Study History
Curious about the past? Learn more about the History major within the Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of Arts at UON.
Bachelor of Social Science
This degree is part of the Year 12 Subject Spotlight Early Offer Program
Selection Rank
60.90
70.00 (Median SR)
60.90
70.00 (Median SR)
International entry requirement
Start dates
- Semester 1 - 24 Feb 2020
- Semester 2 - 20 Jul 2020
- Semester 1 - 24 Feb 2020
- Semester 2 - 20 Jul 2020
Mode of delivery
Face to Face
Duration
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 8 years maximum.
Start dates
- Semester 1 - 24 Feb 2020
- Semester 2 - 20 Jul 2020
- Semester 1 - 24 Feb 2020
- Semester 2 - 20 Jul 2020
Fees
AUD27,065 (indicative annual fee, 2019)
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units) Find out more about fees
English language proficiency
- IELTS overall minimum - 6.0
- IELTS section minimum - 6.0
Duration
3 years full-time.
Mode of delivery
Face to Face
Study social science
Make your mark on the world by crafting new solutions to various social challenges.
By studying our Bachelor of Social Science degree you will gain an empowering qualification that leads to rewarding careers in diverse fields. This degree will see you develop cultural sensitivity, ethical awareness and a solid understanding of the systems that define our world.
Social Science is the study of social relationships, structures and issues. Through core and elective courses, you will learn to analyse, challenge and gain insight into globally significant theories about gender, class, race, crime, illness and health, work, social justice and social organisation. You will also explore the exciting complexities of the human social experience and learn to apply the research methodologies of social science to the societies in which we exist.
Why study with us?
- Pursue what interests you. Choose a specialisation from 11 diverse social science majors to enrich your learning and employment options.
- Graduate work-ready through hands-on learning and the opportunity for a minimum of 80 hours work experience as part of your degree.
- Be part of an enriched learning environment. 90% of our Social Science students are impressed with the teaching quality at the University of Newcastle and we are global leaders in the areas of Sociology and Geography.
- Develop in-demand skills transferrable across industries like advanced social research techniques, high-level communication, problem-solving, socio-cultural awareness and teamwork.
- Work Integrated Learning – opportunity to gain real-world experience through industry placement opportunities and embedded authentic experiences throughout the program.
- Graduate with Honours – for one extra year of study at the end of your degree, you can refine your practical research skills and enhance your career prospects by completing the Honours program.
World top 150
?
for sociology
80 hours
of work experience
What you will study
The core courses available when you study a Social Science degree include:
- applied social research (including an applied social research project)
- ethical debates in the social sciences
- organisational management and social behaviour
- policy development, program management and evaluation
- professional practice and key debates in the social sciences
- social analysis: key perspectives in the social sciences
- society and culture
In addition to your core courses in social analysis and research, you have the opportunity to choose from 11 major areas of study to diversify your learning and career pathways. You can also undertake elective courses outside the Bachelor of Social Science.
Program plans
Download a program plan for further details on your degree's structure and what courses you will study.
These program plans are applicable to new students. Current students should refer to the program handbook to access the plan relevant to the year they commenced.
- 2013 – 2019 Semester 1 Social Science - Part-time Program Plan 482.0 KB
- 2013 – 2019 Semester 1 Social Science - Full-time Program Plan 402.6 KB
- 2013 – 2019 Semester 2 Social Science - Full-time Program Plan 478.8 KB
Additional documents
Career opportunities
Careers stemming from this degree are broad and varied. You will work closely with our Careers Service to align your majors and courses to where you would like to specialise.
Whatever your preferred career path (eco-tourism, event management, human services, human resources, global health to name a few), you will graduate from UON with work-ready skills and transferable attributes that are attractive to employers.
Common areas of employment for Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) graduates include social research, management and policy work for government and non-government agencies.
You may also find work in the private sector, particularly in areas relating to your major. For instance graduates of the Community Welfare and Human Services major may find work with a variety of government and private welfare agencies.
