Bachelor of Social Science (1667)

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

  • Approved Abbreviation: BSocSc
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1667
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 041159D

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

This program applies to students who commenced in 2015 or later. 

Commencement Year 2014 - 1667.3 Bachelor of Social Science

Commencement Year 2013 - 1667.2 Bachelor of Social Science

Commencement Year 2010 to 2012 - 1667.1 Bachelor of Social Science

The Bachelor of Social Science degree is a broadly based, inter-disciplinary program that provides flexibility and choice within a range of social sciences subject offerings. The degree seeks to equip 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. The degree aims to expand understanding of the social world in three ways: through social theory, social research and the applications of these ideas and knowledge to practice through social engagement. It provides a wide base for understanding issues in the complex, culturally diverse and ever-changing social environment of the 21st century.

Western Sydney University Online students: Please refer to Western Sydney University Online website for Program Advice.

https://online.westernsydney.edu.au/

Study Mode

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

Program Advice

Dr Irena Veljanova

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

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Liverpool Campus Full Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Liverpool Campus Part Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Penrith Campus Full Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Penrith Campus Part Time Internal Irena Veljanova
Sydney City Campus Full Time Internal Andrey Zheluk
WSU Online Full Time Online See above
WSU Online Part Time Online See above

Admission

Alternate Entry Pathway

Students attending the HSC Geography Enrichment Day, who sit and pass the invigilated test may receive a conditional offer, full offer subject to achieving minimum Western Sydney University ATAR standard.

Western Sydney University Online students: Prospective online students apply for admission to this program directly through WSU Online. A student’s eligibility will be assessed according to the existing admission criteria.

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 Prerequisites

Students who opt to enrol in SSIP as alternate core/electives, would be required to complete a Working with Children Check and medical clearance for HUMN 3101 Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement subject.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.

Recommended Sequences

Recommended Sequence - Sydney City Campus

Click here for the recommended sequence at Sydney City Campus.

Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith Campuses

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
Select two core major subjects 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
Select two core Major subjects 20
Select one elective or Social Sciences International Placement subjects 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Social Sciences International Placement subjects

Those students who undertake the Social Sciences International Placement subjects in Year 3 would be exempted from completing CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice and three electives. The program structure would be varied as follows, but students are also encouraged to seek advice from their ACA early on about this option.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 3
Autumn sessionCredit Points
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select three Major or elective subjects (a combination of electives and major subjects if electives remaining) 30
 Credit Points40
2H session
HUMN 3100 Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement 10
HUMN 3101 Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement 20
 Credit Points30
Summer A session
HUMN 3102 Social Sciences International Placement (III): Post-placement Reflections 10
 Credit Points10
 Total Credit Points80

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
Select two core major subjects 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
Select two core major subjects 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select one core major subject 10
Select two electives or Social Sciences International Placement subjects 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Social Sciences International Placement subjects

Those students who undertake the Social Sciences International Placement subjects in Year 3 would be exempted from completing CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice and three electives. The program structure would be varied as follows, but students are also encouraged to seek advice from their ACA early on about this option.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 3
2H sessionCredit Points
HUMN 3100 Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement 10
HUMN 3101 Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement 20
 Credit Points30
Summer A session
HUMN 3102 Social Sciences International Placement (III): Post-placement Reflections 10
 Credit Points10
Autumn session
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select three Major or elective subjects (a combination of electives and major subjects if electives remaining) 30
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points80

Summer intake

Note: A maximum of two subjects may be studied in Summer session.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Summer sessionCredit Points
Select either the two first year core subjects below, or, the two first year subjects from the majors listed below: 20
CULT 1017
 Understanding Society  
BEHV 1021
 The Individual in Society  
 Credit Points20
Autumn session
Select four Major subjects or four electives 40
 Credit Points40
Spring session
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
Select two major subjects or two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Summer session
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences (Core Subject) 10
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
 Credit Points20
Autumn session
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select three major subjects, or three electives 30
 Credit Points40
Spring session
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
Select three major subjects or three electives 30
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Students have two options to complete the remaining 40 credit points: 40
Summer session  
Part-time study over the following two Summer sessions  
Two major subjects or two electives  
Or  
Autumn session  
Full-time study to complete four subjects. Two major subjects and two electives or Social Sciences International Placement subjects  
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Social Sciences International Placement subjects

Those students who undertake the Social Sciences International Placement subjects in Summer would be exempted from completing CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice and three electives. The program structure would require significant variation and students are therefore encouraged to seek advice from their ACA early on about this option.

Western Sydney University Online

Please note that the Social Sciences International Placement option is not available to online students.

