Is social science for you?

If you want to better understand the world and its people, and you enjoy critically analysing people, social issues and events, then a social science degree is for you. Read more ...

Majors

A social science degree equips you with advanced social research skills, high-level communication and teamwork skills and an awareness of ethical and socio-cultural issues. Read more ...

Careers

Social science graduates are employed in a broad range of rewarding careers at a national and global level. Read more ...

Is social science for you?

If you want to better understand the world and its people, and you enjoy critically analysing people, social issues and events, then a social science degree is for you.

The degree has a required core of professional courses that assist you in developing high-level skills in research design, data collection and analysis, report writing, project coordination, program management, policy development and evaluation, leadership and teamwork, as well as professional skills in the use of information and communication technologies.

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Social Science degree, you can expect to have:

• advanced social research skills: in-depth knowledge and skills in the design and conduct of social research, including the capacity to collect, organise, critically assess, and present information in written and oral forms
• specialist social science knowledge: comprehensive knowledge of one or more specialist areas in the social sciences
• critical thought and informed decision-making: the ability to structure and present logical arguments, critically analyse material and opinions, and make informed decisions
• effective management and teamwork skills: the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively, including effective leadership skills, teamwork, organisational and program management capabilities
• high-level communication, interpersonal and presentation skills: advanced level of written, oral, and interpersonal skills, including the effective use of information and communication technologies
• ethical and socio-cultural sensitivity: an understanding of ethical issues, standards, and public responsibility in relation to professional practice, including an appreciation of cultural diversity and sensitivity towards vulnerable and Indigenous groups.

Combined degree

If you are interested in a Bachelor of Social Science and a Bachelor of Laws, you can complete the following combined degree in five years, when you study full-time:

Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws

Honours

An additional Honours program is available to meritorious students who complete their degree studies with normally at least a credit grade average.

Majors

A social science degree equips you with advanced social research skills, high-level communication and teamwork skills and an awareness of ethical and socio-cultural issues. The flexibility of the degree allows you to pursue those areas that present the best challenges, the most interest and the greatest enjoyment while studying. You get a broad education in humanities and social sciences, and you can choose from a vast array of courses and majors, from generalist courses to the highly vocational.

Aboriginal studies

Aboriginal studies provides students with the opportunity to study various aspects of Aboriginal histories, societies, leadership styles, cultures and issues to do with Aboriginal communities. This study centres on Indigenous peoples' experience and perspectives. Read more...

Community welfare and human services

Community welfare provides students the opportunity to study policy and practice in welfare, education and community services. Read more...

History

This major provides students with the opportunity to study history that is relevant to the social sciences. Read more...

Human geography and the environment

Human geography and the environment explores the relationships between people and places in a global context. Students develop an understanding and appreciation of the interactions between people and their environment in terms of globalisation, development, urbanisation, diversity and inequality. Read more...

Human resource management and industrial relations

Human resource management and industrial relations provides students with a critical understanding of management practices, employee relations and organisational behaviour, with a focus on industrial relations and various personnel/human resource activities in an organisation. Read more...

Leisure and tourism management

Leisure and tourism management has a broad disciplinary focus on the critical understanding of leisure and tourism as an area of contemporary social analysis. Read more...

Linguistics

Linguistics provides students with the opportunity to study language as a human communication system, focusing on the structure, acquisition and uses of language, and on the variety of world language. Read more...

Politics and international relations

Politics and international relations enables students to understand the nature and impact of politics in terms of how decisions are made about the allocation of scarce resources and the resolution of social problems. Read more...

Psychology studies

The psychology studies major is a non-accredited stream for students with a general interest in psychology and for those who see psychology as complementary to their other majors within the Bachelor of Social Science.

Sociology and anthropology

Sociology is the study of contemporary social issues, social institutions, and social relationships to understand social order and social change. Sociologists study the ways we organise our lives with a focus on issues of inequality, power, globalisation, and identity. Anthropology is the study of cultural diversity. Anthropologists study cultures ranging from small-scale indigenous groups to advanced capitalist societies, with a focus on fieldwork studies to understand people's way of life. Read more...

Minor studies

You can undertake electives in courses outside the Bachelor of Social Science degree, provided you meet the assumed knowledge requirements.

Please note:

• Not all majors are available at all campuses.
• The structure and content of this degree is currently under review and is subject to change.

Careers

Social science graduates are employed in a broad range of rewarding careers at a national and global level.

Our graduates get jobs in public sector agencies, community organisations and private firms as:

• social researchers
• policy analysts
• program managers and project coordinators
• community development officers
• youth officers
• political advisers
• case managers
• welfare officers
• human resource managers
• general administrators.

Because of the diversity of majors and courses available, students are encouraged to seek the advice of the University career consultant when selecting courses, especially if they have a particular career in mind.

Achiever profiles