Program Planning and Evaluation (SCWK90056)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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September
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This subject introduces a number of approaches to program planning and evaluation, and highlights both practical aspects of the program design and evaluation process, and more conceptual or theoretical aspects. The subject focuses on macro social work interventions at the program/ organisational level. It includes how to develop new human service programs and/or how to modify existing programs to address identified needs. It further examines how to evaluate programs to assess if a program is meeting the identified needs and achieving intended outcomes. Each week of the subject focuses on a specific stage of the program planning/design process from needs assessment, program design, budgeting, implementation through to evaluation.  As part of the subject assessment students will design a new human service program and also develop an evaluation plan for the program idea they have developed.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge 
On completion of the subject, students should be able to: 

  • Identify and contrast different approaches to program planning/design and program evaluation;
  • Locate program design and evaluation within its broader management, organisational and service system context;
  • Identify and explain the key elements of the program design process including needs assessment, constructing goals and objectives, developing a program theory of change, budgeting and implementation; and
  • Identify and explain the key elements of program evaluation planning including evaluation purpose, type, approach, methods, ethics and resourcing.

Skills 
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:  

  • Develop and articulate a persuasive proposal for a new program design in written and verbal form;
  • Articulate a new or existing program's theory of change and represent it in a program logic model; and
  • Determine and justify the most appropriate evaluation approach and methods for a given evaluation purpose.

Application of Knowledge and Skills 
On completion of the subject, students should be able to: 

  • Demonstrate foundational knowledge and skills to develop a program design plan in a typical human services practice context; and
  • Demonstrate foundational knowledge and skills to develop a program evaluation plan in a typical human services practice context.

Generic skills

Students who complete this subject should be able to:

  • critically analyse texts and practices
  • link theory to practice
  • competently communicate in ways relevant to both academic and practice contexts
  • undertake independent research

Last updated: 4 March 2025