Department of Social Work

GCU identifies, promotes and delivers research excellence across the spectrum of social work activity, including Children and Families, Criminal Justice and Critical perspectives in Social work.

Our graduates work in a range of settings across the statutory and voluntary sectors. Opportunities exist to work with adults and children in social work teams and specialist settings.

Research

Social work research at GCU aims to identify, promote and deliver research excellence across the spectrum of social work activity. Our research is strategically honed to meet the challenges and changing circumstances of modern day social work. It is focused on fundamental enquiry and curiosity driven questions as well as applied issues such as the social and economic dimensions of social work. Our researchers work beyond traditional disciplinary silos to focus on creative interdisciplinary agendas at the cutting edge of social work research. This is illustrated in a range of research interests; from mainstream evaluative, impact and empirical research in local Scottish contexts to theoretical inquiry focusing on international issues relating to emerging global social work agendas and human rights. We take the view that is it impossible, and potentially dangerous, to force dichotomies between theory and practice, value and fact or evidence and interpretation in social work.

The themes below illustrate a few areas of research focus within the social work group.

Explore our research

Degree courses

BA (Hons)

Social Work

Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS code
Full Time	4 Years	Sep 25	Glasgow	L500

Make a positive contribution to society as a social worker if you enjoy critical thinking and problem solving. Learn social justice and how to provide care for individuals at degree level.

Professional Accreditation

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work will be eligible for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council as qualified Social Workers.

Why choose Social Work at GCU?

95% Student Satisfaction (NSS, 2014)
95% of our graduates are in work or further study 6 months after graduation (NSS, 2014)
Our programmes are accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council
The School of Health and Life Sciences offers excellent learning support, including an Academic Development Tutor who works closely with the teaching teams to ensure that all students are fully supported and appropriate additional sessions are provided as required.
There is a strong ethos of interprofessional education in the school, which will allow you to understand what role other allied health professions play in health care treatment.
Our students have access to social work archives including material from the Heatherbank Museum of Social Work, which provides provide an excellent research resource for our students