奥塔哥大学的社会工作计划为专业社会工作者的不同职业阶段提供了两个主要的资格证书：社会工作学士学位（BSW）是为希望获得社会工作的第一资格的学生而设计的，使他们有资格申请在新西兰注册为社会工作者。社会工作硕士（MSW）学位是为已经注册但希望在更专注的专业实践领域进行进一步职业发展的职业中期社会工作者设计的。
Human troubles are endemic in today's societies. Many people in our world struggle with social and personal problems caused by complex, interacting systems and forces. A social work education prepares you to respond to these problems thoughtfully, creatively and practically. You will be asked to look beyond the individual to the systems impacting upon them.<br>If you are concerned with issues of justice and desire pragmatic, hands-on responses to help individuals and communities, then social work is for you. A social work education will prepare you for learning and engagement in diverse fields beyond the world of academia.<br>People who are interested in helping others and their community will be drawn to studying social work. The purpose of social work is to enable people to develop their potential, promote their human rights and pursue social justice. Professional social work focuses on problem- solving and change. Social workers are change agents in the lives of individuals, families and communities, as people's problems are often related to factors in all these domains.<br>Job opportunities arise in both policy and practice in a range of human services in education, health, welfare and justice sectors. These include government social service agencies, voluntary, and community agencies. Graduates work as health workers, social workers, teachers, probation officers, counsellors, advocates, community workers, policy advisers and analysts, and researchers.