The Bachelor of Social Sciences in Social Work with Honours at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) prepares students for professional careers focused on enhancing social well-being, promoting social justice, and empowering individuals and communities. Offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, this program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical values necessary to effectively address a wide range of social issues and challenges. Its objectives include equipping students with a strong theoretical foundation and practical skills for competent social work practice, developing critical thinking abilities to analyze social problems and formulate interventions, fostering ethical decision-making and client-centered practices, and promoting community engagement for social change and advocacy.

The programme shall produce graduates who are:

• Competent and knowledgeable in the social work practice locally, nationally and internationally,
• Able to comprehend and perform tasks comprehensively related to social issues, policies and services by applying numerical, digital and graphical skills and analysis throughout the intervention process,
• Proficient in communicating effectively by applying social work values and ethics with clients and other communities in the field of social work either as a team player or as a leader, to address community needs, and
• Capable to demonstrate entrepreneurship skills and recognise the need of life-long learning for successful career advancement.

Upon graduating from this program, the students are able to:

• Integrate advance and comprehensive knowledge, values and skills in social work practice.
• Internalise core social work ethics and act professionally with special emphasis on social justice, equality and human rights.
• Assess unpredictable issues critically and analytically in a creative and innovative way.
• Perform a range of interventions including assessing, planning, monitoring, implementing, evaluating and supervising in social work practice.
• Work in partnership in various client groups, communities, between and within agencies locally and internationally to create positive social change.
• Demonstrate using appropriate techniques and various presentations, confidently and accurately in a well-structured manner to diverse audiences.
• Utilise a broad range of information and technology applications to enhance social work intervention.
• Develop knowledge and apply numerical and graphical / visual data for current and future career advancement.
• Demonstrate leadership traits and qualities in the process of decision making within broader parameters.
• Engage in critical reflection of various topic areas to ongoing development of professional competency, and
• Undertake entrepreneur skills in selected fields at local, national and international level.

Graduates of this program are well-prepared for diverse career opportunities in social services, including:

• Social Service Agencies: Roles in child welfare, family services, aging services, and mental health organizations.
• Community Development: Positions in community centers, non-profit organizations, and grassroots initiatives.
• Healthcare Settings: Opportunities in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and hospice care facilities.
• Government and Policy Development: Careers in social policy analysis, advocacy, and program management.