Social Work, BA (Hons)

The BA Social Work at Goldsmiths equips students with the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a professional career in social work, drawing on current research, government guidance, and legislative frameworks. This degree emphasizes anti-oppressive practice, human rights, and social justice, preparing graduates to address contemporary challenges. It includes practical placements in diverse settings, covering topics like social work methods, developmental perspectives, and policy, while aligning with the Professional Capabilities Framework and other standards. Students benefit from experienced faculty and interdisciplinary learning alongside peers from related fields.The three-year program introduces key concepts in the first year, builds intervention skills in the second, and focuses on specialist areas in the third. It features 170 days of assessed placements, supported by modules such as Introduction to Social Work, Applied Social Research Methods, and Social Work Skills. Assessment methods include presentations, written reflections, portfolios, examinations, and essays, ensuring comprehensive preparation for practice.

Year 1 In your first year of study, you are introduced to social work as a professional activity and an academic discipline. You consider key concepts such as the nature of need, community, social work services, and the significance of the service user perspective. Major theoretical approaches within the social sciences and their relationship to social work will be investigated, as will studies in professional development for practice, where you will have the opportunity to shadow a qualified social worker. You will study the following modules: Introduction to Social Work, Community Development, and Youth Work Group Work Introduction to Applied Social Science Research Professional Development for Practice Foundation to Social Work Introduction to Social Science Race, Racism and Professional Practice Year 2 In your second year, you address issues of life-span development and are given a grounding in methods of intervention. Your assessed practice consists of 70 days in a student social work role. This gives you the chance to develop your communication and social work practice skills with service users, and to work in partnership across professional disciplines and agencies. You are also provided with an introduction to assessment in social work and to the links between social work theory and practice. You'll take the following modules: Social Work Skills and Methods Introduction to Law and Social Work Applied Social Research Methods Theory, Policy and Practice Theories of Individual Development Social Work 70-Day Placement and Practice Integration Year 3 Your third year gives you an overview of the legal and organisational context of social work and extends your knowledge and skills in one of the two main specialist areas of social work practice: working with children and families, or working with adults in need. A theory and practice module looks at methods of intervention and theories applied to a particular area of social work, while another assessed practice element enables you to meet the professional requirements for social work training via 100 days of practice under the guidance of a practice educator. You are expected to demonstrate competence across a range of standards and this is formally assessed. The learning on the degree builds over the three years and prepares you to apply that knowledge to practice situations. You take these modules: Social Work Skills and Methods Social Justice and Social Work Social Work 100-Day Placement and Practice Integration Practice placements You are required to spend 170 days in practice settings. These placements are arranged through the allocation system devised by the College. In Year 1, you are expected to complete two days shadowing an experienced Social Worker as well as a period of voluntary work, both of which you arrange. In Year 2 there is a practice placement lasting 70 days. In Year 3 the practice placement lasts 100 days. The practice placements will be supported by 30 days for the development of practice skills. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.