Department of Social Work
Faculty of Humanities, Social Science and EducationWelcome message
Vision
• To offer teaching and learning programmes, conduct research and participate in community engagement activities in the social development environment, all of which impact positively on the well-being of communities in South Africa.
Mission
• The Department of Social Work, in line with the requirements of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Educations, University of Venda and the relevant professional board, use appropriate methods and means to ensure that students are on the cutting edge of the discipline.
Aim
• To offer Social Work curricula that are designed to enable students registered in all departmental programme offerings to gain sound theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as skills necessary for Social Work professional practice’
Programmes offered
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) SAQA Qualification ID: 9607
DURATION: 4 years
Additional Admission Requirements:
The number of students to be admitted into University of Venda (Univen) BSW program is limited. Students will be admitted according to admission requirements. Being accepted by Univen as an applicant does not automatically qualify a student into the BSW program in the Department of Social Work. Students are selected into the BSW program based on their performance and availability of space.
To be registered for the BSW degree, students should be in possession of Matric exemption, if the matric was completed before 2008 be in possession of Matric National Curriculum Statement (NCS) certificate or statement of results indicating a minimum of 35 points have completed application forms from Univen Students Admission Offices: have attached to application forms: copy of Matric results, ID document, ID photo, a testimonial, as well as – if so indicated by university Student Administration Office – payment receipt of the application fee. As necessary, the Office of the School Administrator for Human & Social Sciences (Mr. Mmbadi: 015-962-8969) and Department of Social Work will notify selected students.
Transfer Students from Other Programmes & Institutions
As indicated in admissions requirements here, the same applies to transferring students, namely, that:
Students will be admitted according to admission requirements. Being accepted by the university as an applicant does not automatically qualify the student into the BSW program.
Often due to differences among various universities’ programs (e.g. module levels, credit values, contents and sequence, as well as asymmetry in practical requirements), students transferring from other BSW programs may be required to register for Univen-equivalent modules, to ensure compliance.
Aims
The BSW curriculum package is designed to enable social work students registered in the BSW programme to gain sound theoretical and practical knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for professional practice
Specific Outcomes
As stated in the BSW programme documents of the Council on Higher Education CHE (BSW Standards May 2015), social work education has to be responsive to the influence of history on contemporary life; address societal change initiatives; as well as work for greater socio-economic equality. The qualification, therefore, is designed to (BSW Standards May 2015:6):
- be broad and flexible enough to be responsive to different contexts
- be of sufficient complexity to ensure that graduates possess the capacity to think on their feet
- facilitate transfer of knowledge and skills from one context to another
- ensure that graduates uphold requisite ethical standards, and
- allow graduates to register with the professional council to practice and to pursue postgraduate.
Master of Social Work (MSW) (HSMMC 6300) (SAQA ID: 112078)
HSMMC 6300: Dissertation only
Aim of the MSW
The aim of the MSW degree programme is to give students a grounding in the breadth and depth of Social Work as a discipline and profession. The programme is set out to help students to explore relevant histories and development, social welfare legislation and programmes, theoretical frameworks and methodologies, research approaches, as well as topical areas, in Social Work, social development and related human and social sciences.
Duration of the Programme (A minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years)
The minimum requirement for completion of the MSW degree programme shall be one year on full time basis, with a minimum of two years on part-time basis and a maximum of four years as stipulated in rule HS7. The candidate shall re-apply for the programme for another one year if he or she exceed the minimum limit. The student shall register for every academic year if s/he is on the programme.
Requirements for Awarding the Degree
Unless otherwise specified by Departmental rules, an MSW degree shall be awarded based on a dissertation.The qualification must be conferred after all research processes have been followed and exhausted.
Admission requirements
Admission Requirements For BSW
The number of students to be admitted into University of Venda (Univen) BSW program is limited. Students will be admitted according to admission requirements. Being accepted by Univen as an applicant does not automatically qualify a student into the BSW program in the Department of Social Work. Students are selected into the BSW program based on their performance and availability of space.
