HOME | Programmes of Study | Post-Graduate

M.A. IN SOCIAL WORK

Introduction

The TISS has been a pioneer in social work education and practice and has over the years responded to the needs of the poor, the marginalised and disadvantaged in society. The social work curriculum has been dynamic and changing with the emerging concerns in the era of globalisation. The M.A. in Social Work programme is designed to equip the students with sound theoretical knowledge about social work, social welfare and development concerns of the poor, and help the students to develop skills and insights into working with people at the individual, group and community levels, and their representatives, and network with other groups and professionals working on similar issues.

The programme consists of classroom work, which includes lectures, discussions, student presentations, seminar discussions with subject matter specialists, observation study of social and related organisations, etc., Concurrent and block field work under supervision provides opportunities to develop practical skills in social work. Thus, at the end of the two years, the M.A. in Social Work graduate is armed with a range of competencies to work in the field of social work, social welfare and social development. The nature of work covers a continuum of interventions from service delivery to organizing people for change to programme development and influencing policy.

Course Outline

Distribution of Credits

Semester-Wise Listing of Courses

Notes:

1. Any 1 concentration for 12 credits.
2. Any 1 concentration for 8 credits.
3. Any 1 concentration for 8 credits.

Eligibility

1. A Bachelor's Degree of a minimum 3 years duration or its equivalent (under the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+2+2+1 year bridge course pattern of study or any other pattern fulfilling the mandatory requirements of 15 years formal education) from a recognised university in any discipline with a Pass Class
   OR
2. Candidates who will complete all the requirements of their final year Bachelor's Degree examinations by June 26, 2008, will also be eligible to apply provided they have obtained a Pass Class in their first and second year college/university examinations taken together, if the degree course is of three years; and the first, second and third year college/university examinations, if the degree course is of four years, for all the subjects examined. In such cases, admission to this master's degree programme will be provisional. If a provisionally admitted student fails in the final year examination, the offer of provisional admission will be automatically cancelled.

Selection Procedure

Those satisfying the eligibility requirements will be assessed for selection (Total Marks: 185) through the following:

1. Academic Background (30 Marks): Marks are awarded to each applicant on the basis of overall percentage of marks secured in the Bachelor's Degree high academic achievement is not the only criterion on which the candidate will be selected.
2. Essay/Written Test (45 Marks): The Essay/Written Test (ET) aims at assessment of knowledge about contemporary issues in the field and sensitivity to social issues, expressed through written analysis in English. The time allotted is 45 minutes. In Social Work, the students will be assessed on the basis of caselets (40 marks) and an English language test (20 marks).
3. Group Discussion (40 Marks): The Group Discussion (GD) aims at assessment of knowledge about contemporary issues in the field and sensitivity to social issues expressed orally in English in a group situation. The time allotted is 25 minutes.
4. Personal Interview (70 Marks): To become eligible for the Personal Interview (PI), a general candidate should secure a minimum combined score of 45 marks (35 marks for SCs and STs) in the ET and GD put together .

Reservations

The TISS is an equal opportunity institution and there is no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age or physical disability. As per the Government of India directives, there is a reservation for the following groups:

• 15% for SC candidates and 7.5% for STs.
• 3% for the persons with disability, of which 1% each for (a) Low Vision/ Blindness (b) Hearing Impairment, and (c) Locomotor Disability/ Cerebral Palsy in all the programmes.
• 15% supernumerary seats for foreign nationals.
• GoI directives will be followed for Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates, as applicable.

Career Opportunities

The course offers graduates a wide range of work opportunities in non-government, inter-governmental and governmental organisations working at micro and macro levels simultaneously local, national and international levels. They have been given exposure to work with all sectors of populations such as children, youth, women, elderly, dalits, and people with disabilities. The course equips graduates to work in a wide range of capacities as social workers, counsellors, field officers, project officers, programme coordinators, in the fields of health, education, development, criminal and juvenile justice, gender issues, family services such as family courts, family counselling centres, adoption centres, broad based child welfare services, community organisation and development practice, NGO-corporate initiatives, industry, funding agencies, research-based organisations, advocacy and human rights organisations and organisations working in specialised areas of disability, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, disasters, etc., Employment opportunities are also available as instructors and lecturers in training centres for social work and community development personnel, funding agencies and as development consultants.

Contact Details

Postal Address: Post Box 8313, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088.

Please address all your letters to the Deputy Registrar, Academic Section, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Telephone: 91-22-2556 3289-96, Extn. 258, 259 and 261.

The telephone board functions from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Fax: 91-22-2556 2912

E-mail: pgadmissions@tiss.edu ; acadsec@tiss.edu