CRICOS Code: 088714E

This program applies to students who commenced in 2016 or later.

The Bachelor of Humanitarian and Development Studies covers all aspects of disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and development to equip students with the required skills, knowledge, and practical experience (i.e. humanitarian crisis simulation + international placement) that make them ready to work with national and international government and non-government organisations implementing short- and long-term life-saving programs. The degree provides a theory-driven and as well as a comprehensive field experience package that enhance students’ learning, research skills, real world experience, and career readiness. The international placement opportunity requires students to obtain a medical clearance, and a Working with Children check for certain organisations.

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

Dr Melissa Phillips

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Part Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

 

Special Requirements

Students will need to complete a Working with Children Check and obtain medical clearance to enrol in subject HUMN 3101 Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence.

All students must enrol in and complete

• the 70 credit points of Bachelor of Social Science Core Subjects,
• a 100 credit point major and
• 70 credit points of electives.

The recommendation is that electives are chosen from the Recommended Electives list.

Bachelor of Social Science Core Subjects

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
HUMN 1041	People, Place and Social Difference	10
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
BEHV 1021	The Individual in Society	10
CULT 1017	Understanding Society	10
CULT 1020	Working with Communities	10
Total Credit Points		70

Majors

Note: Students can complete both majors.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
BEHV 1021	The Individual in Society	10
CULT 1017	Understanding Society	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select one recommended elective from the list below		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
HUMN 1041	People, Place and Social Difference	10
HUMN 1060	Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies	10
Select one of the following:		20
Students in Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Major complete one major subject and one recommended elective from the list below
Students in Human Rights, Protection & Development major complete two major subjects
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select two recommended electives from the list below		20
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
Select one of the following:		30
Students in Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Major complete two major subjects and one recommended elective from the list below
Students in Human Rights, Protection & Development major complete one major subject and two recommended electives from the list below
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select two recommended electives from the list below		20
	Credit Points	40
2H session
HUMN 3100	Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement	10
HUMN 3101	Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement	20
	Credit Points	30
Summer A session
HUMN 3102	Social Sciences International Placement (III): Post-placement Reflections	10
	Credit Points	10
	Total Credit Points	240

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Spring session		Credit Points
HUMN 1041	People, Place and Social Difference	10
HUMN 1060	Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies	10
Select one of the following:		20
Students in Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Major complete one major subject and one recommended elective from the list below
Students in Human Rights, Protection & Development major complete two major subjects
	Credit Points	40
Autumn session
BEHV 1021	The Individual in Society	10
CULT 1017	Understanding Society	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select one recommended elective from the list below		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Spring session
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
Select one of the following:		30
Students in Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Major complete two major subjects and one recommended elective from the list below
Students in Human Rights, Protection & Development major complete one major subject and two recommended electives from the list below
	Credit Points	40
Autumn session
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select two recommended electives from the list below		20
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
2H session
HUMN 3100	Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement	10
HUMN 3101	Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement	20
	Credit Points	30
Summer A session
HUMN 3102	Social Sciences International Placement (III): Post-placement Reflections	10
	Credit Points	10
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one subject from the chosen major		10
Select two recommended electives from the list below		20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	240

Recommended Elective Subjects

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
ACCT 1001	Accounting Information for Managers	10
AGRI 2006	Agriculture, Food and Health	10
HUMN 3009	Alternatives to Violence	10
HUMN 1008	Cities: Introduction to Urban Studies	10
HUMN 2014	Civil Society in Contemporary China	10
HUMN 3023	Climate Change and Culture	10
HUMN 2015	Community and Social Action	10
WELF 2002	Community Work & Development	10
WELF 1002	Context of Human Services	10
PUBH 2005	Culture, Diversity and Health	10
TEAC 2018	Education for Sustainability	10
ENVL 3003	Environmental Risk Management	10
HLTH 3007	Global Nutrition, Food and Community	10
HUMN 3043	Globalisation and Sustainability	10
HUMN 3049	Home and Away: Ethnicity and Migration in Australia	10
WELF 2008	Human Rights, Human Services and the Law	10
WELF 1003	Human Services Intervention Strategies	10
LAWS 3029	Immigration and Refugee Law	10
CULT 3016	Indigenous Cultures: A Global Perspective	10
LAWS 3034	International Criminal Law	10
WELF 3007	Leadership, Alliances, Sustainability (Block Mode)	10
BUSM 1044	Leadership in Complexity	10
WELF 2011	Management and Community Organisations (Block Mode)	10
BUSM 1023	Managing People at Work	10
HUMN 2037	Peace-Making and Peace-Building	10
HUMN 1041	People, Place and Social Difference	10
ENVL 3005	Planning the City: Development, Community and Systems	10
BIOS 1030	Resource Sustainability	10
HUMN 2048	Revaluing Indigenous Economics (Day Mode)	10
HUMN 3077	Sustainable Futures	10
HUMN 2053	The Economics of Cities and Regions	10
CULT 1022	Working with Cultural Differences	10

Equivalent Core Subjects

The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2018 or earlier.

HUMN 3073 - Social Sciences International Placement, replaced by HUMN 3100 Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these subjects in 2020 or earlier.

CULT 1020 - Working with Communities, replaced by HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

HUMN 2049 - Social Research Methods, replaced by HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

Equivalent Elective Subjects

The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.

BUSM 1016 - Leadership in a Complex World, replaced by BUSM 1044 Leadership in Complexity

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)