| Code | Faculty |
|---|---|
| 01130144 | Faculty of Humanities |
| Credits | Duration |
|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 4 years | Total credits: 589 |
| Prof LS Geyer [email protected] | +27 (0)124202648 |
The purpose of this integrated programme is to provide qualifiers with professional training for a career in social work. The theoretical training goes hand in hand with appropriate practical skills training.
Minimum requirements | ||
Achievement level | ||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | APS | |
NSC/IEB | AS Level | |
5 |
C |
30 |
Candidates will be expected to achieve an APS of at least 28 in Grade 12 to retain admission.
* Cambridge A level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will be considered for admission.
Note:
Minimum credits: 120
Module content:
Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology. Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.
Module content:
Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology.
Module content:
Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.
Module content:
This module intends to equip students to cope more confidently and competently with the reading and understanding of a variety of texts, to apply these skills in a variety of contexts and to follow the conventions of academic writing.
Module content:
This module equips students to understand and use a range of discipline-specific terminology; apply the strategies of critical and comprehensive reading to their own academic literacy; apply the conventions of academic writing to their own writing, using the process approach, to produce intelligible academic texts and use the correct referencing technique as required by the faculty.
Module content:
Part 1: Fundamental criminology
A general introduction to criminology is provided. An overview of factors that contribute to crime, forensic criminology and forensic criminalistics are investigated.
Part 2: Violent crime
Various types of violent crimes receive attention in this section.
Module content:
Part 1: Penology
Attention is given to the roleplayers in the criminal justice system, namely the police, judiciary and corrections.
Part 2: Crime prevention and control
The nature and extent of crime, theories to explain criminal behaviour and crime prevention and control are investigated.
The two sections will not necessarily be presented in chronological order.
Module content:
Integration of social work theory and practice within a developmental social work perspective; relevance and exposure to volunteerism and cultural diversity. Introduction to welfare services in practice and different fields of service delivery. Application of social work intervention in the community by means of a situation analysis. Intervention with groups and individuals by means of roleplaying in a laboratory setting. Life-skills training regarding a holistic balanced life style, human sexuality and HIV/Aids, conflict management, self-image and skills involved in public speaking.
Module content:
Part 1: Developmental social work
The origin and nature, of social welfare and social work from a national and international perspective. Socio-economic problems, target groups, specialised fields, intervention levels (individual, family, group and community), service providers and role players in the South African context. Developmental social welfare; principles, values, goal and functions of social work within a developmental perspective. Cultural sensitive social work practice.
Part 2: Social work intervention: Community
Nature and characteristics of social work intervention with communities; exploration of the components of communities and community work; the value of the ecosystems and strengths perspectives in community work; composition of a community profile and the principles of social work services to communities to enhance community mobilisation and participation.
Module content:
Part 1: Social work intervention: Individual and group
Characteristic features of the helping relationship; the communication process; basic interpersonal skills and exploring skills in social work intervention with individuals. Different types of groups; group dynamics; leadership and basic skills for group leaders in social work intervention with groups.
Part 2: Family development and assistance
Families: The life cycle of the family, tasks and behaviour of the members of the family. The focus is on the social, economic, religious and cultural diversity of families and causes of family disorganisation.
Module content:
This module is a general orientation to Psychology. An introduction is given to various theoretical approaches in Psychology, and the development of Psychology as a science is discussed. Selected themes from everyday life are explored and integrated with psychological principles. This module focuses on major personality theories. An introduction is given to various paradigmatic approaches in Psychology.
Module content:
This module introduces the student to a basic knowledge and understanding of the biological basis of human behaviour. The module addresses the key concepts and terminology related to the biological subsystem, the rules and principles guiding biological psychology, and identification of the interrelatedness of different biological systems and subsystems. In this module various cognitive processes are studied, including perception, memory, thinking, intelligence and creativity. Illustrations are given of various thinking processes, such as problem solving, critical, analytic and integrative thinking.
Module content:
Part 1: The individual and society
An introduction to sociology, the classical sociological paradigm and the principles of sociological research.
Part 2: The making of the South African order
This section explores key factors involved in the making and shaping of the contemporary South African social order and considers the sociological implications thereof. Students will be introduced to the political economy of South Africa, with an emphasis on the nature of South Africa’s industrialisation, the process of proletarianisation and the introduction of the migration labour system. In addition, the racial state, the foundations of its social project, and the spatial form of its 20th century racial modernity will be considered.
Module content:
Part 1: The sociology of institutions
An introduction to the social dynamics of institutions such as the family, the state, the economy, religion, education, and civil society, with specific focus on Southern Africa.
Part 2: Social stratification: Race, class and gender
The nature and dynamics of social stratification and inequality will be explored. Race, gender and class are the foci of the section. The South African reality in this regard is highlighted.