Graduates majoring in Sociology and Anthropology can find employment in a variety of roles in many different types of organisations. The list below provides typical job titles for graduates from this major.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Aboriginal Cultural Educational Officer
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Archaeological Excavator
- Community Development Worker
- Community Project Officer
- Community Services Worker
- Coordinator of Social Services
- Cultural Development Officer
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Development Manager (International Aid)
- Disability Services Officer
- Electorate Officer
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Media Planner
- Multicultural Community Liaison
- Parliamentarian/Member of Parliament/Politician
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Political Advisor
- Program Development Officer
- Project Worker
- Research Manager
- Research Officer
- Social Researcher
- Social Scientist
- Sociologist
- Support Worker
- University Lecturer/Academic
- Welfare Officer
- Youth Worker
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for graduates with the skills gained with a major in Sociology and Anthropology.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Aged and Disability Officer
- Chaplain/Pastoral Care Worker
- Child Protection Officer
- Client Service Manager
- Commissioning Editor
- Counsellor
- Cultural Interpreter
- Demographer
- Disability Services Manager
- Economic/Social Statistician
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- Environmental Geographer
- Ethicist
- Exhibitions Officer
- Grants Officer
- Health Promotion Officer
- Industrial Relations Officer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legal Aid Lawyer
- Librarian
- Lifestyle Coordinator
- Linguistic Analyst
- Lobbyist
- Market Research Analyst
- Mediator
- Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
- Museum/Art Gallery Curator
- Narrator
- Native Title Consultant
- Office Administrator
- Planning Officer
- Police Officer
- Political Scientist
- Primatologist
- Residential Care Worker
- Trade Union Official
- Travel Writer
- Witness Assistance Officer
Graduates majoring in Psychology Studies can find employment in a variety of roles in many different types of organisations. The list below provides typical job titles for graduates from this major.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Aged and Disability Officer
- Careers Counsellor
- Case Manager/Worker
- Community Development Worker
- Community Project Officer
- Community Services Worker
- Counsellor
- Disability Services Manager
- Disability Services Officer
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Health Promotion Officer
- Human Resources Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Learning and Development Consultant
- Lifestyle Coordinator
- Market Research Analyst
- Neuroscientist
- Probation/Parole Officer
- Recruitment Consultant
- Rehabilitation Consultant
- Research Scientist
- Residential Care Worker
- Scientific Writer
- Social Scientist
- Support Worker
- Training Officer
- University Lecturer/Academic
- Welfare Officer
- Witness Assistance Officer
- Youth Worker
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for graduates with the skills gained majoring in Psychology Studies.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Child Protection Officer
- Customs Officer
- Human Resources Manager
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legal Aid Lawyer
- Management Consultant
- Media Planner
- Mediator
- Medical Technician
- Office Administrator
- Play Therapist
- Player Development Manager
- Police Officer
- Primatologist
- Speech Pathologist
- Statistician
- Training and Development Manager
The following list provides some example jobs relevant to graduates majoring in Politics and International Relations. Some of these jobs may require further study, experience or a combination of both.
- Compliance Officer
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Governance Coordinator
- Historian
- Immigration Officer
- Industrial Relations Officer
- International Admissions Officer
- Lobbyist
- Multicultural Community Liaison
- Parliamentarian/Member of Parliament/Politician
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Political Advisor
- Political Scientist
- Research Officer
- Social Researcher
- Social Scientist
- Speechwriter
- Trade Union Official
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not all graduates will use their degree in the same way. The transferable skills gained through university study allow graduates to pursue a broader range of career pathways. The list below demonstrates some of the broader possibilities for Politics and International Relations graduates. Again, some of these jobs may require further study or experience.
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Archivist
- Broadcast Journalist
- Business Relationship Manager
- Campaign Manager
- Community Development Worker
- Community Liaison Officer
- Development Manager (International Aid)
- Editorial Assistant
- Foreign Correspondent
- Grants Officer
- Industrial Relations Lawyer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legal Aid Lawyer
- Management Consultant
- Mediator
- Migrant/Refugee Support Worker
- Office Administrator
- Project Worker
- Secondary Technology Teacher
- Writer
The following list provides some example jobs available to graduates majoring in Linguistics. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.
- Cryptographer / Cryptanalyst / Cryptologist / Decipherer
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- English As A Second Language Teacher (ESL Teacher)
- Linguist
- Linguistic Analyst
- Research Scientist
- Social Scientist
- Transcript Typist
- Translator
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained from a major in Linguistics.
- Audiologist
- Commissioning Editor
- Computational Linguist
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Instructional Designer
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Media Planner
- Migrant/Refugee Support Worker
- Multicultural Community Liaison
- Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
- Narrator
- Playwright
- Poet
- Speech Pathologist
- Support Worker
- Voice or Vocal Coach
The following list provides some example jobs relevant to graduates majoring in Leisure and Tourism Management. Some of these jobs may require further study, experience or a combination of both.
- Community Development Worker
- Community Project Officer
- Cultural Development Officer
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Cultural Interpreter
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Entrepreneur
- Executive Manager
- Lifestyle Coordinator
- Managing Director/ General Manager
- Media Planner
- Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Social Scientist
- Sports Administrator
- Tourism Manager
- Tourist Information Officer
- Travel Writer
Not all graduates will use their degree in the same way. The transferable skills gained through university study allow graduates to pursue a broader range of career pathways. The list below demonstrates some of the broader possibilities for Leisure and Tourism Management graduates. Again, some of these jobs may require further study or experience.
- Business Relationship Manager
- International Admissions Officer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- International Exchange Coordinator
- Journalist
- Market Research Analyst
- Project Manager
- Sports Development Officer
- Tour Guide
The following list provides some examples of job titles that may be suitable for a graduate majoring in Community Welfare and Human Services. Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study.
