.
- Design, integrate, implement and evaluate research that informs and shapes critical social work practice, community development and societal engagement in search of a just society with genuine respect for human rights and wellbeing.
Career outcomes
Graduate with the specialised knowledge and skills that enable you to deliver social work services across diverse fields of practice, including disability, health, research, child, youth and family wellbeing, education, community services and criminal justice. You’ll be prepared to step into leadership roles and positioned to work towards societal change through policy advocacy.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2025: $28,320 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative annual fee is based on a study load of eight units.
A student’s annual fee may vary depending on:
- The number of courses studied.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