Minimum credits: 179
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Preparation, exploring and assessment of client systems’ functioning with an awareness of social work values and issues of diversity. Application of appropriate intervention skills, processes, techniques and models on individuals, groups, families and communities. Evaluation of outcomes and appropriate termination of intervention processes.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Part 1: Social work intervention: Community
The mandate of community work and community development within the context of developmental social welfare in South Africa. Studying the process of community work and community development with specific focus on various community assessment approaches, practice models, including the roles and techniques.
Part 2: Social work intervention: Individual and group
A theoretical approach to working with individuals and groups in a multi-cultural context; communication skills and phases of the helping process.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Part 1: Family development and guidance
Family functioning with special reference to the components of the intimate relationship and behaviour and diversity in families, parenthood and family assessment tools.
Part 2: Specialist fields
Social work services with individuals, groups and communities, as well as applicable legislation and social policy with regards to substance abuse and gerontology.
Module content:
The entrepreneurial mind-set; managers and managing; values, attitudes, emotions, and culture: the manager as a person; ethics and social responsibility; decision making; leadership and responsible leadership; effective groups and teams; managing organizational structure and culture inclusive of the different functions of a generic organisation and how they interact (marketing; finance; operations; human resources and general management); contextualising Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in each of the topics.
Module content:
This module is designed to introduce students to some of the legal aspects of particular importance to social workers. The module includes the following components: An introduction to law in general including an overview of the sources of law, the South African court system, the legal profession, legal aid and the procedural law; the law of persons, with specific reference to the commencement and termination of legal subjectivity and the legal status of a person; an introduction to the criminal law and punishment and the role of the social worker in the criminal process.
Module content:
This module is a continuation of the first module in social welfare law which aims to familiarise students with certain aspects of the law of particular importance to social workers. The module consists of the following components: an introduction to the matrimonial law, the matrimonial property law and the divorce law; parental authority including aspects such as the acquisition, nature, content and interference with parental authority; the role of the social worker in the family law context.
Module content:
Part 1: Forensic criminalistics
The integrated nature of systematic criminal investigation is explored by demarcating the study field into the criminal tactic and technique.
Part 2: Youth misbehaviour
The nature, extent, theoretical explanations as well as prevention and control of youth misbehaviour are investigated.
The two sections will not necessarily be presented in chronological order.
Module content:
Part 1: Victimology
Contemporary issues in victimology are explored and special attention is given to aspects such as victim-based legislation and restorative justice.
Part 2: Political offences
Political offences such as corruption, assassination and human rights violations are investigated in this section.
The two sections will not necessarily be presented in chronological order.
Module content:
In this module human development from conception through adolescence to adulthood is discussed with reference to various psychological theories. Incorporated are the developmental changes related to cognitive, physical, emotional and social functioning of the individual and the context of work in adulthood. Traditional and contemporary theories of human development explaining and describing these stages are studied in order to address the key issues related to both childhood and adulthood.
Module content:
This module is a social-psychological perspective on interpersonal and group processes. Themes that are covered include communication, pro-social behaviour, social influence and persuasion, political transformation, violence, and group behaviour.
Module content:
This module consists of two sections (Gender, family and households and Sociology of work: Changing worlds of work); the order in which these are taught may change from time to time.
Gender, family and households
This section focuses on theories and issues relevant to the understanding of households, families and gender. It addresses thematics such as dynamic family structures, poverty, the survival strategies of poor households, gender-based violence and the ways in which the aforementioned affect family life and forms as well as children and youth in particular. A special emphasis is placed on exploring these issues in a Southern African context.
Sociology of work: Changing worlds of work
This section focuses on the changing world of work over the last century. It focuses on themes such as the conceptualisation of work, workplace restructuring and reorganisation and the consequences for work and employment. An emphasis is placed on exploring these issues from a southern perspective.
Module content:
Part 1: Demography, health and society
This section explores the dynamic relationship between demography and health, with examples drawn from South African and international case studies. The substantial increase in world population during the past century compounds key issues faced by contemporary societies. Interplay between demographic processes, such as morbidity, mortality, fertility and mobility, impact on the size of a population. In turn, these are to an extent shaped by the structure of a population as well as the cultural context of a society. Central to this are concerns around health and disease.
Part 2: Cultural Sociology
This section explores themes in cultural sociology, with an emphasis on the ways in which meaning is constructed in everyday life by individuals as well as collectives, on the one hand, and the intersection between culture and institutional forms and social structure on the other. Students will be introduced to the work of some of the key thinkers in the field, and will be provided with the opportunity to write an independent essay on a theme in cultural sociology.
Minimum credits: 220
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Plan and implement appropriate social work intervention processes and skills in practice with individuals, families, groups and communities under supervision of a welfare organisation.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Part 1: Social work intervention: Individual and family
Theories, models, advanced communication skills, the genogram and the ecochart as intervention techniques and the intervention process as applicable to the individual and the family.
Part 2: Family development and guidance
Development of knowledge with regard to the various forms of families and marriages, the family and losses, family violence with regard to marital violence, family murders, the dynamics of the different forms of sexual abuse, the affect of child sexual abuse on the life of the adult person’s life and substitute care.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Part 1: Methods and skills in community work
Methods and skills for the community work process in practice within a developmental context: identification of capacities and needs in communities, community participation and involvement, mobilisation of community action; functions and skills of a community project manager; project planning; community project process.
