Social Work Information Booklet 2022

AY21/22 Social Work Info Book Society of Social Work Students Welcome Tea 2022

CONTENTS PAGE 1. Student Life a. Introduction to SSWS b. Our Upcoming Events! 2. Social Work Curriculum a. Graduation Requirements b. Module Information c. All about Placement d. School Online Resources 3. Student Support for Mental Health

Fun! 01 Student Life Opportunities you can look forward to in NUS HAPPY

SSWS (Society for Social Work Students) About Us Vision: To build a vibrant and supportive social work community and reach out to future generations of social workers Mission: To work with the social work community to inspire lifelong learning and celebrate friendships amongst professionals and subsequent generations SSWS 35th ExCo: What We Do Check out our Calendar for upcoming events that you can look forward to in AY21/22! (Insert QR Code here) During the Welcome Tea, we opened a padlet for Q&A. You can revisit the padlet to look at the information that has already been shared! bit.ly/sw2022wt

SSWS (Society for Social Work Students) Meet the SSWS 35th ExCo! Image Vanessa (President) @vanessadanced Image Image Image Image Teri Aloysius Zhen Wei Daniel (Honorary (Assistant Secretary) (Honorary (Assistant Treasurer) Secretary) Treasurer) @terriberrie @aloysiuschann @Zhenwei1505 @zooeae Image Image Image Image Jian Wen Modi Cheryl Natalia (Special Projects (Creative Director) (Welfare Director) (Recreational Director) @s_jianwen @Modiolio @cccheerylll Director) @natltan

SSWS (Society for Social Work Students) Stay Updated! Here are some useful channels that you can follow/ subscribe to in order to receive updates on SSWS events! SSWS Official Instagram Page | SSWS NUSync Page @nussocialwork on instagram SSWS Telegram Batch Chats | FASS Telegram Channel Y1: bit.ly/SW2022Tele @fassnus Y2: bit.ly/SW2021Tele Contact Us! 1. Email us at: [email protected] 2. Send us an IG DM @nussocialwork 3. Telegram any one of the ExCo members!

SSWS Events Timeline November ‘21 Welfare Pack 1 December‘21 The Interview Prep (6 Dec): An insightful sharing session where SW alumni from the various fields shared about their SW journey after graduation! SPOTS (13 Dec): SPOTS was one-day networking/sharing event in Summer organised in partnership with faculties in the interprofessional education in healthcare. January ‘22 Welcome Tea (17 Jan): Our annual SW Welcome tea is a platform for you to meet new friends and stay updated on SW matters. Follow our social media to keep up to date with us!

SSWS Events Timeline Feburary ‘22 Valentine’s Day Fundraiser (7-11 Feb): SSWS is here to help you show your friends you appreciate them or make a love connection with our very special Valentine’s Day Merch sales! Keep a lookout on our social media for our pre-order updates! Bonding Day + Special Projects 2 (Recess Week): Get to meet and bond with your fellow Social Work majors by engaging in fun collaborative games, all whilst learning more about art techniques that can be applied when working with clients! Do follow us on our socials for more details of this upcoming event! March ‘22 Social Work Day (17 Mar): It’s World Social Work Day, so SSWS has a new line-up of exciting things for you. Watch out for SSWS updates and grab yourself some exclusive NUS Social Work merchandise!

SSWS Events Timeline April ‘22 Welfare Pack 2 (Mid Apr): It’s examinations period again and we know you’re stressed, so remember to sign up to receive our welfare pack for Social Work Majors! Summer ‘22 Graduation Night (28 May): Time for the seniors to graduate from NUS! Want to show your appreciation to your seniors? Help us to create a memorable graduation night for our graduating friends! We are looking for members in programmes, logistics and publicity! Freshmen Orientation Camp (27-29 July): Join us in welcoming a new batch of students who are interested in the Social Work major this summer! Share your school experiences and engage in team-bonding games with the juniors through this enriching yet exciting camp! We welcome you to sign up as part of a subcomm or an OGL! Details on subcommittee sign-up for these events will be available in late January.

