UGC NET Social Work Syllabus -2023

UGC NET Social work syllabus has been updated.  There are 10 units and each unit covers a diverse topic and other aligning subjects of social work. Following are the highlights of the updated  UGC net social work syllabus 

Main Content 

Unit I-Nature and Development of Social Work. 

Unit II- Society, Human Behavior, and Communities.

Unit III- Social Work with Individuals and Groups. 

Unit IV-Social Work with Communities and Social Action. 

Unit V-Research in Social Work: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. 

Unit VI-Administration, Welfare, and Development Services. 

Unit VII -Social Policy, Planning, and Social Development.

Unit VIII-Indian Constitution, Social Justice, Human Rights, and Social Work Practice.

Unit IX- Areas of Social Work Practice I.

Unit X-Areas of Social Work Practice II.


UNIT-1-Nature and Development of Social Work

Social Work: Definition, Scope, Principles, Nature, Goals, and Process  Historical Development: Development of Professional Social Work across the world (U.K., U.S.A., and India) 

  • Social Reform and Professional Social Work: Contribution of Social Reformers in 19th and 20th Century in the Development of Professional Social Work in India. 
  • Social Work as a Profession in India: Values, Competencies, and Code of Ethics for Social Work Practitioners. 
  • Theories: Theories for Social Work Practice. Changing Context of Social Work Practice: Emerging Perspectives, Trends and Challenges of Social Work for Practice.
  • Social Work Practice in various settings:(Family, Child and Youth welfare, Industry, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Environment, Women and Welfare, Healthcare, and Disaster Management.)
UNIT-II-Society, Human Behavior, and Communities

  • Sociological Concepts: Social Structure, Social Institutions, and Social Groups, Socialization, Social Control, and Social Change.
  • Approaches to the study of Society: Functionalist, Conflict/Dialectical, Structuralism and Post Modernism. 
  • Social System and Stratification: Major Social Systems (Family and Religion), Social Stratification: Marxist, Functionalist and Weberian approach.
  • Human Behavior: Normal and Abnormal Behaviour Determinants and Life span perspective of Human Development, Development Tasks and Hazards during Pre Natal Period, Infancy, Babyhood, Childhood, Puberty, Adolescence, and Adulthood.
  • Theories of Personality: Psycho-Analytic Theory of Personality, Behavioral theories and Humanistic theories. 
  • Social Psychology: Social Perception, Attitude formation, Change and Measurement, Communication, and Theories of Collective Behavior
  • Type of Communities: Rural, Urban, Tribal and Virtual Communities, and various Vulnerable Groups/ sections viz. Women, Child, Aged, Dalits etc; Caste and Class – Their Characteristics.
UNIT-III-Social Work with Individuals and Groups

  • Basic Social Case Work Concepts: Social Roles, Social Functioning, Need Assessment, Adaptation, Social environment, Person-environment Fit, Principles, and Components.
  • Approaches to Social Case Work Practice: Diagnostic and Functional Approach, Problem Solving, Task Centered, and Radical Approach.
  •  Process and Techniques of Social Case Work: Phases of Case Work Intervention, Techniques of Case Work Intervention, Principles of Interviewing and Case Work Recording.
  • Social Group Work: Definition, Characteristics, Functions, and Group Structure, Classification of Groups and making of Social Groups, Issues of Identity, Diversity, and Marginalization.
  • Social Group Work Process and Group Dynamics: Principles, Determinants, Indicators and Outcomes, Decision making and Problem Solving Process, Theories of Leadership, Roles, and Responsibilities of Group Leaders.
  • Group Development: Stages of Group Work, Techniques and Skills in Group Work, Group Climate, Communication in Groups, Use of Programme Media and Group Work Recording, Monitoring and Evaluation.
  • Practice Sites of Social Case Work and Social Group Work: Client Groups and various settings (Children, Correctional, Health, Women, Persons with Disabilities, Older Persons, Oppressed Groups, Religious Minorities, Persons who are Gay & Lesbian and other Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups)  
 UNIT-IV-Social Work with Communities and Social Action

  • Community Organization – Concept, Definition, Scope, and Historical Perspective in India, UK, and the USA, The Role of Community-Based Organizations, Human Capital & Social Capital.
  • Process of Community Organization: Steps in Community Organization, Methods, Principles, Skills, Assumptions, Record Maintenance, Involving NGOs in Community Organization.
  • Approaches in Community Organization Practice – Models, Strategies, The role of community-based Organizations, Leadership Development and Leaders, Building Partnerships, and coalitions.
  • Social Action and Social Movements: Concept, History, Social Action as a Method of Social Work.
  • Models of Social Action: Conscientisation model of Paulo Freire, Role of ideology, Saul Alinsky as a radical community organizer, Liberation Theology.
  • Social Movements: Origin, Nature, Types of Movements, Theories of Movement and new Social Movements
  • Social Movements, Social Action and Social Change: Movement Analysis: Ideology, Structure, Leadership, Process, and Outcomes, Analysis of ideology and approach of (Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Frantz Fanon)
UNIT-V-Research in Social Work: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches.