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Aged and Disability Officer
- Case Manager/Worker
- Child Protection Officer
- Community Arts Worker
- Community Development Worker
- Community Liaison Officer
- Community Project Officer
- Community Services Worker
- Coordinator of Social Services
- Counsellor
- Development Manager (International Aid)
- Disability Services Manager
- Disability Services Officer
- Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
- Grants Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Probation/Parole Officer
- Program Development Officer
- Project Worker
- Residential Care Worker
- Social Researcher
- Social Scientist
- Support Worker
- University Lecturer/Academic
- VET Teacher
- Welfare Officer
- Witness Assistance Officer
- Youth Worker
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained from a major in Community Welfare and Human Services.
- Chaplain/Pastoral Care Worker
- Client Service Manager
- Customs Officer
- Ethicist
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Legal Aid Lawyer
- Lifestyle Coordinator
- Migrant/Refugee Support Worker
- Planning Officer
- Police Officer
- Political Advisor
The following list provides some example jobs available to graduates majoring in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Human Resources Manager
- Human Resources Officer
- Industrial Relations Officer
- Learning and Development Consultant
- Organisational Development Manager
- Payroll Supervisor
- Political Advisor
- Resource and Regulatory Compliance Manager
- Trade Union Official
- Training and Development Manager
- Training Officer
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained with a major in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations.
- Management Consultant
- Work Health and Safety Officer
The following list provides some example jobs available to graduates majoring in Human Geography and the Environment. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.
- Community Development Worker
- Community Project Officer
- Community Services Worker
- Coordinator of Social Services
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Demographer
- Development Manager (International Aid)
- Environmental Geographer
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Native Title Consultant
- Park Ranger
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Program Development Officer
- Project Manager
- Project Worker
- Social Researcher
- Transport Geographer
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained during the Human Geography and the Environment major.
- Access and Equity Advisor
- Climate Change Analysts
- Cultural Development Officer
- Cultural Interpreter
- Electorate Officer
- Ethicist
- Grants Officer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Lawyer
- Market Research Analyst
- Police Officer
- Political Advisor
- Real Estate Appraiser and Researcher
- Tour Guide
- Tourist Information Officer
- Travel Writer
- Urban Designer
- Youth Worker
The following list provides some example jobs available to graduates majoring in History. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.
- Archivist
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Cultural Interpreter
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Editor
- Editorial Assistant
- Exhibitions Officer
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Historian
- History Teacher
- Museum/Art Gallery Curator
- Publications Officer/Editor
- Social Scientist
- Speechwriter
- University Lecturer/Academic
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained from a major in History.
- Architectural Historian
- Commissioning Editor
- Court Officer
- Ethicist
- Foreign Correspondent
- Industrial Relations Officer
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Media Presenter
- Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
- Narrator
- Office Administrator
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Political Scientist
- Social Researcher
- Tour Guide
- Trade Union Official
The following list provides some example job titles that may be available to graduates with a major in Aboriginal Studies. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.
- Aboriginal Cultural Educational Officer
- Aged and Disability Officer
- Arts Administrator
- Community Arts Worker
- Community Development Worker
- Community Liaison Officer
- Community Project Officer
- Community Services Worker
- Cultural Development Officer
- Cultural Heritage Officer
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
- Immigration Officer
- International Aid/Development Worker
- Multicultural Community Liaison
- Museum/Art Gallery Curator
- Native Title Consultant
- Park Ranger
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Social Researcher
- Social Scientist
- Tourism Manager
- University Lecturer/Academic
- Welfare Officer
- Youth Worker
Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained from a major in Aboriginal Studies.
- Archivist
- Art Dealer
- Child Protection Officer
- Counsellor
- Cultural Interpreter
- Ethicist
- Exhibitions Officer
- Health Promotion Officer
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legal Aid Lawyer
- Librarian
- Linguistic Analyst
- Media Planner
- Media Presenter
- Mediator
- Migrant/Refugee Support Worker
- Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
- Narrator
- Office Administrator
- Political Advisor
- Program Development Officer
- Project Worker
- Tour Guide
- Tourist Information Officer
Graduates majoring in Criminology can find employment in a variety of roles in many different types of organisations. The list below provides typical job titles for graduates from this major.
Some of these jobs will depend upon the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, and the combination of other majors and electives studied, for example some may require further study
- Criminologist
- University Lecturer/Academic
- Researcher
- Police Officer
- Member of the AFP
- Border Protection Officer
- Victim Support Officer
- Juvenile Justice Officer
- Aged and Disability Officer
- Child Protection Officer
- Client Service Manager
- Correctional Services Officer
- Community Corrections Officer
- Coordinator of Social Services
- Immigration Officer
- Media Planner
- Policy Officer/Analyst
- Project Worker
- Research Manager
- Research officer
- Journalist
- Writer
Practical experience
80 hour work placement program
In your third year of study, you can choose to take part in a work placement program. With supervision, you will locate and undertake an 80-hour work placement with organisations involved in social research, education or community service. This direct experience will provide invaluable exposure to researchers and managers.