Online students must select one of the following majors

Child and Community, Major (0045)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Major (0006)

WSU Online with a Major in Child and Community

Full-time intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 2
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
WELF 1002 Context of Human Services 10
CULT 1022 Working with Cultural Differences 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 3
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
WELF 2002 Community Work & Development 10
HUMN 2015 Community and Social Action 10
 Credit Points30
Year 2
Trimester 4
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
HUMN 2025 Families and Intimate Life 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 5
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
WELF 3006 Family Violence: Policy and Practice 10
WELF 2001 Community Management and Organisations 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 6
WELF 3001 Child Abuse as a Social Issue 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points30
Year 3
Trimester 7
Select three electives 30
 Credit Points30
Trimester 8
Select three electives 30
 Credit Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Part-time intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 2
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 3
WELF 1002 Context of Human Services 10
CULT 1022 Working with Cultural Differences 10
 Credit Points20
Year 2
Trimester 4
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
WELF 2002 Community Work & Development 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 5
HUMN 2015 Community and Social Action 10
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 6
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
HUMN 2025 Families and Intimate Life 10
 Credit Points20
Year 3
Trimester 7
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
WELF 3006 Family Violence: Policy and Practice 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 8
WELF 2001 Community Management and Organisations 10
WELF 3001 Child Abuse as a Social Issue 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 9
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Year 4
Trimester 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Trimester 11
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Trimester 12
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
 Total Credit Points240

WSU Online with a Major in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Full-time intake 

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 2
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
CULT 1005 Crime, Deviance and Society 10
CULT 1024 Introduction to Criminal Justice 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 3
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
CULT 2018 Crime Prevention and Drugs 10
CULT 2017 Youth Justice and Practice 10
 Credit Points30
Year 2
Trimester 4
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
CULT 2011 Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 5
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
CULT 3018 Perspectives in Criminology 10
CULT 3013 Gender, Crime and Violence 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 6
CULT 3024 Crime, Media, Culture 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points30
Year 3
Trimester 7
Select three electives 30
 Credit Points30
Trimester 8
Select three electives 30
 Credit Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Part-time intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 2
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 3
CULT 1005 Crime, Deviance and Society 10
CULT 1024 Introduction to Criminal Justice 10
 Credit Points20
Year 2
Trimester 4
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
CULT 2017 Youth Justice and Practice 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 5
CULT 2018 Crime Prevention and Drugs 10
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 6
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
CULT 2011 Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice 10
 Credit Points20
Year 3
Trimester 7
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
CULT 3018 Perspectives in Criminology 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 8
CULT 3013 Gender, Crime and Violence 10
CULT 3024 Crime, Media, Culture 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 9
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Year 4
Trimester 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Trimester 11
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Trimester 12
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
 Total Credit Points240

Equivalent Alternate Subject

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, 40 credit point subject has been replaced by 3 subjects HUMN 3100 Social Sciences International Placement (1): Preparation for Placement (10 credit points), HUMN 3101 Social Sciences International Placement (II): Placement (20 credit points) and HUMN 3102 Social Sciences International Placement (III): Post-placement Reflections (10 credit points)

Equivalent Core Subjects 

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program 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 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

Equivalent Major Subjects 

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Major subjects listed below count towards completion of this major for students who passed these subjects in 2020 or earlier.

CULT 3008 Crime, Prevention and Community, replaced by CULT 2018 Crime Prevention and Drugs
CULT 3010 Culture & Crime, replaced by CULT 3024 Crime, Media, Culture
CULT 1007 Introduction to Crime and Criminal Justice, replaced by CULT 1024 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CULT 2009 Juvenile, Crime & Justice, replaced by CULT 2017 Youth Justice and Practice
CULT 2011 Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice, replaced by CULT 3025 Prisons, Punishment and Criminal Justice

Majors

Note: Students enrolling into this program with the Diploma of Social Science from Western Sydney University, The College should use up to two of their elective subjects towards obtaining their chosen major.

Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campus students must select one of the following majors

Anthropology, Major (0002)
Child and Community, Major (0045)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Major (0006)
Disability Studies, Major (0252)
Geography and Urban Studies, Major (0010)
Heritage and Tourism, Major (0012)
Peace and Development Studies, Major
Sociology, Major

Sydney City campus students must select the following major

Criminology and Criminal Justice, Major (0006)

Western Sydney University Online students must select one of the following two majors

Child and Community, Major (0045)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Major (0006)

Elective Minors which may be available

Anthropology, Minor (0002)
Child and Community, Minor (0045)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Minor (0006)
Disability Studies, Minor (0252)
Geography and Urban Studies, Minor (0010)
Heritage and Tourism, Minor (0012)
Indigenous Studies, Minor (0263)
Peace and Development Studies, Minor
Social Research, Minor
Sociology, Minor

Major and Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved major (80 credit points) or minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers majors and minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor  
Indigenous Australian Studies Major   
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 major or minor via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)