Section A: Quantitative Research 
  • Basics of Social Science Research: Meaning of Research, Social Science and Social Work Research: Meaning, Nature, and Scope.
  • Steps in Social Science Research: Identifications and Formulations of Research Problem, Literature Review, Objectives, and Hypothesis Formulation, Research Design, Sample Design, Sources, Methods and Tools of Data Collection, Processing, and Analysis of Data and Writing Research Reports including Presentations and Styles of References, Citing and Paraphrasing. 
  • Basic Statistical concepts: Process of statistical Enquiry and dealing with Descriptive and Inferential Statistical Methods, Parametric and Nonparametric Tests
Section B: Qualitative Research 

  • Qualitative Research: Meaning, Basic tenets of Qualitative Research, Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Approach to Research in social Work.
  • Designing Qualitative Research: Steps, Methods of Qualitative Research (Field study, Case Study, Focus Group Discussions, Narratives, Observation and Theoretic Research)
  • Managing Qualitative Data: Procedures and Techniques of Analyzing Qualitative Data and Report Writing. 
Section C :
  • Mixed-Method Research: Components of Mixed Methods, Procedures of Combing Quantitative and Qualitative research  
UNIT-VI-Administration, Welfare, and Development Services

  • Social Welfare Administration: Meaning, History, Principles, Nature, and Type of Organizations.
  • Types of Administration: Distinction between Social Welfare Administration, Public Administration and Social Security administrations. 
  • Registration of Welfare Agencies: Laws relating to Societies, Trust and Non – Profit organizations, Challenges.
  • Structure of Social Welfare Administration: Service Providers, Administrative structures (Government and Non - Government), Organization and Management of Institutional Welfare Services.
  • Components of Administration: Planning, Coordination, Staff Recruitment, Training and Development, Recording and Documentation, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Networking, and Maintaining Pubic Relations.
  • Strategies and Mechanisms of administration: Role of Social Workers in Decision Making Process, Communication, Role Description and Functioning, Sustainability of Programmes.
  • Fundraising and Resource Mobilization: Grant-in-aid (Principles and Procedures), Resource Mobilization, Financial Administration and Social Marketing – Process and Models.
UNIT-VII-Social Policy, Planning and Social Development

  • Social Policy: Concept, Goals, Scope, Context, and Models of Social Policy and applicability in the Indian context.
  • Historical Development: Evolution and Historical perspective of various Policies, Implementation of Social Policies especially for Marginalized and Vulnerable sections of society.
  • Process of Policy Formulation: Determinants and Steps, Approaches to Social Policy formulation, Impact of changing Political Scenario in a country.
  • Social Planning; Concept, Objectives, Scope, Models, Interrelationship between Social and Economic Planning, Social Planning in India.
  • Five Year Plans: Changes in Social Planning with Five Years Plans in India, Social Planning, and Social Change, Factors leading to the development of planning in India. Roles and functions of Niti Aayog.
  • Social Development: Positive and Negative Dimensions of Social Development; Concept, Models, and Theories, Historical and Social Context of Development in India, 
  • Sustainable Development: Concept, Strategies, Critical issues, Salient Features of Social Development. Approaches to Social Development; Similarities and Differences.Strategic Development Goals, Human Development Index and Indicators for Policies and Programmes.
UNIT-VIII-
Indian Constitution, Social Justice, Human Rights, and Social Work Practice

