Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration

3 Year Programme

The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) in 2005 approved a recommendation that Community Development Workers should be degree holders.

This decision has necessitated the building of capacity to produce qualified personnel not only for Government, but also for the private and Civil Society sectors that collaborate with Government in its mission to advance social development in this country and also in the Great Lakes region.

Graduates will gain:

• Knowledge and understanding of the social work profession and the current status, trends, and issues in the field.
• Knowledge to apply theories or human behaviour and the social environment that include the bio-psycho-social aspects of micro theories and the organisational, community, and societal aspects of macro theories.
• Understanding of the dynamics and social significance of discrimination and oppression and how to change systems in order to advance the course of social and economic justice.
• Skills to apply the knowledge, values, and skills of generalist social work practice to individuals, families, groups, organisations, and communities.
• Knowledge to apply the values and ethics of social work in professional practice and to use these values and ethics to resolve ethical dilemmas in practice.
• Ability to apply communication skills effectively in engagement with client systems of all sizes, colleagues, employers, and community members.
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills through competence in professional social work practice, by applying problem-solving to all levels of client systems.
• Ability to analyse social policies and their impact on client systems, social work services, and social agencies, and their role in the development of social problems and social and economic justice.
• Ability to demonstrate a level of professional competence that is based on self-understanding, including a realistic assessment of one&#;s own strengths and prejudices, and the skills necessary to keep one's personal values and ethics from interfering with one's practice.
• Ability to demonstrate a respect for and competence with client systems of diversity, the rural poor, the rural elderly, socially and economically-disadvantaged persons.
• Knowledge to demonstrate a respect for and competence with populations-at-risk, including the developmentally disabled, the chronically mentally ill, the chemically addicted, victims of family violence, especially women and children.
• Knowledge to understand and evaluate research studies, in order to apply relevant and valid research finding to social work practice.