What will I study?

Course structure

The BHSc/BSW course brings together the new Bachelor of Health Science program and the two-year accelerated Bachelor of Social Work program. The BHSc component of the course uses a combination of traditional and problem-based learning (PBL) teaching methods. Unifying cases are used where appropriate to integrate topics across units within a semester and double credit point units are used to draw together overlapping course content.

In the first year of the course, students undertake the normal first year of the BHSc program, wherein they cover a broad range of introductory concepts about health and social care. In second year, students continue with their health science major sequence in health promotion and community capacity building and commence their introductory social work units. Third year represents a shift in emphasis, with students finishing off their health science major sequence and focussing more on social work, including their first social work field placement. The fourth year is exclusively social work units. All units are compulsory.

Students will also undertake an Inter-Professional Education (IPE) block each semester that will involve learning together with students in other health science courses (for example, Paramedics, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy) around structured academic content focussed on collaboration and teamwork.

Fieldwork

Students are required to complete fieldwork in the Social Work component of the course (14 weeks full-time or equivalent in years 3 and 4) and will also be expected to attend half-day site visits and a one-week rural placement for the Health Science component of the course (year 1).

Course outline for the Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Social Work