To be registered for the BSW degree, students should: be in possession of Matric exemption, if the matric was completed before 2008, be in possession of Matric National Curriculum Statement (NCS) certificate or statement of results indicating a minimum of 35 points, have completed application forms from Univen Students
Admission Offices: have attached to application forms: copy of Matric results, ID document, ID photo, a testimonial, as well as – if so indicated by university Student Administration Office – payment receipt of the application fee. As necessary, the Office of the School Administrator for Human & Social Sciences (Mr. Mmbadi: 015-962-8969) and Department of Social Work will notify selected students.
Transfer Students from Other Programs & Institutions
As indicated in admissions requirements here, the same applies to transferring students, namely, that: Students will be admitted according to admission requirements. Being accepted by the university as an applicant does not automatically qualify the student into the BSW program. Often due to differences among various universities’ programs (e.g. module levels, credit values, contents, and sequence, as well as asymmetry in practical requirements), students transferring from other BSW programs may be required to register for Univen-equivalent modules, to ensure compliance.
Admission Requirements for MSW
Only students with an average of 65% in a bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) will be considered for enrolment for the Master of Social Work (MSW) programme. Applicants with qualifications obtained from other institutions must apply for status recognition, subject to prescribed conditions. Prospective students with Social Work qualifications from outside South Africa must submit SAQA certificate, together with their admission application. Such foreign qualifications will be assessed as per current national legislations and university policies. All applicants, however, must possess one of the following qualifications:
- a 4-year bachelors’ degree in Social Work
- both a three-year bachelors’ and an honours degree, both in Social Work, or
- a 3-year bachelor’s degree in Social Work with at least a minimum work experience of two (2) years within Social Work discipline (which will serve as part of Recognition of Prior Learning).
Prospective students shall apply for admission into the University of Venda before being accepted into the MSW programme. Applicants shall complete prescribed forms (obtained from the University Registrar), and submit that together with a proposed topic for their study (a mini research proposal of about 5-6 pages). Applicants can only register as students when Senate approve their applications and study proposals. Application forms shall be accompanied by CV and academic transcripts.
The University Registrar shall refer all applications to the Department of Social Work, via the School Administrator’s Office. The Department of Social Work will, in turn, make recommendations for (dis)approval (see Univen Postgraduate Training Manual). Recommendations of the Department, if positive, shall include recommended name(s) of supervisor(s), and shall be submitted through relevant committees of the Academic Board of the School.
Additional Admission Requirements
As indicated, before being admitted, prospective students are required to submit research ideas (tentative mini-research proposals of 5-6 pages) to the Department of Social Work, by not later than the end of February. Students are required to present themselves for entry interviews to the Department of Social Work, by not later than 30 March, wherein their research ideas will also be assessed.
Postgraduate students
Curriculum
To attain MSW qualification, students must complete a dissertation on a topic approved by the Department of Social Work and the School Higher Degrees Committee, as well as in terms of university policy.
Articulation
Students who have completed an MSW can articulate to a PhD (Social Work) or related fields. Doctoral degree, however, is currently not offered at Univen.
Articulation
Masters in Social Work (MSW)
Depending on the combination of credits taken, horizontal articulation will be possible with other social service professions in NQF level 9 programmes, for example, Child and Youth Care, Probation Work and Community Development. Horizontal articulation will also be possible with other disciplines such as Gender Studies, Psychology and Sociology.
Career Opportunities
Social workers apply their knowledge and practice their skills in a variety of settings. The majority of social workers work in government departments such Social Development (DSD), Health (DH) in its hospitals including psychiatric settings, South African Police Services (SAPS), South African Defence Force (SANDF), Correctional Services (DCS). Many social workers work for organizations (mostly, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social service organisations) in the fields of child and family welfare, care for people with disabilities, alcohol and drug treatment centers, community development organizations, children’s homes, as well as mental health. In fact, most organisations dealing with some or other human problem offers social work career opportunities.
There are a number of social workers that work in the field of employee assistance programmes (EAP) rendering a variety of services to employees of large private sector companies or for government departments. Social workers also operate private practice, wherein they offer specialized services such as marital counselling, divorce mediation, adoption, and working with children, consulting for private industry and government entities. These social workers are paid by the clients or the organisations they consult for. Social workers are also able to obtain employment in other countries.
