The Department of Social Work (also known as the Delhi School of Social Work or DSSW) was established in 1946. It was then known as the National YWCA School of Social Work. In April 1961, the school was taken over by the University of Delhi (DU).

As a professional institution, the department aims to: lImpart education and training in professional social work in order to develop qualified personnel.

Develop knowledge, skills, attitude and values appropriate to the profession.

Promote the integration of theory and practice in the fields of social welfare and social policy.

Provide interdisciplinary collaboration for better understanding of human problems, services and issues of social development.

Eligibility

Applicants must possess a bachelors degree in either arts, humanities or social sciences with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent or in science, education, law or commerce (honours) with an aggregate of 55 per cent or a BSc (general) or BCom (pass) with 60 per cent or more marks.

Entrance exam

Applicants have to appear for a written test at the Faculty of Arts Building, DU (North Campus). Shortlisted candidates are called for a group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI). Selection is on the basis of performance in the written test (60 per cent weightage), the GD (15 per cent weightage) and the PI (25 per cent weightage).

Pattern of exam

All candidates (except foreign students and deputed candidates) have to appear for a written test and secure a minimum of 40 per cent to qualify for GD and PI. The test paper is designed to assess an applicant’s aptitude in social work. The questions mostly come from the following areas:

Social awareness, written communication skills and language comprehension;

Comprehension of macro issues and contemporary social and economic realities.

How to prepare

Revise from grammar books by Thomas and Martinet, Nesfield or Wren and Martin. Do exercises of usage and comprehension from GRE and GMAT guides by Barron. To prepare for the social awareness section, read editorials and articles on social issues in newspapers and magazines. Practise writing on topics like “In India there is a huge amount of human as well as natural resources but the country is still underdeveloped; suggest measures to solve the problem” or “The dilemma of child labour: Legislation cannot bring about change unless there is social awareness.”

sample test paper

Social awareness

Write in 150 words on any one of the following topics.

1) Reservation for women in legislatures.

2) Is the Gandhian pattern of development relevant to the modern Indian society?

3) Is capital punishment unconstitutional or just?

4) What is the root problem of the country — population, corruption or any other?

5) Are we addressing the needs of our schools?

English

There is a phrase missing in the following sentence. From the answers given, choose the one you consider most appropriate. If more teams withdraw, the tournament ..……………….

a) may have to be cancelled

b) will have been cancelled

c) will have cancelled

d) would cancel

Choose the best word or phrase from the options given to replace the underlined word. The inexorable demands of the workers brought the company to a closure.

a) unreasonable

b) monetary

c) violent

d) relentless