  • Indian Constitution: Characteristics, Features, Preamble, Directive Principles of State Policy and Articles.
  • Social Justice: Concept, Definition, Historical Development, Dimensions, Manifestations and Social Justice as a Core Value of Social Work Profession. 
  • Social Justice and Leadership: Community Building, Personal and Community Empowerment, Social Justice and Technology, Promoting a Plan and Vision for Change, Reflections and Connection, Social Reconstructions, Paradigms, Policies, Privileges, and Implications of Social Justice for Policy Formulation.
  • An instrument of Social Justice: Constitutional Base and Indian Legal The system, Legal and Public Advocacy, Role of Civil Society as a Pressure group, Statutory bodies.
  • History of Human Rights: Concept and Historical Context of Human Rights, Human Rights Declarations, Treaties, and Conventions, Human Rights and Protection Systems, Human Rights in the Indian Context.
  • Human Rights and Social Work: Code of Ethics of Social work and Protection of Human Rights, Human Rights perspective in Social Work Practice, Ethnic sensitive practice, Feminist Practice, Social Work with Diverse Groups.
  • Violation of Human Rights and Social work practice: Social Work with the Victims of Human Rights Violations and Human Rights Activism. Role of UNHCR, National Human Rights Commission and International Human Rights Agencies. 
UNIT-IX-Areas of Social Work Practice- I

  • Health Care Social Work Practice, Social Work with Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities, Gender, Labour Welfare, Industrial Relations, Personnel Management and Human Resource Management)
  • Medical Social Work and Psychiatric Social Work: Concept, Evolution, Roles, Functions / Responsibilities of Medical Social Workers and Psychiatric Social Workers.
  • Mental Health and Disease: Normal and abnormal behavior, Epidemiology, Etiology, Types, Clinical Manifestation and Management of Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Neurotic Disorders, stress-related Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems, Legislations related to Mental Health.
  • Theories of Aging and Vulnerability: Psychological and Sociological Theories of Aging, Psychological, Social, Physical needs, and problems of Older Persons. Rights of Older Persons against Neglect, Abuse, Violence and Abandonment and Social Work Interventions.
  • Persons with Disabilities: Models of Disability, Disability Movement – Historical Perspective, National and International Milestones from Welfare to Right based Approach, Legislative Measures and Social Work Interventions.
  • Gender and Development: Expressions of Gender Disparity in Education, Health, Property, Employment, and Livelihood, Decision Making, Feminization of Poverty and Manifestations of Gender-based Violence. Constitutional & Legislative Safeguards and Social work Interventions.
  • Labour Welfare & Human Resource Management (HRM): Historical background of Industrial Development as a sub-system of society, Concept of Labour Welfare, Nature, Objectives, Principles, Theories, Principles of labor welfare, Labour Legislation, Human Resource Management: Concept, Scope, Evolution, Theories, Models, Sub-systems, Human Resources Development (HRD) - Performance Management System, Types, Six Sigma, ISO, Total Quality Management, Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) - Concept, Issues, Practices, Models, Components, Approaches, and Corporate Governance.
  • Personnel Management and Industrial Relations: Concept, Definition, Objectives, Scope., Functions, Determinants and Reflectors of Industrial Relations, Models of Industrial Relations, Globalization and Industry, International Labour Organization(ILO) Role, Functions; Collective Bargaining, Job Analysis, Manpower Planning, Organization Behaviour, and Organization Development Interventions.
UNIT-X-Areas of Social Work Practice II

  • Social Defence and Correctional Services, Social Work with Families and Children, Environment and Social Work, Social Work, and Disaster Management
  • Social Defence: Concept, Philosophy, and Changing Dimensions, Children in Need of Care and Protection, Juveniles in Conflict with law, Street and Working Children and Young Offenders, Probation, and Parole. Emerging issues in Social Defense.
  • Legislations and Criminal Justice System: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, Immoral Traffic prevention Act 1986, Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, Beggary Prevention Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act 1986, the Prison Act, and the Criminal Justice System.
  • Social Work with Families: Functions, Developmental Stages and Family patterns, Family Dynamics and Theoretical Models of Family Functioning (Circumflex model, Mc Master Model and Structural Model) and Social Work Interventions.
  • Child Development: Concept, Philosophy, and Historical context, State of Children in India - Demographic Profile, Education, and Protection.
  • Policies & Programmes for Children: Constitutional Provisions, National Policy on Children, International perspective and UN convention rights of children, Programs and Legislative Measures related to Female Feticide, Adoption, Foster Care, Guardianship and Child Marriage and Social Work Interventions. 
  • Environment and Social Work: Causes and Consequences, Differential impact on Women, Poor, Marginalised Groups and Indigenous Populations. The environment in the Human Rights Perspective. Environmental Movements and social work interventions in the management, protection, and promotion of the environment.
  • Social Work and Disaster Management: Disaster-related concept and Definitions: Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster, different forms of natural & manmade disasters. Impact of Disaster and Disaster Management Initiatives, Pre and Post Disaster Interventions

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