As indicated for the BSW programme, MSW will help to further enhance social workers to apply their knowledge and practice their skills in a variety of settings. Most social workers work in government departments such Social Development (DSD), Health (DH) in its hospitals including psychiatric settings, South African Police Services (SAPS), South African Defence Force (SANDF), Correctional Services (DCS). Many social workers work for organizations (mostly, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social service organisations) in the fields of child and family welfare, care for people with disabilities, alcohol and drug treatment centres, community development organizations, children’s homes, as well as mental health. There are also several social workers that work in the field of employee assistance programmes (EAP) rendering services to employees to both private sector companies and public sector departments. An MSW qualification will help to provide graduates with further opportunities in both private and public sectors, as well as in general social research, lecturing, and possibilities of future senior management and leadership positions, in Social Work and general human and social development environment.
Staff profiles
Full names: Dr. Lobelo D. Mogorosi
Designation: Senior lecturer and Head of Department
Qualifications: BA (SW) (UNIN), BA (SW) (Hons) (Unizul), MS, DSW (Columbia University)
Phone: +2715 962-8157
Email: lobelo.mogorosi@univen.ac.za
Office No: C-47, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Dr Matimba Allan Mabasa
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (SW), MA (SW) (UL), PGDIP (HE) (UKZN), D Phil (SW) (UL)
Phone: +2715 962 8579
Email: Allan.Mabasa@univen.ac.za
Office No: C7 – 5, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Dr Thabisa Matsea
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BA (SW), MA (SW) (Stellenbosch), Dip in Early Childhood Education (Univen), Higher Cert. in Man. (FPD), PGDIP (HE) (Stellenbosch), PhD (SW) (NW Potchefstroom Campus).
Phone: +2715 9628304
Email: Thabisa.Matsea@univen.ac.za
Office No: C7- 11; Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Dr Glory Mmasetjana Lekganyane
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: D Science (SW), M Soc Science (SW), BA IV (SW), B.A III (SW)
Phone: +2715 962 8350
Email: Glory.Lekganyane@univen.ac.za
Office No: Mo4, Music Building
Full names: Dr Themba Victor Baloyi
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: BASW (Univen), MA (SW) (UP), PHD(UL) PGDIP(UKZN)
Phone: +2715 962 8447
Email: Themba.baloyi@univen.ac.za
Office No: M03 Music Building
Full names. Dr Mmaphuti Mamaleka
Designation: Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: D Phil SW (UWC), MSW (UOFS) BA(SW) (UNIN), PGDIP (UKZN) HRM Certificate (UNISA)
Phone: +2715 962 8642
Email: Mmaphuti.mamaleka@univen.ac.za
Office No: C7-6 Political science building
Full names: Ms Patricia Siphiwe Manganyi
Designation: Lecturer (Fieldwork coordinator)
Qualifications: BA SW (Unin) MSW (UP) & PGDIP(University of Stellenbosch)
Phone: (015) 962 8837
Email: patricia.manganyi@univen.ac.za
Office No: C-45, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Nngodiseni Jimmy Budeli
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: Qualifications: MA (SW) (UL); PGDipHE (Rhodes); BA (Hons) HIV/AIDS(Unisa); Advanced Certificate: Labour Law (UFS) and BASW (Univen).
Phone: (015) 962 8468
Email: Jimmy.budeli@univen.ac.za
Office No: C-48, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Mrs Veronica Nemutandani
Designation: Lecturer
Qualifications: MA (SW) (UL); BASW (Univen) & PGdip(HE) (Rhodes)
Phone: +2715 962 8365
Email: veronica.nemutandani@univen.ac.za
Office No: C-46, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
Full names: Mr Avhafarei V. Makuya
Designation: Administrative Support Officer
Qualifications: Bachelor Degree (Administration), National Diploma (Office Admin)
Phone: 015 962 9223
Email: avhafarei.makuya@univen.ac.za
Office No: 50, Humanities and Social Sciences Building
