Department of Social Work – Page 5 – NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Welcome

The Department of Social Work at FASS started in 1952 and provides professional social work education at the Undergraduate, Post-Graduate Diploma, Masters and PhD level. We have a dynamic team of faculty and students who are passionate about enhancing social well-being along the individual to societal levels using a variety of methods relevant to today's society.

Vision

To be a leading educational and research institution within the international social work community, providing a distinctive Asian perspective in social work and social development.

Mission

To produce and develop competent social work graduates who can contribute to the well-being of society by:
- Promoting the social functioning of people within the environment from the perspectives of the individual, family and community;
- Enabling the development of human potential to the fullest;
- Undertaking research and creating awareness and understanding of social issues and social change.
To lead in the development and promotion of regional social work education, practice and research in collaboration with Asian and other international partners.

What is Social Work?

Social work is a profession that seeks to improve the social functioning of individuals, families, and the community in general. Social workers are change agents informed by a belief in respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people, drawing on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to facilitate this change.

Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion.

What do social workers do? Where do they work?

As professionals, social workers provide developmental, preventive and remedial intervention utilising social work principles, knowledge, skills and ethics in discharging their responsibilities. This requires that the social worker attains a Degree in Social Work or a Graduate Diploma in Social Work or other accredited Social Work degree qualifications.

Social workers work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:

Addiction / Substance Abuse
Child Welfare
Clinical / Mental Health
Community Work
Correctional Institutions / Prisons
Family Courts
Elderly Care
Family Service
Industrial Social Work
Medical Social Work
School Social Work
Social Policy
Social Work Education
Youth Work

CLICK HERE for information on general guidelines on the pay scale for a social worker.

Disclaimer: Any information displayed is correct at time of publication. Some information has been adapted from the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW).

Students: Get hands-on learning in your research interests/projects!

Research in the Social Work Department is integrated with our practice and teaching of social work. Many of our research projects analyse trends on issues of societal concern, and evaluate policies, programmes and services for populations in need.

Research also provides hands-on learning to students who are engaged in the projects. Our staff are involved in a variety of research projects. Students interested in a specific area or research interest can contact the respective Professors for more information.

CLICK HERE to hear what each of our Professors has to share!

Latest Updates for Undergraduates

News

February 25, 2023

The NUS Career Compass 2023

Find out how the University has developed and broadened our curriculum to better prepare our graduates for the swiftly evolving workplace, and how interdisciplinary learning can help students solve complex issues in our society.

February 23, 2023

CHS at NUS Open House 2023: Download the FASS Essentials on 27 February 2023

On 27 February, get the full download on the essentials of academic programmes, student life, career preparation, overseas opportunities and financial aid at CHS via Zoom in the ‘virtual’ edition of CHS@NUS Open House 2023.

February 6, 2023

In Pursuit of Compassion | Alumna Loong Yi Xin (NUS Social Work, ’22)

Alumna Loong Yi Xin (NUS Social Work, ’22) knew from an early age that she wanted to be a catalyst to instil change in others, and enrolled in Nanyang Polytechnic’s Social Work diploma course after her ‘O’ Levels.

January 6, 2023

Celebration of Achievement and Excellence

In November 2022, the Department of Social Work organised an in-person award ceremony to appreciate our adjunct lecturers and field educators for their many years of support for the Department and in the student’s education. In addition, during the award ceremony, we also celebrated the graduation of our recent graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Social Work (GDSW) programme. It was a joyous occasion to finally be able to meet old friends from the field in person after years of Covid-19 restrictions.