Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Sociology

In 1940 the Government offered the University offered a grant of 600 Pounds for the current year and 2,600 Pounds in subsequent years to establish and maintain a Department of Social Work. The Senate gave this some consideration at its meeting on 4 February 1940, and on 19 February 1940, resolved to establish a "Board of Studies in Social Service Work". This consisted of 13 members with a view to instituting a diploma in Social Service Work within the University of Sydney.The Calendar for 1940 notes that a Department of Social Studies and courses for two years leading to a Diploma in Social Studies had been established. Under the By-Laws (Chap. XXXA) a Board of Social Studies appointed by Senate was responsible for the supervision and training of students proceeding to the Diploma.Prior to the establishment of the Diploma in Social Studies the University had been providing courses in social studies leading to the award of a certificate by the  Board of Social Study and Training, a non-government external organisation.In 1951 the Vice-Chancellor appointed a Committee to review the position of the Department of Social Work. This Committee presented its Report to Senate on 3 September 1951. The Committee recommended that the name of the Department be changed to the Department of Social Work, that the undergraduate diploma be changed to a graduate diploma, that a Director be appointed, that a Board of Studies in Social Work be established to supervise all aspects of the new diploma and that the Board report to the Professorial Board on all matters relating to the diploma course. The Senate referred the Report to the Professorial Board for discussion. The Professorial Board recommended that Senate approve the Report. [Senate Minutes 5 November 195] It accepted that the change from an undergraduate to a graduate Diploma was to lift the standard of the course and that the name change of the Department would 'do away with the confusion the title Social Studies' caused to both, members of the general public and to students'. Dr Morven Brown was appointed Director of Social Work from 1 January 1955.In 1956 the Diploma in Social Work (Dip. Soc. Wk.) was introduced and the Diploma in Social Studies was discontinued. Responsibility for the supervision an training of the courses came under the newly established Board of Social Work and the Board in Social Studies was abolished.New By-laws were approved in 1966 which replaced the Diploma in Social Work with a degree of Bachelor of Social Studies. By 1967 the Diploma course was available only to students who commenced in the Faculty prior to 1967, and the requirements for the Diploma had to be completed by 1970. The requirements of the degree and role and functions of the Board in relation to the Bachelor's degree were defined in By-Laws Chap. XE. In 1967 the Department's primary function were described in the Calendar as to offer a professional education to men and women who wish to become social workers; the qualification offered is a requirement for employment in the field. The course is, however, open to students interested in the study of social conditions and problems and to persons from other professions who seek to broaden their knowledge of social organisation and their understanding of human beings in their social setting. Two courses, Social Theory I and II are available to students studying for the B.A. degree and can be taken separately from the rest of the course. Courses of Study The Department of Social Work offers a four-year degree course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Studies. No new enrolments after 1966 will be accepted for the three year undergraduate course formerly offered for the Diploma in Social Work. For those already proceeding and those entering in 1966, this course, however, may be taken on its own or in a four year combination with the appropriate subjects in the Faculty of Arts to lead to a combined Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma in Social Work but must be completed by 1970.The name of the Department changed to Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Sociology. [Noted by Senate, 6 May 1996 36/96 (10)]In 2003 it was incorporated into the newly formed Faculty of Education and Social Work.