02 Academics The SW Curriculum and NUS Academic Matters YOUDCOAINT !

Graduation Requirements (Single Major) Cohort of AY2021/22 and beyond 1. 60 MCs of CHS College requirements a. 52 MCs of CHS common curriculum b. 8 MCs of Project requirement for SW majors i. SW3103C Social Work Field Practice (I) (4 MCs) ii. SW3104B Social Work Field Practice (II) (4 MCs) 2. Pass at least 60 MCs of SW or SW-recognised modules, including: a. SW1101E, SW2101, SW2104, SW2105, SW2106, SW3101 or PL2131 or SC2101, SW3105, SW4102 and SW4103. b. Read and pass a minimum of 36 MCs at level 3000 or higher (including modules listed above), with i. A minimum of 20 MCs at level-4000 or higher. ii. A maximum of 1 SW module at level-5000 can be read (subject to Department’s approval) 3. 40MCs of Unrestricted Electives requirements ***For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/entry-graduation-requirement-undergraduate/ ***

Graduation Requirements (Second Major) Cohort of AY2021/22 and beyond 1. Pass at least 40 MCs of SW or SW-recognised modules, including: a. SW1101E, SW2101, SW2104, SW2105, SW2106, SW3101 or PL2131 or SC2101, SW3105, SW4102 and SW4103. b. Read and pass a minimum of 16 MCs at level 3000 or higher (including modules listed above). ***For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/entry-graduation-requirement-undergraduate/ ***

Graduation Requirements (Human Services Minor) Cohort of AY2021/22 and beyond 1. Accumulate at least 20 MCs of SW modules, which include SW1101E and SW2104. 2. Read and pass a minimum of 12 MCs at level-3000, provided modules requirement are met and the modules are not excluded for Minor students. 3. Modules Excluded for Minor students: a. SW2101, SW2105, SW2106, SW3103, SW3105, SW3209, SW3214, SW3103C, SW3104B *Students who have read the above excluded modules before they declare Minor in Human Services or have switched from a Social Work Major to Minor in Human Services cannot use them to fulfil Minor in Human Services requirement. ***For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/entry-graduation-requirement-undergraduate/ ***

Student Exchange Programmes There are overseas opportunities either during your vacations (Summer or Winter School) or during the school semester (Exchange). Students should work closely with the FASS SEP Coordinators when determining which courses to take while on SEP to ensure sufficient credits can be transferred back to NUS after the exchange semester. Each university has different requirements and restrictions for exchange programmes. You can use your NUS UEs for your SEP or map modules toward your major requirements. All questions about module mapping and credit transfer should be directed to the Faculty/Department SEP Coordinators. Eligibility Where can you go? - Minimum 3.0 CAP - List of Partner Universities: - Should not have any grade http://www.nus.edu.sg/gro/glob al-programmes/student-excha below 2.0 in any module nge/partner-universities - Completed at least 2 semesters - of study (Year 2 and above) - The SW FASS SEP Coordinator: - Assoc Prof Srinivasan AEplipglibcialtitioyn Chokkanathan - Edurec > Academics > Global - [email protected] Education - - NUS Global Relations Office: Find Out More - http://nus.edu.sg/gro/home - Check your school email for more information closer to the application period! *In light of Covid-19, this information is subject to changes.

