Uniben Department of Social Work

The social work unit of the Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Benin began in 1983/1984 academic session with a part-time Diploma in Social Work (DSW). The success of the programme led to the introduction of a part-time Bachelor of Social Work programme in 1995/1996 academic session`.

In 2006 a proposal for a department of social work was put forward. This proposal materialized in June 2011 when the department was officially approved by the University Senate. With the help of Canadian partners, Social Work in Nigeria, Project, (SWINP) structures were put in place and the department officially took off in July, 2011 as the newest department in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Department admitted its first set of Full Time Undergraduates during the 2011 and 2012 academic session. At present, the third sets of students have also been admitted. The department of Social work is committed to Social Work education that prepares graduates who can stand up for Human Rights and Social Justice and work with populations disadvantaged by social inequities and life circumstances. The design of the professional programmes is based on a generalist model which embraces the values and principles of social justice and human rights. The programme is designed to promote interactive learning and as such, emphasizes seminars, group discussions, case studies, roleplaying, and presentations that enhance the full participation of students.

The Bachelor of Science programme is committed to Social Work education that prepares graduates who can stand up for human rights and social justice and work with populations disadvantaged by social inequities and life circumstances. Also it seeks to provide leadership and innovation in social work education through teaching, scholarship, research, and community service. Through this goal, the B.Sc programme intends to support opportunities that promote the wellbeing of individuals’ families and communities in the society.

The design of the professional B. Sc. program is based on a generalist model which embraces the values and principles of social justice and human rights. The programme is designed to promote interactive learning and as such, emphasizes seminars, group discussions, case studies, role-playing, and presentations that enhance the full participation of students. The classroom learning, field practice and graduating projects are the three pillars of the programme through which students are expected to learn how to integrate theories with practice in a Nigerian context. Students who graduate are expected to be capable in working at different interprofessional settings as a frontline social worker in, not exclusively, areas of poverty elimination, women and children protection and welfare, youth development, public health particularly related to HIV/AIDS, community and social development in both urban and rural areas.

Graduates from the B. Sc. Programme are expected to be able to:

1. Critically analyze and problem-solve to intervene flexibly, appropriately, and collaboratively at multiple levels;
2. Identify and critically analyze individual, environmental and community conditions which facilitate or prevent client system empowerment and health;
3. Beware and promote human, socioeconomic, and political rights of Nigerians especially children and women;
4. Engage people from various marginal groups in a collaborative problem solving process;
5. Demonstrate leadership skills particularly in areas of community development, and policy reform;
6. Use technology to enhance communication and work collaboratively with all systems for the purposes of responding effectively to social problems in Nigeria.

COURSES OFFERED IN THE DEPARTMENT

The Department has the following programmes a. Part-time Diploma in Social Work

2. Part-time Undergraduate Programme (BSW)
3. Full-time Undergraduate Programme (BSc)

Field Work

Field work practical will be organized with special agencies through the University of Benin Industrial Training Scheme (UBITS) programme of the University.

A. Students will be attached to human and social service agencies where they can gain experience in the practice of social work, the function of the agencies and their place in the overall pattern of social work practice. Students will work directly with clients of the agencies under the critical supervision of qualified social workers/field instructors recognized for this purpose by the Department. The range of placements normally available are:

Social Service Departments, Probation Departments, General and Psychiatric hospitals, child guidance clinics and community projects, Orphanages and Motherless and Old Peoples’ homes.

B Students will keep full record of their work at the agencies.

The Department will normally try to meet students’ preferences for placement in a particular type of agency. Field work supervisors and lecturers of the Department will meet regularly throughout the period of the field work to maintain the effective working of the concurrent and block placements and to keep the progress of the fieldwork and the development of the students under review.

Admission requirements:

To be eligible for admission to the professional BSW programme, applicants must have:

1. Admission Requirements for the four-year BSW FullTime Degree Programme

(i) Candidates seeking admission into this programme should possess any of the following qualifications:

(a) At least five Ordinary Level credit passes in WASC, WAEC SSCE/GCE, NECO SSCE or at least five merit level passes in the Teachers Grade Two Certificate Examination (T.C. II) or any of their recognised equivalent at not more than two sittings. The subjects should include

English Language, Mathematics, Economics, Government/History and any other Social Science subject.

(ii) Acceptable passes in the Joint Matriculations Examination (UME) must be in the following areas:

1. Use of English
2. Any two Social Science subjects (Government, Geography, Economics, Commerce and any other subject).

2. Admission Requirements for the three-year Full-Time BSW Degree Programme (Direct Entry)

Candidates seeking admission into this programme should possess any of the following qualifications:

At least five Ordinary Level credit passes in WASC, WAEC SSCE/GCE, NECO SSCE or at least five merit level passes in the Teachers Grade Two Certificate Examination (T.C. II) or any of their recognised equivalent at not more than two sittings. The subjects should include English Language, Mathematics, Economics, Government/History and any other Social Science subject.

In addition to the above, candidates who possess any of the following qualifications may be considered for admission:

1. At least two Advanced Level Passes at the General Certificate of Education (GCE) or the Higher School

Certificate (HSC) or any of their recognized equivalent

at not more than two sittings. The subjects should include: Government or History.

1. At least a merit-level pass in the University of Benin

Diploma in Social Work.

1. At least a credit –level pass in the University of Benin

Diploma in any of the following: Public Administration

(DPA), Law (DIL), International Studies and Diplomacy (DIS), Nursing Administration and

Management (DNAM), Health Statistics (DHS), Health Administration and Management (DHAM), Health

Education (DHE), Agricultural Economics (DAE).

Public Health (DPH), Community Development (DCP)

1. Diploma with at least an Upper credit-level pass in any of the following: Social Work, Public Administration,

Law, International Studies, and Diplomacy, Health Administration and Management, Health Statistics,

Nursing Administration and Management, Health Education, Agricultural Economics from any other recognized University.

1. Ordinary National Diploma (OND) with at least an Upper credit-level pass in relevant discipline from a recognized Polytechnic or College of Technology.
2. Higher National Diploma (HND) with at least a Lower credit level pass in relevant discipline from a recognized polytechnic or college of Technology.
3. National Certificate of Education (NCE) with at least a credit –level pass in a Social Science subject from a recognized College of Education. In addition, candidates should have at least an overall merit level pass.