The MSW (ODL) programme offers opportunity to learners for higher studies in professional social work. Besides offering the core courses pertaining to social work curriculum across the globe and India, it includes themes in some of the pertinent areas of social work such as globalization, migration, history of social work in India, theory paper on social work practicum and a course on HIV/AIDS which are expected to be highly useful in the present day context. The practical components have been meticulously prepared to provide the learners hands on training, which will enable the candidates to find suitable placements within and outside the country.

For those seeking admission with effect from January 2019 session, it may be noted that they will be offered the revised version of MSW Programme. The highlights of the revised version include Block Placement and Internship in practical component and emphasis on Social Work in African Context, Criminal Justice, Contemporary Methods and Values of Social Work and International Social Work. Accordingly, a student is expected to successfully complete 72 credits which include compulsory courses, elective courses as well as fieldwork. The details of which are given below.

The Programme offered by the School of Social Work, IGNOU, is unique and innovative in many respects. The salient features of this programme are:

• Indigenously-prepared self-instructional print materials are provided to students.
• Print materials are supported with audio ad video programmes.
• Multi-media programme package is made available.
• Every student of MSW is placed under the supervision of a professionally- qualified social worker for fieldwork supervision.
• There is a course on history of social work in India titled ‘Professional Social Work: Indian perspectives’.
• For the first time a theory paper on ‘Social Work Practicum’ has been introduced as a compulsory paper.

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is a one-way video and two-way audio facility. Teleconferencing will be held every month. During teleconferencing session, you will get an opportunity to interact by phone in facility or fax with the resource persons/experts who participate in teleconferencing session and clear your doubts immediately.

The teleconferencing facility will be available at the Regional Centre and Selected Study Centres. The teleconferencing schedule will be sent to the Programme In-charge and Regional Director who would inform the students. Teleconferencing is done through Gyan Darshan Channel. Students must regularly attend these sessions. These will help them clarify doubts and interact with other learners all over the country.

Radio Counselling

Radio counselling will be held through FM and students can ask questions free of cost with phone in facilities right from their homes. A toll free telephone number 110012345 has been provided for this purpose.

Telecast

The programme will also be telecast through DD Metro channel and schedule will be informed to students in advance.

Audio-video Programme

Audio and video programmes for each course have been prepared to support learning for the students. These Audio-video programmes in the form of cassettes are available at all Programme Study Centres. These Audio and video cassettes will be provided for viewing and listening. They can also hire the cassettes for viewing and listening.

Attendance

Students will be required to complete seventy-five percent attendance in theory counselling to become eligible for appearing in Term-end Examination. Similarly, they will be required to complete ninety percent attendance in practical contact sessions to become eligible for appearing in practical examination.

Continuous Evaluation of Theory Component

Assignments

Assignment is a means of continuing assessment of theory and practical. Assignments will help you to recapitulate the theory and go back to the text again in case students are unable to answer a particular question. Thus assignments also help to reinforce learning in distance learning system of education. These assignments consist of a set of questions and activities that you will answer at your own place by referring your blocks.

The assignments will cover all types of questions (long answer type, short answer type, objective type, multiple choice questions and case studies). The assignments will carry thirty percent weightage. Students will be required to obtain fifty percent marks as pass percentage in each assignment separately. Each assignment will carry 100 marks. In the final result assignments will carry thirty percent weightage.

Term-end Examination

As stated earlier, term-end examination is the major component of the evaluation system and if carries seventy percent weightage in the Final result. The University conducts term-end examination twice a year i.e., in June and December. They can take the examination only after completion of the course, failing which students can take the same in December or June of subsequent years years within the total span of the programme.

In case any student fail to get a pass score in the Tern-end Examination, the person will be eligible to reappear at the next Term-end Examination for that course as and when if is held, within the total span of the Programme.