Senior’s Module Review SW1101E: SOCIAL WORK: A HEAD-HEART-HAND CONNECTION You will learn about the purpose and values behind social work, the roles of a social worker, and be exposed (pun intended) to the different clientele groups and settings that are common to social work. Prerequisites What was challenging? - None - Many different concepts and theories to remember What did your seniors like about this module? - Tip: Make consistent notes instead of cramming before - Covers a lot of basic SW exams concepts and gives a broad idea of the SW curriculum as a whole - Engagement with social workers during the field visits brings an interesting exposure across the different fields in the social service sector Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW2101: WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES You will learn about the different steps and skills in the helping process, including engagement, assessment, goal-setting, intervention, evaluation of outcome and termination. Prerequisites What was challenging? - SW1101E - Weekly readings are quite - Must be a SW Major heavy What did your seniors like - Exam questions are application about this module? based and require you to work in your theories - Introduced frequently-used social work theories in an - Tip: Make consistent notes in-depth and applicable manner instead of cramming before exams - Industry professionals in different social sectors taught - Tip: Be conscious about picking guest lectures and shared about out the main points for the their experiences readings - Tip: Practice theory application with provided during lectures/tutorials Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW2104: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LIFESPAN You will learn about the different developmental issues that an individual may experience in each life stage. The module also covers the major developmental theories and their practical applications. Prerequisites What was challenging? - Must be a SW Major or Minor - Concepts are quite broad - Tip: Try to understand the links What did your seniors like about this module? between the different stages as they are all interconnected. - The framework of the entire - Tip: Read up extensively and module was chronological (goes have a more thorough from infant to late adulthood), understanding of when to use so revision was very structured which theory, the pros and cons etc - Concepts are important for engaging with clients in different settings, and will be useful for practice - Tutorial formats and discussion topics are very interesting Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW2105: VALUES AND SKILLS FOR HELPING RELATIONSHIPS You will learn and practice foundational skills, including interpersonal communication, relationship building, problem-solving and intervention, through case studies and role-plays. Prerequisites What was challenging? - SW1101E - The role-play aspect is quite - Must be a SW Major or Minor daunting. Nevertheless, t is a good learning experience, but What did your seniors like you will open yourself up to about this module? criticism from the rest of the class. - A very hands-on module where you feel like you are practicing - It may be hard to process what direct social work you have learnt at first given the reflective/dynamic nature of - Imparts many useful soft skills the module.. and techniques in interacting with clients - Tip: Self reflection is important in this module to understanding - You have the opportunity to how individual and professional role-play as either a social values drives a social worker. worker or a client in a pre-constructed scenario and - Tip: Step out of your comfort break down a case as it zone and volunteer to role play! develops during the tutorials Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW2106: SOCIAL GROUP WORK PRACTICE You will learn and apply group work competencies for specific populations and settings, through role-play. The module covers the phases of group development, group processes, therapeutic factors and the role of the group leader. Prerequisites What was challenging? - SW1101E - During role-play, it may be hard - Must be a SW Major or Minor to put yourself in the shoes of the target groups when you What did your seniors like have no prior interaction with about this module? them. - Many role-play opportunities - It’s also challenging to apply the that helped concretize the theories during role play. learning from lectures and helped us practice soft skills! - Tip: Step out of your comfort zone and engage with the - Tutorial sessions were very role-play! It helps to visualize dynamic and experimental, and the theories and interact allowed us to experience the dynamically with the problem. different stages of a group. - Tip: Ask Questions! Tutorials provide a opportunity to simulate examples and demonstrations, so make good use of the f2f tutorials! Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW3101: SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH METHODS (or SC2101/ PL2131) You will learn about the research process, including problem formulation, research design, data collection, data analysis, and the interpretation and presentation of research data. You will apply these research skills to conduct a basic research project. Prerequisites What was challenging? - SW1101E - You use math. - Must be a SW Major or Minor - High individual workload - Tip: Manage your time wisely What did your seniors like about this module? and start on your assignments/group projects - A very practical module that early! shows how social workers - Tip: Find your high school conduct research and how statistics notes, and your fieldwork data analysis is calculator. They’re there interpreted somewhere. - Useful for people considering a Double Major future in social work research/doing lab - You can take PL2131/SC2101 in modules/doing an honors thesis place of this module Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Senior’s Module Review SW3105: COMMUNITY WORK PRACTICE You will learn about the theories, strategies, techniques and skills used in community work practice. Prerequisites What was challenging? - SW1101E - Content can get quite dry at - Must be a SW Major or Minor times, and weekly readings are quite heavy What did your seniors like about this module? - Exam questions are application based and require you to work - The lecturer (Chan Xian Jie) is in your theories very passionate and knowledgeable about - Tip: Make consistent notes community work. He gives great instead of cramming before examples from his own exams experience and provides very succinct summaries about each - Tip: Be conscious about picking week's readings in his lectures out the main points for the readings - We were given the autonomy to decide how 10% of our class - Tip: Practice theory application participation grade was with provided during awarded. lectures/tutorials - Interesting concepts about the Double Major history and current state of community development in - You can only do a thesis if SW is Singapore, getting us to ponder listed as your primary/first critically about the social work major. field Note that these are the perspectives of some seniors who have taken the module and are not representative of what your experience may be. Please take the module reviews here with a pinch of salt and go to the class with an open mind to learn :)

Honours Thesis SW4401: HONOURS THESIS You will undertake a year-long research project on your preferred social work topic. The Honours Thesis (12,000 words) is the equivalent of three modules. Prerequisites How do you go about applying for a thesis? - 110 MCs, Minimum CAP of 3.50 - Must be a SW Honors student - Reach out to your intended supervisors via email and discuss Should you do a thesis? with them about the topic that you have in mind - If you have a research topic you are particularly interested in - Once you and your supervisor and a SW department staff have finalized the thesis topic, member to supervise you, you you will have to manually can do a thesis! register for SW4401 with the department (not available - In order to qualify for a during ModReg). first-class honors (high distinction), you would need to complete the honors thesis. - The thesis takes 2 semesters to complete, so do plan your modules well. -

Field Placement SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE Social work majors (Cohort 2020 onwards) are required to complete 2 PLACEMENTS (SW3103B/SW3104A), amounting to 2 x 400 hours of field practice. Note: You require 1000 hours of field practice to be accredited as a social work professional. Placements can be done either during your summer breaks or concurrently during the school semester (aka Concurrent Placements). Each placement module counts as 6MCs. Take note! - The first placement module, SW3103B, is a CS/CU module!

