Master of Social Work
INTRODUCTION
The Master of Social Work (MSW) programme is the the latest offering by the programme. This programme offers a coursework-based degree for students who wish to obtain as masters degree via coursework and a research project. Through this course, students will be exposed to advanced knowledge in theories and practice in social work and social services. The mode of study comprises a total of 43 credit hours of courses, a 6 credit hours project paper and a 12 credit hours compulsory practicum training in social work related agencies.
As shown in the diagram below, the major component of the programme is the 25 credit hours core courses. These are compulsory courses which the students must undergo, apart from the project paper and the practicum. These courses are designed to incorporate advanced social work knowledge and skills which will then be complemented by a research project and a field experience. At this level of study, the students are able to choose specific area of specialization from three clusters of courses. From each of these clusters, students are free to choose any three (3) which comprise a total of nine (9) credit hours of electives. For those who do not wish to specialize, they can mix any three courses across the clusters.
BACKGROUND
The Aim and Expected Outcomes of the MSW Programme
The aim of the Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme is to produce knowledgeable, skillful and ethical graduates in human services profession in accordance with the national higher education aspirations and professional standards.
The objectives of the programme are stated as follows:
At the end of this programme, the students are expected to be able to:
The programme learning outcomes had been formulated in accordance with the eight (8) MQF learning outcome domains (nine (9) domains under the MoE requirements). Table below shows the programme learning outcomes and their relationship with the learning outcome domains:
Programme Learning Outcomes and MQF Learning Domains
| Programme Learning Outcome Domains | MQF Domains | |
|---|---|---|
| LOD1 | Acquire advanced knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the social work profession. | Knowledge |
| LOD2 | Apply the technical and practical skills in planning, implementing and evaluating the social work intervention. | Practical skills |
| LOD3 | Think critically, creatively and innovatively in managing various situations and working with diverse clients. | Scientific methods, critical thinking and problem solving skills |
| LOD4 | Apply communication skills effectively and able to work in a team. | Communication, leadership and team skills |
| LOD5 | Demonstrate high levels of social skills and act as a responsible human being towards oneself, clients, the profession and society. | Social skills and responsibilities |
| LOD6 | Treat the profession and life in general as a field of sustainable lifelong learning. | Lifelong learning and information management |
| LOD7 | Identify, embrace and practice the values, attitudes and professional ethics of the social work profession. | Ethics, professionalism and humanities |
| LOD8 | Integrate social entrepreneurship skills appropriate to the social work profession. | Entrepreneurship and managerial skills |
| LOD9 | Demonstrate excellent leadership skills and capabilities. | Leadership |
MSW COURSE STRUCTURE
| Components | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Core Courses | 25 |
| Project Paper | 6 | |
| Practicum | 12 | |
| B | Elective Courses | 9 |
| Total | 52 | |
A. Core Courses (+ Project Paper and Practicum) (43 credit hours)
| Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SSWA5013 | Foundations of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SSWA5213 | Crisis Intervention and Disaster Management | 3 |
| SSWT5013 | Social Work and Welfare Services in Asia | 3 |
| SSWT5023 | Social Work Ethics, Values and Spirituality | 3 |
| SSWT5033 | Policy Planning and Analysis | 3 |
| SSWY5043 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SSWX59912 | Practicum | 12 |
| SSWZ6996 | Project Paper | 6 |
| SZRZ6014 | Research Methodology | 4 |
B. Elective Courses (9 credit hours)
Students are to choose any THREE (3) of the courses listed below.| Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SSWA5113 | Contemporary Social Work with Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SSWA5123 | Interpersonal Practice with the Family | 3 |
| SSWA5133 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Adults and the Elderly | 3 |
| SSWA5143 | Social Work Practice in Health Care Settings | 3 |
| SSWA5153 | Community Work in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SSWA5163 | School Social Work Services | 3 |
| SSWA5173 | Psychopathology in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SSWA5183 | Social Work with Marginalized Group | 3 |
| SSWA5193 | Social Work Practice and Substance Abuse | 3 |
| SSWA5203 | Social Work Practice with People Living with HIV/AIDS | 3 |
| SSWS5113 | Crime and the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| SSWT5043 | Managing Human Service Organizations | 3 |
| SSWT5143 | Advocacy In Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SSWT5153 | Program Evaluation in Social Services | 3 |
COURSE SELECTION BASED ON SEMESTER (FULL-TIME STUDENTS)
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course | Credit | Code | Course | Credit |
| SSWA5013 | Foundation of Social Work Practice | 3 | SSWA5023 | Advanced Social Work Theory & Practice | 3 |
| SSWT5013 | Social Work and Welfare Services in Asia | 3 | SZRZ6014 | Research Methodology | 4 |
| SSWT5023 | Social Work Ethics, Values and Spirituality | 3 | SSWA5123 | Crisis Intervention and Disaster Management | 3 |
| SSWY5043 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 | SSWXXXX3 | Elective 1** | 3 |
| SSWT5033 | Policy Planning and Analysis | 3 | |||
| Total | 15 | Total | 13 | ||
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | ||||
| Code | Course | Credit | Code | Course | Credit |
| SSWXXXX3 | Elective 2** | 3 | SSWX5912 | Practicum* | 12 |
| SSWXXXX3 | Elective 3** | 3 | |||
| SSWZ6996 | Project Paper | 6 | |||
| Total | 12 | Total | 12 | ||
* The practicum is part of the programme's core component which students must complete successfully within the stipulated time. Students must register for the course and secure a placement by the second semester. The practicum will commence as soon as they finished taking the final examination at the end of the third semester. ** Refer to the list of elective courses offered by the programme.
COURSE SELECTION BASED ON SEMESTER (PART-TIME STUDENTS)
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course | Credit | Code | Course | Credit |
| SSWA5013 | Foundation of Social Work Practice | 3 | SSWA5023 | Advanced Social Work Theory & Practice | 3 |
| SSWT5013 | Social Work and Welfare Services in Asia | 3 | SZRZ6014 | Research Methodology | 4 |
| SSWT5023 | Social Work Ethics, Values and Spirituality | 3 | SSWY5043 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| Total | 9 | Total | 10 | ||
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | ||||
| Code | Course | Credit | Code | Course | Credit |
| SSWT5033 | Policy Planning and Analysis | 3 | SSWXXXX3 | Elective 2** | 3 |
| SSWA5123 | Crisis Intervention and Disaster Management | 3 | SSWXXXX3 | Elective 3** | 3 |
| SSWXXXX3 | Elective 1** | 3 | |||
| Total | 9 | Total | 6 | ||
| SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 | ||||
| Code | Course | Credit | Code | Course | Credit |
| SSWZ6996 | Project Paper | 6 | SSWX5912 | Practicum* | 12 |
| Total | 6 | Total | 12 | ||
* The practicum is part of the programme's core component which students must complete successfully within the stipulated time. Students must register for the course and secure a placement by the second semester. The practicum will commence as soon as they finished taking the final examination at the end of the third semester. ** Refer to the list of elective courses offered by the programme.