Part 2: Social work intervention: Group
Intervention with treatment groups with emphasis on the process and skills; advanced group leadership; theoretical approaches in working with groups.
Module content:
Part 1: Social work in health care
The unique nature, needs and service delivery with regard to social work in health care, mental health care and persons with disability.
Part 2: Social policy
An introduction to social policy. The nature, characteristics, scope and process of social policy. Values, ethics and social justice impacting on social policy. Conceptual framework of the policy process.
Module content:
Value chain management: functional strategies for competitive advantage; human resource management; managing diverse employees in a multicultural environment; motivation and performance; using advanced information technology to increase performance; production and operations management; financial management; corporate entrepreneurship.
Module content:
Part 1: Theories of crime
Theories focusing on understanding and explaining crime and criminality are investigated in this section.
Part 2: Psychocriminology
Explaining the relation between abnormal behaviour and criminality receives attention in this section.
The two sections will not necessarily be presented in chronological order.
Module content:
Part 1: Female crime
The historical exclusion of women in Criminology theory development and research is interrogated through an epistemological lens. Gender and racial disparity in the criminal justice system are placed firmly on the agenda.
Part 2: Contemporary criminology issues
In this section contemporary crime manifestations are examined.
The two sections will not necessarily be presented in chronological order.
Module content:
Identification of abnormal behaviour in children based on knowledge of normal childhood development; introduction to the study of various models pertaining to abnormal behaviour; understanding and application of basic concepts in child psychopathology. This module also provides an introduction to psychopathology and symptomatology of adult abnormal behaviour. Terminology, definitions of abnormal behaviour, problems in diagnosis, labelling, and myths regarding abnormal behaviour are discussed. Neurosis as a specific mental disorder is studied critically from a multidimensional perspective, including intrapsychic, interpersonal and social-cultural explanations.
Module content:
This module deals with a community psychological perspective on human behaviour and psychological interventions and also critically explores the contribution of various perspectives in psychology. The module focuses on themes such as definitions of key concepts, principles and aims of community psychology, and the role of the community psychologist as well as the impact of earlier thought frameworks on contemporary perspectives. The implications of these ideas for practical initiatives focussed on mental health in communities, are discussed. The module further focuses on critical psychology. Critical psychology is an orientation towards psychology that is critical towards the assumptions and practices of psychology as it is practiced in the mainstream. It attempts to address power issues as they manifest in the practice of mainstream psychology. The focus is on examining how the practice and theories of mainstream psychology contribute to these power issues impacting on marginalised groups.
Module content:
Part 1: Social theory
This section focuses on contemporary social theory, in order to extend and broaden students’ understanding of social theory beyond the classical canon. Students will be introduced to key conceptual vocabularies, theoretical paradigms and contemporary bodies of work in social theory. In addition, the way in which scholars who work on South Africa have drawn on social theory to inform and enrich their work is emphasized.
Part 2: Labour studies
The section addresses sociological approaches to the workplace. It will critically assess labour market policy and examine issues such as management practice, employment and unemployment, and discrimination and flexibility in the labour market in South Africa.
Module content:
Part 1: Rural and urban sociology
This section considers the relationship between the rural and urban, against the backdrop of the emergence and development of both capitalism in its various guises and globalisation within the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the global North and South. Questions on the nature of social interaction in communities, changing ways of relating, inequality and livelihoods, collective action, local cultures and modernities are considered.
Part 2: Sociology of religion
This section looks at religion and secularism in social context. Specific emphasis is placed on religion and secularism as forces for social change.
Minimum credits: 120
Module content:
As an intern at a welfare organisation, the student has to apply social work theory in social work practice from a developmental frame of reference. The focus will be on interventions with individuals, families, groups and communities. Interventions are aimed at prevention, early intervention, statutory processes and continuum of developmental services, taking into account relevant policy issues from a global and local perspective, while upholding the basic values and principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the SA Constitution. Management of own workload.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Theoretical approaches in advance work with individuals and families; advance skills and techniques in the work with individuals and families; phases of the intervention process in the work with families; theoretical founding of the divorce process, divorce counselling and crisis intervention.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
General principles in social work management with specific reference to functions of social work management, management ethics and management styles. Supervision as a social work management tool with specific reference to the functions, methods and processes of social work supervision.
Module content:
*Closed – requires departmental selection
Overview of the context and nature of social welfare and social services in South Africa; practice realities and challenges; importance of partnerships. Emergence of social development against the background of socio-economic and political influences from a global, regional and national perspective. Social justice and change of structural forces of oppression, exclusion and disempowerment through social development. Impact of political economy and environmental challenges on social and funding policies, social development and social services. Relation between social and economic development.
Module content:
Research concepts, research ethics, types of research, research designs and research process as applicable to social work. Independent research according to a relevant topic.
The completion of the research process will result in a research report.
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