Field Placement SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE You will receive an email notification for placement applications. There will be a list of eligible organizations for you to ballot for, and you will not be able to source for your own placement. Summer Placement Concurrent Placement Summer placements will be Concurrent placements will be conducted over 10 weeks, from early conducted over 11 weeks during May to July. Semester 2 of the Academic Year. You will be commit for over 400 hours You will commit for over 400 hours - Work for 8 hours/day x 50 days - Work for 8 hours/day x 3 days a for 10 week block placement week during the semester - Minimum of 14 hours of seminar - Work for 8 hours/day x 5 days sessions (counted within the 400 during recess week, and for 13 hours) days during 2 week block placement. In December For summer placement FAQs*: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/wp-conte - Minimum of 14 hours of seminar nt/uploads/sites/30/2020/09/faqs_fo sessions (counted within the 400 r_placement.pdf hours) For concurrent placement FAQs*): https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/wp-conte nt/uploads/sites/30/2020/09/faqs_co ncurrent_placement.pdf *These details have not been updated for SW3103B and SW3104A, so information here is subject to changes. Do refer to the SW page or LumiNUS for updates.

Field Placement SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE Don’t worry, you will receive quite a lot of support! Your field supervisor will provide you with learning opportunities and guide you to meet your learning goals. Your seminar tutor will focus on connecting theory to practice. Your placement coordinator and field coordinator helps to manage your interactions with the agency. SW3103B SW3104A Prerequisites SW1101E SW3103B SW2101 Placement SW2104 Agency Options SW2105 Some things you can expect: FSC More diverse (see SAC section of Hospital agencies) Youth Work Exposure to agency’s line of work Learning Contract Mid-placement Visit Skills Exercise Reflection Paper Case/Project Presentation 6 Seminars 5 Seminars

Field Placement Agencies SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE A non-exhaustive list Agencies Clientele Fun Fact! FSC Individuals, All FSCs are supported by MSF and run by families & different VWOs, as per the many helping communities hands approach SSO Low-income & 24 branches islandwide, supposed to be job-seeking within 2 km walking distance from anywhere individuals & in Singapore families School Youth and School Counsellors work closely with both Children teachers and parents Youth Youth and Working hours of outreach workers can last Outreach Children till late at night to match the timings of certain youth groups Children’s Youth and Total of 21 Children and Young Persons Home Children Homes providing residential care programmes in Singapore Halfway Rehabilitative Largely run by religious groups, apart from Houses Services the newest government-run installation. Transitional Vulnerable Clients are guided to explore long-term Shelter individuals and housing, provided with life-skill training and families employment assistance For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/field_placement_sw_course_field_placement/

Field Placement Agencies SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE A non-exhaustive list Agencies Clientele Fun Fact! Prison Offenders The majority of programs are non-mandatory for inmates SPD Persons with SPD no longer wants to be known as the disabilities Society for the Physically Disabled in order to be more inclusive Hospital Patients and SGH is home to the largest group of medical IMH Families social workers in Singapore Person with Accommodates up to 2000 beds Hospice mental health conditions Hospices differ from nursing homes in that it Nursing Persons with focuses on providing palliative care to clients Home life-limiting Monthly fees cost anywhere between SAC diseases $1,200-$3,500 prior to subsidies MSF Older adults, Largely program-based interventions persons with There has yet to be a minister from MSF who disabilities studied social work in Singapore history Older adults Various demographics For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/field_placement_sw_course_field_placement/

Field Placement Agencies SW3103B & SW3104A: SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICE A non-exhaustive list Agencies Clientele Fun Fact! Prison Offenders The majority of programs are non-mandatory for inmates SPD Persons with SPD no longer wants to be known as the disabilities Society for the Physically Disabled in order to be more inclusive Hospital Patients and SGH is home to the largest group of medical Families social workers in Singapore IMH Person with Accommodates up to 2000 beds mental health conditions Hospice Persons with Hospices differ from nursing homes in that it life-limiting focuses on providing palliative care to clients diseases Nursing Older adults, Monthly fees cost anywhere between Home persons with $1,200-$3,500 prior to subsidies disabilities SAC Older adults Largely program-based interventions For more information, please visit: https://fass.nus.edu.sg/swk/field_placement_sw_course_field_placement/

