The programme starts in September and runs for 22 months. Teaching and placement times do not always follow the normal University terms and semesters. The is approximately 10 weeks of vacation over the 22 months period.
Academic curriculum
The majority of academic teaching takes place in the autumn term. This teaching is arranged in modules, for which credits are awarded. A total of 180 credits are required in order to gain an MA.
The first year consists of a number of compulsory modules:
- Law for Social Work (15 credits)
- Human Growth and Development (15 credits)
- Power and Discrimination (15 credits)
- Fitness for Practice (20 credits)
- Social Work in Organisations (15 credits)
In the second year you can follow one of two pathways, according to your interests:
- Social Work with Children and Families (40 credits); or
- Social Work with Adults (40 credits)
You must also complete a dissertation, on a subject of their choice which relates to social work practice (60 credits).
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, case discussions, experiential exercises (including the use of video-recording) and various projects designed to encourage the integration of theory and practice.
Assessment will be by written assignment, individual and group presentation, projects, and seen exam.
Practice curriculum
The course has excellent links with local agencies and an outstanding record in providing high quality placements. We recognise that placement learning is an extremely important part of your educational experience and we work hard to ensure placements are successful in meeting individual learning needs. Students and practice assessors are well supported by the programme throughout the practice learning.
It is a requirement of the General Social Care Council that all students qualifying as social workers must satisfactorily complete 200 days of assessed practice learning. For the purposes of this course, the 200 days are divided as follows into three periods of practice learning:
- Year one: 75 day placement (February to June)
- Year one: 20 day placement in a group care setting (June to July)
- Year two: 105 day placement (February to July)
During the course of the three placements, you must gain experience in at least two different practice settings: of statutory social work tasks involving legal interventions; and of providing a service to at least two different service users groups.
Each period of practice learning will be assessed against the National Occupational Standards for Qualified Social Workers, all of which must be satisfied prior to qualification.
When allocating practice learning placements, care is taken to match your learning needs and personal requirements to the individual learning opportunity offered. Placements are normally within the geographical boundaries of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Three year (part-time) Employment-Based Course
Students who wish to follow the part-time, three year, route must be sponsored by their employer (usually a local authority). The employer is expected to pay tuition fees, provide time away from normal work duties to enable students to attend lectures, and be willing and able to offer the required range of supervised practice placements.
The part-time course runs for 34 months from late September in the first year to mid July in the third year. The entry requirements for the part-time course are the same as for the full-time course.
The elements of academic study are the same as for the full-time course, although they will be spread across three academic years.
The practice curriculum will be amended as follows:
Year one: 100 day placement (February to July). This placement will be within the sponsoring authority, but in a practice setting which differs from the student's usual place of work.
Year two: 20 day placement in a group care setting (June to July). This placement is organised by the University.
Year three: 80 day placement (February to June). This period of practice learning will take place in the student's own workplace, under the supervision of a suitably qualified practice learning assessor.