Department of Social work


Welcome to the web page of the Department of Social Work! Social Work as a subject started at this University in 1939 and an independent Department of Social Work was established in 1972. Since then, many social workers have been trained and have obtained their undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. In order to ensure prestigious training, we aspire to the following:

Vision

To be an innovative Department of Social work that is concerned with excellent academic results by means of professional training, focusing on the needs of people and the environment, research and community engagement.

Mission

The department strives towards dynamic and creative professional training as embodied in the integration of theory and practice within an indigenous and global context through the establishment and transference of knowledge, skills and attitude, and by promoting the following strategic priorities in a financially sustainable manner:

-  An academic culture
-  Critical-analytical thinking
-  Relevant scientific research, teaching and learning
-  Community engagement
-  The development of staff members to their full potential
-  Comprehensive development of the student as part of an academic culture

Values

In our search for knowledge and insight we aspire to the following values:

-  Intellectual freedom,
-  Social justice,
-  Service-mindedness,
-  Integrity,
-  Responsibility, and
-  Respect and consideration.

The department sees its role to equip social workers with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to enable them to function within the diverse South African context. We are committed to providing an excellent theoretical and practical foundation which prepares students for their professional career in social work.

Social workers are prepared for their work at non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government departments, hospitals, schools, corporate settings, prisons and other environments where social workers are needed.

Our teaching staff continuously engages with community and social-work institutions such as government departments, NGOs and other social-work agencies. This helps to ensure that the training is relevant to the social needs of our society.

Students are properly prepared to meet the demands of practice through their placement at social-work institutions during their third and fourth years.

The department offers a BSW undergraduate degree and a research master’s degree, as well as a doctoral degree. A structured master’s programme which focuses on work with the adolescent is also offered.

Continuous professional development (CPD) courses are provided to social workers in practice. These courses are usually presented during the annual winter school holidays.
The teaching staff comprises diverse and experienced academics who are specialists in specific fields of social work. Teaching and research take place in collaboration with other disciplines. For specific information, follow the staff link on our web page.

Research focus areas within the department include loss and trauma, work with the adolescent, poverty, diversity, restorative justice, adventure therapy, and foster care. Research is also done in order to improve teaching activities.