School Online Resources www.luminus.nus.edu.sg LumiNUS is the portal that you use for your academic work during the semester. You will use it quite extensively to download lecture notes, attend webcasts, and submit your quizzes and assignments. You can also use it to find out more about the modules that you are keen to take. www.myedurec.nus.edu.sg EDUREC is used for more general administrative matters, including recording personal particulars, major declaration, exam schedule and exam results. It is also used to track your overall progress and help you prepare for graduation - Login >> Academics >> Degree Progression/ APG >> Your Graduation Audit Report >> Expand All (check what requirements you have and have not completed) https://myportal.nus.edu.sg/studentp ortal/fas/ug/ myPortal@NUS contains all the information you need for graduation. Make sure you check the “Modular System”. www.nusmods.com NUSMODS is your dedicated timetable planner with information about modules, school venues, and exam dates.

School Online Resources https://nus.campuslabs.com/engage NUSync is the portal that you use for your academic work during the semester. You will use it quite extensively to download lecture notes, attend webcasts, and submit your quizzes and assignments. You can also use it to find out more about the modules that you are keen to take. https://libportal.nus.edu.sg/frontend/index NUS Libraries is the online library search portal that can be used to access NUS libraries e-resources, so you can search up books, journals, articles and more. Some of your modules’ recommended readings can be found here. https://proxylogin.nus.edu.sg/libproxy1/public/login.asp?logup= false&url=https://www.jstor.org/ JSTOR is another e-resource portal that allows you to access books, journals and articles. NUS Libraries provides free access to JSTOR resources, but do remember to log in with your NUS account. NUS LOST & FOUND SYSTEM (List of Items Found) https://secure.repoapp.com/public_items/BB20556C

School Online Resources Planning your timetable with NUSMODS STEP 1: Find the modules that you plan to take - Make sure you are using the timetable for the correct semester - Check if there are any clashes in exam dates STEP 2: Schedule your modules based on the available time-slots Tutorials can be weekly or biweekly (choose odd/ even weeks) Look out for any clashes and reschedule them! It is possible to plan for a 3-day or 4-day work week!

School Online Resources Balloting for Modules in EDUREC STEP 0: Take note of the dates of the balloting rounds, and (try your best to) understand the rules-driven priority-based allocation system - TL;DR: You have higher chances of getting a module 1) if you are choosing a module that is a grad requirement, 2) if you are a senior, and 3) if you give it higher ranking among your other mods STEP 1: Access the portal via www.myedurec.nus.edu.sg - Login >> Academic >> Module Registration STEP 2: Select and rank your modules - Select module >> input module code >> select >> rank Tip: give higher ranking for mods in higher demand (i.e. vacancy < students selected) STEP 3: Check balloting outcomes, review your timetable plan and wait for the next balloting round - Tip: have a back-up plan in case you don’t get a popular man You may send in an appeal if you still cannot secure the mod after all balloting rounds have ended STEP 4: Repeat the process for tutorial balloting - Tip: Distribute your ranking, but place more focus on the more popular time slots

03 Student Support for Mental Health Avenues of help that you can look to when the need arises

NUS STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Pitstop@YIH Need someone to talk in physically about your troubles? Drop by Pitstop @YIH to speak to peer student supporters (PSS) or OSA Stdent Wellness Managers on duty. Operating Hours (AY21/22 Sem1): Tuesdays and Fridays, 1-5pm Location: Yusof Ishak House, Level 1, 31 Lower Kent Ridge S(119078) University Health Centre: Counselling Services Counselling provides a safe and private space to talk with someone about your goals and concerns. Counselling services and programmes are free for all NUS students. Location (walk-ins accepted): University Health Centre, 20 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Level 2, S(119080) Call: 6516 2376 Email: [email protected] **NUS Lifeline (24 hours): 6516 7777** Support within the Halls/Residential Colleges/Residences Contact your Hall/College Master, Resident I’M TYRED Fellow/Advisor.

EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS OFFERING PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT Organisations Call Email Samaritans of Singapore 1800-221 [email protected] (SOS) (24 hours) 4444 or dial 1767 Community Mental 6493 6500 CHAT@mental Health Assessment Team health.sg (CHAT) E-counselling for Youths: - - eC2.sg (Website) Institute of Mental Health 6389 2222 - (IMH) National CARE Hotline 1800-202-68 - 68

THANK YOU! SSWS Welcome Tea 2022 (Insert QR Code here) Let us know your feedback! bit.ly/swwt2022feedback