CRICOS Code: 086124K

This program applies to students who commenced in 2020 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year 2015 to 2019 - 1807.1 Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Social Science

The Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Social Science degree is a broadly based, inter-disciplinary four-year double degree offering flexibility and choice within a wide range of offerings in the social sciences, as well as studies of International Relations and Asian Studies and an Asian language. The degree seeks to equip all students with the interdisciplinary and specialist skills and knowledge that a new graduate would need on entering the workforce or on proceeding to advanced study. Students choose a major from the social sciences; a major in International Relations and Asian Studies, and a minor in an Asian language. The double degree provides a wide base for understanding issues in the complex, culturally diverse and ever-changing social and international environment of the 21st century both in Australia and Asia.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their BA majors and minors subject to WSU limits on advanced standing. Students are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a BA program advisor first.

• Director of Academic Program - Dr Dianne Dickenson

Study Mode

Four years full-time or eight years part-time

Program Advice

Program Advice

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

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

Admission

Two units of HSC English OR IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall score with a minimum 6.0 in each subtest.

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.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence.

Students must also complete the International Relations and Asian Studies major, a minor in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese language and a Social Science major.

B Arts Core Subjects

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
Total Credit Points		40

B Social Science Core Subjects

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
CULT 3007	Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice	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
HUMN 1060	Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies	10
Total Credit Points		80

Major - International Relations and Asian Studies (IRAS)

Minors

Note: The following minors have inherent requirements Chinese and Japanese. Please see the link below:

Inherent requirements

Students may complete the Immersion Language minor which covers languages that are not taught at Western Sydney University. Details of this minor are available via the link below:

Social Science majors

Students should seek academic program advice as the Social Science major subjects are all compulsory and only available in particular semesters.

Recommended Sequence

The recommended sequence below applies to students at Level 1 Language. Students should seek program advice in relation to the level 2/3 language sequences. 

Recommended Sequence - Bankstown Campus

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
CULT 1017	Understanding Society	10
BEHV 1021	The Individual in Society	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
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
POLI 1007	World Politics and International Relations	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
CULT 1001	Asia in the World	10
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
Select one Level 1 Language subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
Select one Level 1 Language subject		10
Select one Level 1 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 1 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
POLI 2006	Politics of Australia and Asia Relations	10
Select one Level 2 Language subject		10
Select one Level 2 Language subject		10
Select one Level 1 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 Social Science major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
HUMN 3079	The Asian Century	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 3007	Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	320

Recommended Sequence - Parramatta Campus

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
BEHV 1021	The Individual in Society	10
CULT 1017	Understanding Society	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
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
CULT 1001	Asia in the World	10
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
Select one Level 1 Language subject		10
Select one Level 1 Social Science Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
POLI 1007	World Politics and International Relations	10
Select one Level 1 Language subject		10
Select one Level 1 Social Science Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
POLI 2006	Politics of Australia and Asia Relations	10
Select one Level 2 Language subject		10
Select one Level 2 Language subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
HUMN 3079	The Asian Century	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 4
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 3007	Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice	10
Select one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject		10
Select one Level 2/3 Social Science Major subject Or one Level 2/3 IRAS subject		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	320

Equivalent Core Subjects

The Core subject listed below count towards completion of this program for students this subject in 2022 or earlier.

POLI 1002 Introduction to International Relations, replaced by POLI 1007 World Politics and International Relations

The Core subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these units 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