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Bachelor of Social Work

Qualification code: 90088
NQF level: 8
Total credits: 552
SAQA ID: 101834
APS/AS: 21
Rules:
This qualification consists of 37 modules. Students must choose either Psychology or Sociology as a second major and must complete three modules (NQF level 6) from either Psychology or Sociology. Students will be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Profession (SACSSP) by the department. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER WITHOUT THE POLICE CLEARANCE AND THE TWO TESTIMONIALS. Students should note that during the course of their studies they would be required to have access to a computer or laptop, printer and the internet.
Purpose statement:
The purpose, curriculum and architecture of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is premised on the notion that the tasks, roles and functions of social workers are to act as advocates and catalysts for social change within society. Social workers graduating from the BSW will be in a position to improve the socio-economic structures and enhance the social functioning and adaptive fit of all, including the vulnerable groups in their environment. The BSW will equip its graduates to address many of the consequences of social inequality, exclusion, poverty and marginalisation through evidence-based interventions. The overarching values that guide social work education and training are: social justice, Ubuntu, human rights and respect for indigenous knowledge systems and the environment. Qualifying learners will be able to register with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and practice social work in accordance with its (SACSSP) policy on ethics, values and principles of human rights, social justice and recognition of human diversity. Furthermore, qualified learners will be able to interpret, implement and apply South African and, in some cases, regional, continental and international social welfare policies, frameworks, guidelines and legislation to address vulnerability, poverty and other developmental challenges faced by the citizens of South Africa. Qualifying learners will be able to serve as change agents to empower individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities, to enhance their social functioning and their problem-solving capacities in order to cope with the social complexities and challenges that exist in South Africa. In addition, they will be able to work in multi-disciplinary teams, interact and network with all relevant stakeholders through inter-sectoral collaboration within the social work landscape in South Africa. Given the rights of society, much effort is given in this qualification to the development of practitioners who are critically reflective and able to practise within the values and ethical perspective of the Social Work profession. The ultimate purpose of the qualification is to ensure that all graduates will be able to contribute meaningfully to enhance the quality of life for all, by means of social development and transformation through acquired knowledge, skills and values.
This qualification will be presented via distance learning mode.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2026 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.


How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

  • Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.
  • Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS/EQUIVALENCES: Students will retain credit(s) for the replacement
module(s).

ENN1504 is equivalent to ENG1504

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS/EQUIVALENCES: Students will retain credit(s) for the replacement
module(s).

SCK2601 has been replaced with BSW2601
SCK2602 has been replaced with BSW2602
SCK2603 has been replaced with BSW2603

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
BSW2601 - The Social Work Helping Process within a Developmental Approach Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW1502
BSW2602 - Focus Areas and Fields of Social Work Practice Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW1502
BSW2603 - Social Welfare Policy within the South African Context Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW1502
BSW2604 - Social Work Management, Administration, Supervision and Ethics Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW1502
BSW2605 - Social Work Practice Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW1502 & BSW1503
PYC2615 - HIV/AIDS Care and Counselling in an African context
RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
SCW2601 - Introduction to Law for Social Work IIA
Group B. Select ALL 3 if PSYCHOLOGY is your MAJOR
PYC2611 - Personality Theories in Context
PYC2612 - Child and Adolescent Development
PYC2614 - Community psychology: Building foundations
Group C. Select ALL 3 if SOCIOLOGY is your MAJOR
SOC2601 - Theories of Social Change Recommendation:Students to complete SOC1501 and/or SOC1502 before they enrol for this module.
SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601
SOC2604 - Sociology of Families and Social Problems Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601
Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
BSW3701 - Case Work: Theories, Approaches and Models Pre-requisite:BSW1502 & BSW2601
Co-requisite:BSW3704
BSW3702 - Group Work: Theories, Approaches and Models Pre-requisite:BSW1502 & BSW2601
BSW3703 - Community Work: Theories, Approaches and Models Pre-requisite:BSW1501 & BSW2601
BSW3704 - Child, Youth, Family Care and Related Legislation Pre-requisite:BSW2601 & BSW2602
BSW3705 - Integrated Social Work Practice Pre-requisite:BSW1503 & BSW2605
Co-requisite:BSW3701, BSW3702 & BSW3703
Group B. Select ALL 5 if PSYCHOLOGY is your MAJOR
PYC3711 - Social Psychology
PYC3712 - Abnormal Behaviour and Mental Health
PYC3713 - Cognitive Psychology
PYC3714 - Introduction to Statistical Inference in Psychological Research Pre-requisite:RSC2601
PYC3715 - Transformative Counselling Encounters
Group C. Select ALL 5 if SOCIOLOGY is your MAJOR
SOC3701 - Thinking Sociologically: Research Methodology Recommendation:RSC2601, SOC2601. SOC2604, SOC3705
SOC3702 - Industrial Sociology Recommendation:Any one or both of the following: SOC2601 and/or SOC2602
SOC3703 - Sociology of Education Recommendation:RSC2601, SOC2601, SOC2602, SOC2604, SOC3705
SOC3704 - Group Dynamics Recommendation:RSC2601, SOC2601, SOC2602, SOC2604, SOC3705
SOC3705 - Theorising Modernity: Classical and Contemporary Social Theory Recommendation:SOC2601, SOC2602, SOC2604, RSC2601
Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
BSW4801 - Social Work Research Report Pre-requisite:RSC2601
BSW4802 - Integrated Service Delivery in Social Welfare Pre-requisite:BSW2603; BSW3701; BSW3702 & BSW3703
Co-requisite:BSW4803 & BSW4804
BSW4803 - Social Welfare Macro Policy Pre-requisite:BSW1501; BSW2603
Co-requisite:BSW4802
BSW4804 - Social Work Management, Administration and Supervision Pre-requisite:BSW2604
BSW4805 - Advanced Integrated Social Work Practice Pre-requisite:BSW3701; BSW3702; BSW3703 & BSW3705
Co-requisite:BSW4802; BSW4803 & BSW4806
BSW4806 - Statutory Work and Report Writing Pre-requisite:SCW2601; BSW2602 & BSW3704
Co-requisite:BSW4805