Program Overview

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Introduction to the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) programme is designed for high-achieving students who wish to complete their study in social work at a postgraduate level while still completing their degree in four years. This programme provides an opportunity for students to develop advanced critical and analytical abilities and gain particular strengths in developing evidence-led approaches and interventions in social work practice.

Programme Overview

The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is an alternative pathway that students can take in their fourth year of the Bachelor of Social Work programme. The structure of this programme is identical to Years 1-3 of the standard Bachelor of Social Work programme, with the only difference being in the fourth year, where students in the honours programme take 700-level (postgraduate) courses instead of 400-level courses. Students will also complete a research project in an area of interest.

Programme Structure

The programme is divided into four parts:

Part 1: 120 points

• SOCWORK 100: Ko Wai Au, Ko Wai Koe, Ko Wai Ttou (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 101: Social Work and Social Justice (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 102: He Tngata: People in Context (30 points, compulsory core course)
• General Education course (15 points)
• General Education course (15 points)

Part 2: 120 points

• SOCWORK 200: Ng Pou for Mana-enhancing Practice (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 201: Culturally Responsive Practice (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 202: Law, Policy and Social Action (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 214: Social Work Theories and Skills (30 points, compulsory core course)

Part 3: 120 points

• SOCWORK 311: Social Work Process and Practice (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 312: Applied Social Research (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 315: Organisations and Management (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 317: Supervised Field Practice and Professional Development 1 (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCHLTH 313: Mental Health in Social Practice (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCCHFAM 332: Working with Children and Families (15 points, compulsory core course)
• Elective course (15 points)

Part 4: 120 points

• SOCWORK 711: Social Work Interventions for Best Practice (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 713: The Social Work Discourse (15 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 780 A & B: Social Work Honours Research Project (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 715: Supervised Field Practice and Professional Development (30 points, compulsory core course)
• SOCWORK 726: Practice with Communities (15 points, compulsory core course)
• Elective course (15 points)

Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), students must:

• Achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0 in their third year of study in the Bachelor of Social Work.
• Have completed the following courses: Applied Social Research (SOCWORK 312), Mental Health in Social Practice (SOCHLTH 313), Child Protection Practice (SOCCHFAM 314), and Effective Social Work in Health and Disability Services (SOCHLTH 334) or Working with Children and Families (SOCCHFAM 332) or Working with Challenging Behaviours (SOCYOUTH 333).

Fees

2026 Fees

• Domestic students: NZ$9,392.40*
• International students: NZ$43,674*

Key Dates

Application Closing Dates

• Semester One 2026: 8 December 2025

Start Dates

• 2026 Semester One: 2 March

Career Opportunities

This programme will qualify students to work as social workers and equip them with a range of transferable skills for various careers. By completing the Bachelor of Social Work with honours, students will hold a postgraduate qualification, increasing their career opportunities and salary potential. It also counts towards the first year of a Master of Social Work, meaning students will only need to complete another year to obtain a master's degree.

Jobs Related to This Programme

• Social worker
• Mental health and addiction support worker
• Child protection manager
• Refugee and migrant case manager
• Community development coordinator
• Youth worker
• Disability support worker
• Probation officer

Further Study Options

• Master of Social Work
• Master of Counselling