BA Hons Social Work at University of Strathclyde

Study with us

• benefit from a blend of university and agency-based opportunities
• prepare for the challenging role of a social worker through the opportunity to interact with service users and their carers
• complete three placements in social work and not-for-profit settings
• study abroad in one of our partner institutions
• validated by the Scottish Social Services Council

Why this course?

Social workers have a responsibility to promote the rights of powerless people, protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged and address the causes and effects of offending behaviour.

Validated by the Scottish Social Services Council and closely aligned to the Standards in Social Work Education, the degree will give you a recognised professional award in social work. It will also prepare you for the challenging role of being a social worker.

You'll have the opportunity to work/study abroad, thanks to our well-established links with the University of Greensboro, North Carolina in the United States and an exchange agreement with the University of Malta.

What you’ll study

Classes throughout the four years focus on social work practice issues. Subjects studied include:

• psychology
• social policy
• law
• social work practice
• sociology

In Year 4 you'll write an Honours dissertation.

Work placement

During the course you’ll undertake three placements - one observational placement in Year 2 and an assessed placement in Years 3 & 4.

These placements take place in a variety of social work settings across the west and southern coast of Scotland, including social work departments and voluntary organisations. You’ll get the opportunity to work with children and young people, older people and adults and people with disabilities or mental health problems and people who use criminal justice services.

Careers

Qualified social workers are in demand in a number of areas, especially children and family services. They are now among the best paid public sector workers.

Graduates from this course work in all levels of social work, including senior management positions, local authorities and in the independent sector.

Many graduates remain in contact with the University after securing employment, some acting as placement mentors for future students.