CRICOS Code: 096978C

This program applies to students who commenced in Term 1, 2022 or later.

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

For Commencement Year Term 2 2021, please refer to 6023.2 - Diploma in Social Science/Bachelor of Social Science

For Commencement Year Term 2 2017 - Term 1 2021, please refer to 6023.1 - Diploma in Social Science/Bachelor of Social Science

The Bachelor of Social Science degree is a broadly based, inter-disciplinary three year program offering flexibility and choice within a range of offerings in the social sciences. 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 are encouraged to choose from more than one of the social sciences, to allow for personal and occupational interests, and prepare themselves to extend their studies at the major and minor levels. The majors and minors include: Child and Community; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Geography and Urban Studies; Peace and Development Studies; Sociology; Anthropology; Heritage and Tourism. Students are able to select eight elective subjects from across Western Sydney University subject to availability and Western Sydney University rules. The Bachelor of Social Science 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.

The first year of this program is delivered by Western Sydney University The College, as an agent of Western Sydney University, via extended face-to-face hours in smaller learning environments. A Diploma in Social Science exit point is also available at the end of the first year of the program.

For more information on Western Sydney University, The College, please refer to their web site.

Western Sydney University, The College

For program advice during your first year of study, please use the contact below under ‘Program Advice’. For program advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Social Science.

Bachelor of Social Science

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 100 credit points with a 7050 Diploma in Social Science

Study Mode

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

Program Advice

College Program Enquiries
 

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
Liverpool Campus	Full Time	Internal	Irena Veljanova
Liverpool Campus	Part Time	Internal	Irena Veljanova
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	Julie Wen
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Part Time	Internal	Julie Wen
Penrith Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above
The College - Nirimba Education Precinct	Full Time	Internal	See above
The College - Nirimba Education Precinct	Part Time	Internal	See above

Admission

For more information on applying please see link to The College admission pages below.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thecollege/how_to_apply

Domestic students are required to have:

• Completed an English subject in the NSW Higher School Certificate, Or
• Competency in English at IELTS 6.0 equivalent Or
• Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or
• Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English subject at C grade level or higher.

Met other entry requirements such as:

• An ATAR identified prior to the offer of a place, Or
• Completed The College Foundation Studies program with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

International students must satisfy one of the following language requirements:

• IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each sub band Or
• Completed the College EAP 4 program with a 50% pass Or
• Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or
• Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English subject at C grade level or higher for which advanced standing can be applied for.

Academic Entry Requirements vary according to country of origin. However, in general:

• Completion of Year 12 or its equivalent is the minimum entry requirement Or
• Completed The College Foundation Studies program with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

Special Requirements

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

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 260 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

The early exit College Diploma consists of 100 credit points which includes two College Preparatory subjects.

Western Sydney University The College Subjects

Bankstown, Penrith and Nirimba Campus

Please note that all campuses may not have intakes each year.

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
Year 1
First Term of Study
LANG 0003	Academic English (WSTC Prep)	10
CULT 0006	Key Concepts and Skills in the Social Sciences (WSTC Prep)	10
BEHV 1023	The Individual in Society (WSTC)	10
Second Term of Study
CULT 1019	Understanding Society (WSTC)	10
HUMN 1042	People, Place and Social Difference (WSTC)	10
HUMN 1062	Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies (WSTC)	10
Third Term of Study
CULT 1023	Working with Cultural Differences (WSTC)	10
HUMN 1029	Human Rights, Peace and Development (WSTC)	10
Select two of the following:		20
CULT 1006	Crime, Deviance and Society (WSTC)
POLI 1008	World Politics and International Relations (WSTC)
HUMN 2033	Issues in World Development: Rich World, Poor World (WSTC)
Total Credit Points		100

Students may exit at this point and graduate with the Diploma in Social Science following a passing grade in all of the above subjects. Students who progress onto Year Two may also be awarded the Diploma if they gain a passing grade in all of the above subjects.

• Students must pass all College Preparatory subjects before progressing to the Year 2 subjects.
• Students must pass at least 70 credit points of University level subjects in Year 1 before progressing to the Year 2 subjects.

Western Sydney University Subjects

For program advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Social Science.

Bachelor of Social Science

Liverpool, Parramatta (Victoria Road) and Penrith Campus

Start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 2
Autumn session		Credit Points
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
Select two major subjects		20
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
Select one major subject		10
Select two electives		20
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one major subject		10
Select two electives		20
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
CULT 3007	Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice	10
Select two Major subjects		20
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	160

or

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 session		Credit Points
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select three major or elective subjects (a combination of major subjects and electives if electives remaining)		30
	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	80

Mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 2
Spring session		Credit Points
CULT 2005	Ethics in the Social Sciences	10
Select one major subject		10
Select two electives		20
	Credit Points	40
Autumn session
HUMN 2066	Investigating and Communicating Social Problems	10
Select two major subjects		20
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Spring session
CULT 3007	Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice	10
Select two major subjects		20
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Autumn session
CULT 3001	Applied Social Research	10
Select one major subject		10
Select two electives		20
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	160

or

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 session		Credit Points
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 three major or elective subjects (a combination of major subjects and electives if electives remaining)		30
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	80

Equivalent Alternate Subjects

The alternate 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

Majors

Note: Students should use up to two of their elective subjects towards obtaining their chosen major.

Students must select one of the following majors

Elective Minors Which May Be Available

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)

Equivalent Subjects 

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

POLI 1003 Introduction to International Relations (WSTC), replaced by POLI 1008 World Politics and International Relations (WSTC)

The subject listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2020 or earlier.

CULT 1021 Working with Communities (WSTC) , replaced by HUMN 1062 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies (WSTC)