Welcome to the diverse and demanding world of Social Work, which takes a planned professional approach to the problems of people and development.
Social Work seeks to enhance the Social functioning of individuals, Singly and in groups, by activities focused upon their social relationships, which constitute the interaction between man and his environment. These activities can be broadly grouped into three functions, namely the provision of individual and Social resources (which commonly fall under the category of development activities) the restoration of impaired capacity and prevention of social dysfunction. Though social work shares some knowledge and skills with sociology, psychiatry and psychology, it stands apart in two distinct ways in its interest and in the social functioning and relationships of people and in utilising community resources to tackle their personal and social problems.
The Masters in Social Work (MSW) programme remains the best professional training course in the country. The two-year MSW programme combines theoretical study with extensive practical field exposure. In the second and final year of study, students are required to choose an area of specialisation such as community development or family-welfare. Internships and individual and group projects are integral to the training offered at the post graduate level.
A major feature of the course is that there is a major tie up with MNC companies, leading hospitals and community based organisations (Non Governmental Organisation).
Introduction
The M.S.W degree course consists of four semesters of four months each. An examination with an aggregate of 500 marks will be held at the end of each semester.
Being a professional course, practicum is an integral element of social work education and training. Consequently, students are required to undertake concurrent field work for two days in a week throughout the four semesters and for this purpose they will be placed in selected agencies. Concurrent field work is compulsory as it is an examination subject carrying 50 marks in each semester. Another special feature of the social work education is the rural camp. A ten days rural camp will be organized during the second semester and all students are required to attend the rural camp as it is also an examination subject carrying 50 marks.
The students are required to undergo a four to six weeks Block Placement Programme at the end of the fourth semester. It is mandatory carrying 50 Marks and stands as a mode for the completion of the course.
Eligibility for admission to M.S.W.
A Bachelors degree in any subject or equivalent degree of recognized University with a minimum of 50% marks.
General objectives of the course
The following are the main objectives of the course:
a) To impart training in professional social work to those desirous of making a career in the field of social work.
b) To develop knowledge, skill, attitudes and values appropriate to working with individuals, groups and communities.
c) To promote integration of theory and practice the field of social work.
d) To provide inter-disciplinary collaboration '4 better understanding of human problems, service and issues related to human development.
Course of Study
The first semester consists of 4 papers excluding field work. Paper I is devoted to an introductory course on social work dealing with the principles, philosophy, history and major fields of the discipline, paper 2,3 and 4 deal with the three important methods of social work viz., Social Science Perspective for Social Science, Case Work and Group Work. All the above mentioned four papers carry 100 marks each. Paper 5 deals with a brief introduction to field work which is a practicum and the students have to know the application of social work method.
During the second semester, the introductory course on social work offered in the previous semester continues with a paper on the fields of social work similarly the paper on case work, Group work and Community Organization continues. They also have a paper on social legislation in order to equip them on the legislation perspective, which is very important for a social worker. Since a dissertation in the fourth semester is compulsory for all students and the actual dissertation works is to commence from the third semester, a paper on Research Methodology is offered in the second semester along with Computer and Statistics, which completes the theory papers of the second semester. The first two papers consist of 100 marks each. The other papers consist of 50 marks. The remaining 100 marks is divided between field work and Social work camp.
In the third semester, there are five core papers. This would include counseling theory and practice, Communication for Social Work Practice and Specialization Paper (A/B/C) and field work practicum.
Specialisations:
Medical and Psychiatric Social work
Social Development
Human Resource Management
Each one of these groups consists of two papers carrying 100 marks each. Students are required to prepare the dissertations on a topic belonging to their branch of specialization.
The remaining 100 marks is given for the field work practicum. This time it is based on specialization taken by the students.
The fourth semester consists of Management of Service Organization and Social Policy and Planning where the principle of administration is taught in detail. To substantiate it welfare administration stands as a strong foundation for an organization to be erect.
The Salient features of Social Work
The Social work Course is a professional and scientific body embedded in itself. To highlight it the students are privileged to probe into the depth of counseling as counselling stands as an important set back for the course.
They become professional counsellors, in organisation both government and private undertakings. It gets enriched with the study of organisational behaviour and development.
In the IV semester students are learning welfare administration as principle of administration is taught in detail. To substantiate it Welfare administration stands asa strong foundation for an organisation to be erect.
Candidate can pursue their career as administrators in a governmental organisation or as HR Manager in companies or Academic administrators.
Todays market demand is that a top official in a organisation remains a skeleton of the organisation and is responsible for its growth and surgence.
Communication is also taught where to be effective in career (to take decisions and to communicate the taken decisions) he I she should be an effective communicator. Communication and counselling are the two major factors which boost the surgence of the course.
The leadership or managerial qualities are moulded by being a good communicator. Research methodology is done in detail and a student masters it by being a researcher himself in submitting a dissertation.
To put everything into a nutshell social work is a professional course embodied in itself.
Concurrent field work and its objective
The broad aim is to provide opportunities for applying the knowledge and the information gained in the classroom to reality situations. This learning experience should provide an opportunity of working with communities, group, individuals/families and managing organization tasks. There are six broad areas for concurrent practice learning. They are:
i. Understanding both the agency and the clients as systems.
ii. Developing knowledge of administrative procedures, programme management, and utilizing these skills in practice.
iii. Development skills of problem solving process, and practice based research
iv. Developing as a professional person.
v. Using instruction to learn practice.
The following are the objectives of concurrent field work:
1. Develop knowledge of the socio-economic and cultural realities, and their impact on the client system with specific focus on marginalized groups.
2. Develop beginning skills to analyse the impact of the wider social system on individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations.
3. Understand the agency as a system-its philosophy , trust, objectives, structure and management of services/programmes.
4. Develop the ability to involve the client system in the problem-solving-process utilized.
5. Develop skills in identifying and utilizing community resources, both government and voluntary.
6. Develop belief to work as a member of a team, reinforce belief in the inherent strength of the people to meet their needs and resolve problems.
7. Make conscious use of professional values and ethics.
Orientation Visit
Ten days consequent visits are arranged by the department to medical, industrial and community setting. Students are exposed and briefed to the various organisational functioning.
They are enriched with the skills of reporting and report writing after the orientation visit itself.
Objectives of Rural Camp
a) Understand the rural social system with special reference to a specific poverty group.
b) Analyse the regional, rural special system, the approaches and the strategies of intervention used by the organization.
c) Understand the nature of Government intervention in relation to poverty groups in the region and the related structures of decision-making and intervention.
d) Develop the capacity to undertake a critique the interventions of both the voluntary organizations and the government agencies in relation to the specific poverty group.
e) Through experience in group-living, appreciate its value in term of self development, interpersonal relationships, sense of organizations, management and taking on responsibility.
f) Acquire skill in planning, organizing, implementing the camp through conscious use of time, communication skills, team, spirit, handling relationships, conflicts and differences of opinion, decision making evaluation, appreciation, sharing of resources, tasks, coping skills in problem situations, co-operation and co-ordination.
Block Placement
This opportunity is provide at the end of fourth semester. Block placement is designed to integrate theory and practice and to enhance competence of social work practice and experience self in that roles.
The main objectives of the block placement are as follows:
a) Develop enhanced practice skill and integrate learning.
b) Develop greater understanding of reality situations through involvement in day to day work.
c) Develop appreciation of other's efforts and sensitivity to gaps in the programme.
d) Enhance awareness of self in the role of professional social worker.
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