COURSE CURRICULUM

In the BA (Hons) Social Work degree, your academic and professional journey is carefully structured to ensure a strong foundation in theory, policy, and practical skills that develop progressively throughout the program. In the first year, you focus on building core competencies such as communication, self-awareness, human growth and development, and understanding the broader social context. Modules such as Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness and Communication Skills introduce essential interpersonal and reflective abilities, while Human Growth and Development and Social Contexts and Policy lay the groundwork for understanding clients’ needs in relation to systemic factors. In your second year, you begin to apply this foundational knowledge to more complex issues. Modules such as Contemporary Issues for Social Work Practice and Social Policy, Welfare, and Law explore the real-life challenges faced by individuals and communities, such as inequality, safeguarding, and statutory responsibilities. These modules are aligned with your first professional placement, where you begin to work directly with service users under supervision. This year emphasises developing a deeper understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks that shape social work practice. In the final year, you refine your practice further with a second, longer placement and a focus on advanced knowledge integration. You study specialised areas like Social Work Practice with Children and Families, and Social Work Practice with Adults, allowing you to apply theory and develop intervention strategies for different populations. The module on Research Minded Practice enhances your ability to use evidence to inform decisions, while Advanced Social Work Theory encourages critical thinking about power, privilege, and social justice. By graduation, you will have the knowledge, skills, and values needed for registration with Social Work England, and be prepared to work in complex, multi-disciplinary settings that require ethical, evidence-based, and empathetic practice.