Handbook

Overview

The Social Work Professional Doctorate (PrDoc) is a postgraduate research degree available for social workers. It provides the opportunity to combine postgraduate coursework study directly related to an area of advanced social work practice with doctoral research that builds social work knowledge, leading to the presentation of a doctoral thesis. … For more content click the Read More button below. Advanced professional practice in the discipline of social work involves the continuous development of knowledge for practice. Leadership in social work requires experience, in-depth advanced practice study and sophisticated research skills. In this program, in-depth advanced practice study is achieved in the specialised coursework component, which builds on foundational social work education and the experience gained through professional practice. This advanced practice study provides the basis for a contribution to social work knowledge through empirical or conceptual research. The thesis study component of the program develops the sophisticated research skills necessary for an original and significant contribution to social work knowledge. The Social Work (PrDoc) program as a whole prepares experienced practitioners for research and practice leadership in the discipline of social work. See UNSW Higher Degree Research Learning Outcomes. Program Structure The Social Work (PrDoc) is designed as a three year full-time equivalent program, structured as one-third coursework (equivalent to one year full-time, Year 1) and two-thirds research (equivalent to two years full-time, Years 2 and 3). The coursework must be completed prior to the thesis research study. The 48 UOC coursework will be taken within the Master of Counselling Social Work OR the Master of Development Studies OR the Master of Public Policy and Governance. The program of study should be approved by the relevant Masters Convenor and the Social Work (PrDoc) Program Convenor. In the research component, which is 96 UOC, students undertake supervised research leading to the production of a thesis. Enrolment in the coursework component is part-time for coursework in the Master of Counselling Social Work (this program is not available on a full-time basis), and may be completed part-time or full-time for coursework within the Master of Development Studies or the Master of Public Policy and Governance. Enrolment in the thesis component may be part-time or full-time.

Advanced professional practice in the discipline of social work involves the continuous development of knowledge for practice. Leadership in social work requires experience, in-depth advanced practice study and sophisticated research skills.

In this program, in-depth advanced practice study is achieved in the specialised coursework component, which builds on foundational social work education and the experience gained through professional practice. This advanced practice study provides the basis for a contribution to social work knowledge through empirical or conceptual research. The thesis study component of the program develops the sophisticated research skills necessary for an original and significant contribution to social work knowledge. The Social Work (PrDoc) program as a whole prepares experienced practitioners for research and practice leadership in the discipline of social work. See UNSW Higher Degree Research Learning Outcomes.

Program Structure

The Social Work (PrDoc) is designed as a three year full-time equivalent program, structured as one-third coursework (equivalent to one year full-time, Year 1) and two-thirds research (equivalent to two years full-time, Years 2 and 3). The coursework must be completed prior to the thesis research study. The 48 UOC coursework will be taken within the Master of Counselling Social Work OR the Master of Development Studies OR the Master of Public Policy and Governance. The program of study should be approved by the relevant Masters Convenor and the Social Work (PrDoc) Program Convenor. In the research component, which is 96 UOC, students undertake supervised research leading to the production of a thesis.

Enrolment in the coursework component is part-time for coursework in the Master of Counselling Social Work (this program is not available on a full-time basis), and may be completed part-time or full-time for coursework within the Master of Development Studies or the Master of Public Policy and Governance. Enrolment in the thesis component may be part-time or full-time.

Program Structure

Students must complete 144 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

There are 3 requirements for admission to the Social Work (PrDoc) degree and all 3 requirements must be met

A social work qualification established by eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, or membership of an equivalent overseas professional social work association

A minimum 2 years post-qualifying professional social work practice experience

A first or upper-second class (Distinction) thesis research Honours degree (minimum thesis wordlength: 10,000 words) OR a Masters (Coursework) degree with a distinction average and a significant research component, minimum equivalent 18 unit of credit content, consisting of methodology training and a stand-alone research project.

See Additional Information below for details on alternative qualifying and Advanced Standing entry pathways.

For further information, see the Admission to Higher Degree Research Programs Procedure.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Additional Information

Award of the Degree

The degree of Social Work (PrDoc) may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the UNSW School of Social Sciences Higher Degree Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who after satisfactorily completing a qualifying program comprising 48 units of credit in the Master of Counselling Social Work OR the Master of Development Studies OR the Master of Public Policy and Governance has through the submission of a thesis based on his or her research made an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the field of Social Work.

Standard entry pathway and alternate qualifying and Advanced Standing entry pathways

There are three pathways to admission to the Social Work (PrDoc).

The standard entry pathway: Applicants who meet all 3 admission requirements may be admitted to the Social Work (PrDoc) through the standard entry pathway, completing both coursework and research study within their enrolment for the Social Work (PrDoc) as detailed above.

The qualifying program Advanced Standing entry pathway: This pathway is designed for social workers who do not immediately meet Admission Requirement 3, ie. do not have a research honours qualification or equivalent. Here the pathway to the Social Work (PrDoc) is through enrolment in, and completion of, an advanced practice Masters prior to applying for Social Work (PrDoc) admission. The Masters coursework must contain at least 18 UOC research training, including methodology training and a stand-alone project, and the results achieved should be at distinction average. In this qualifying program entry pathway, students are admitted with Advanced Standing and 48 UOC course credit for the coursework component, and move directly to the 2-year thesis study component of the Social Work (PrDoc). Suitable UNSW Masters programs include the Master of Counselling Social Work (8930), the Master of Development Studies (8942), the Master of Public Policy and Governance (8259) and the Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology (9285).

The Advanced Standing Masters pathway: Where applicants for the Social Work (PrDoc) meet all entry requirements, and have completed at another university a post-qualifying coursework masters that is assessed as relevant to an area of advanced social work practice, admission with Advanced Standing and 48 UOC coursework credit is available.

Prospective students

Prospective students are strongly advised to make contact with a potential supervisor and the UNSW Graduate Research School before applying for research study at the University. Further information about the Social Work (PrDoc) program can be found by emailing a query via PGC-SOSS@unsw.edu.au.

Further Information

For further information on policies, procedures and forms, see the Graduate Research website.

For further information on how to apply please see the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences website

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

Campus

Sydney

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Research

Typical duration:

3 Year(s)

Delivery Mode

Research, Face-to-face (includes blended)

Intake Period

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Summer Term

Academic Calendar

Research

Minimum Units of Credit

144

AQF Level

Level 10

Award Type

Professional Doctorate

Award(s)
Award(s): Qualification upon completion (all awards offered by UNSW are accredited by UNSW and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework).

Doctor of Social Work - DSW

CRICOS Code

080467B

Social Work

1744

144 Units of Credit