Social Work (MA)

<div id="tab2" class="tab grid_8 alpha hide-on-small" style="display: block;"> <div class="courseLinks hide-on-medium-down"> <img src="/media/liverpoolhope/styleassets/cssimages/media,975,en.gif" alt="print Icon" style="width : 24px; height : 24px; "> <span><a href="javascript:window.print()">print this page</a></span> <span class="st_sharethis_custom" st_processed="yes"><a href="#">share this course</a></span> </div> <h2>Curriculum</h2> <p>All students are allocated an academic tutor and integrated seminars will be held throughout the two years to allow for more focused discussion and an examination of issues in greater depth. <span>Full attendance for all academic learning and practise placement opportunities is expected and is monitored throughout the programme. </span>The programme is a combination of structured academic learning and 200 days of practise learning. The academic teaching is delivered in Year One from September to December and in Year Two from September to February. The practise placements are from January to May in Year One and from May to September in Year Two.&nbsp;</p> <p>Year 1 teaching provides grounding in social work law, ethics and methods. This study of law and methods is located within a wider theoretical context which allows students to understand the roots and origins of differing approaches and focuses on key social divisions and their impact on people’s ‘life-chances’.</p> <p>· Law and Ethics (20 credits)</p> <p>· Framing Social Problems (20 credits)</p> <p>· Methods and Theories of Social Work Interventions (20 credits)</p> <p>· Practice Learning Opportunity – 30 days preparation including a day each week in a community-based project and 70 days in an agency placement.</p> <p>In Year 2 you will engage with the ‘Grand Narrative’ traditions and with the debates surrounding professionalism, partnership working, power and responsibility. Contemporary issues in Social Work are explored with local practitioners from a range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies in the Merseyside region.</p> <p>· Critical Themes and Issues Influencing Contemporary Practice (20 credits)</p> <p>· Power, Partnership and Professionalism (20 credits)</p> <p>· Advanced Research-based seminars&nbsp;</p> <p>· Practise Learning Opportunity - 100 days</p> <p>Practise Learning&nbsp;</p> <p>· Total of 200 days</p> <p>· Practise and portfolio graded at pass or fail (must pass in order to be awarded qualification)&nbsp;</p> <p>· Opportunity for overseas placement, e.g. India or Michigan</p> <p>· Final placement must be undertaken in a statutory setting or provide the opportunity for statutory work</p> <p>· Students must be available to work full-time during normal office hours</p> <p>Dissertation</p> <p>· Total of 20,000 words consisting of: Research proposal and literature review 4,000 words and Final dissertation 16,000 words</p> <p>Dissertation preparation begins in June of Year 1 and continues throughout Year 2 (until placement) through a combination of lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials.</p> <p><strong>Assessment</strong></p> <p>Academic assessment is through a combination of methods including: essays, case study work, presentations, book/journal paper reviews and seminar work. The pass mark on all courses is 40 per cent (at Masters Level) and students must pass each and every element of assessment on all courses to proceed and gain their degree and qualification.</p> <p>Practise capability is assessed by service user feedback, observation, and practice portfolio work. You will be assessed by a practise educator during your placements and your portfolio is examined by a Practise Assessment Panel comprising academic and agency staff. You must pass your practise placement and portfolio.</p> <p><strong>Duration</strong></p> <p>The degree is full-time for 24 months commencing in the first year in the third week of September with induction and preparation for practise. Teaching is full-time then until Christmas. All academic assignments must be completed before going out on placement. Placements start in January and normally finish by early June. You then return to the University in late June for dissertation preparation. The second year follows a similar pattern except that the year begins in September with further dissertation preparation and the placement starts in May. The dissertation must be submitted by the end of April before commencing placement.</p> </div>