2001 Swinburne Undergraduate and TAFE Course Guide

Social Science
Course title
Bachelor of Social Science
Duration
Three years full-time or six years part-time.
Location
Hawthorn.
Entry requirements
Satisfactory completion of an appropriate Victorian
Year 12 or its equivalent.
2001 VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study
score of at least 20 in English.
Application procedure
VTAC code: 34221 (full-time)
34191 (part-time)
2000 ENTER: 82.65
Course overview
Social Science students learn how to gather,
synthesise and assess information, how to
conceptualise issues, and to express themselves
effectively both orally and in writing. The major
areas of study within this degree are Politics,
Psychology and Sociology. These subjects involve
core competencies required by growth areas in
Australian industry and government.
Politics concentrates on the study of political
power and policy, the factors that influence these,
and their impact on society. Psychology provides a
scientific basis for understanding ourselves and
other people whilst Sociology is the study of
people in groups ranging from the family to whole
societies.
Social Science students may also undertake
studies from a wide range of Business and Arts
subjects (see list on page 23 and 78 and separate
entries for further details on each of these). They
are required to undertake two majors, one of
which must be Politics, Psychology or Sociology.
(see below for further details on each of these).
Career opportunities
Human services, research, citizenship, social
policy and human services management. With
further studies, students with appropriate majors
can obtain qualifications to become, for example,
psychologists, librarians, teachers, personnel
officers, social workers or sociologists.
Professional recognition
The three year undergraduate sequence in
Psychology is accredited by the Australian
Psychological Society.
STOP PRESS
For assistance with sociology CATS and research
for VCE projects, check out our VCE Resources
website at: www.swin.edu.au/sbs/vce
Information sessions
Sunday 27 August between 11.00am and 3.00pm
and Wednesday 13 December between 4.00pm
and 8.00pm. Attendance at one of these sessions
is recommended.
Social Science Specialisations
Students studying degrees or double degrees in
Arts, Business, Information Systems or Social
Science have the option of undertaking subjects
from these study areas.
An honours year is also available.
Politics
Politics concentrates on the study of political
power and policy, the factors that influence these,
and their impact on society. Courses provide an
overview of modern Australian politics, the system
of government, the role of social movements in
Australia, international politics and Australian
foreign policy, and the social and political changes
sweeping Asia. Politics enables us to understand
the decisions that shape our lives, and to see
Australia in its regional context.
Subjects include
Australian politics, international politics, modern
Japan, modern Australia, emergence of modern
Asia, public policy in Australia, Australia and Asia,
development and democratisation in South-East
Asia, work in Australia.
Career opportunities
Politics is a good complement to other major
study areas and can lead into employment in
areas such as the media, publishing, personnel,
government, commerce and industry.
Psychology
Psychology provides a scientific basis for
understanding ourselves and other people. It
addresses many topics ranging from brain
processes to dreams and consciousness, and
from child development to abnormal psychology.
There is an emphasis on practical skills and
application. After completing a Psychology major
students can undertake further study in areas of
professional psychology, such as clinical,
counselling, health organisational, sports and
forensic psychology.
Subjects include
Introductory psychology, introductory statistics
and research methods, developmental psychology,
design and measurement, cognition, social
psychology, the psychology of personality,
psychological measurement, abnormal
psychology.
Students can also undertake major studies in
Psychology through the Swinburne Bachelor of
Social Science, Bachelor of Social Science
(Psychology), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology/
Psychophysiology), Bachelor of Applied Science
(Biochemistry/Psychology), Bachelor of Applied
Science (Psychology/Psychophysiology).
Career opportunities
Counselling, welfare work, research, human
resources. Further study is required to qualify in
areas of professional psychology, such as clinical,
counselling, organisational sports and health
psychology.
Professional recognition
Students who complete the Bachelor of Social
Science with a major in Psychology and who
complete an Australian Psychological Society
(APS) accredited fourth year, are eligible to apply
for Associate Membership of the APS and for
registration as a probationary psychologist with
the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of people in groups ranging
from the family to whole societies. It is about how
individual and group behaviour shapes groups and
society and, in turn, how behaviour is shaped by
society and its institutions. Understanding group
behaviour, being familiar with different
explanations for this behaviour, and being able to
gather data to explore aspects of the social world
are important skills, both for employment
purposes and for being a knowledgeable and
participating citizen of Australian society.
Subjects include
Introductory sociology, comparative sociology,
models of sociological analysis, sociology of
deviance and social control, sex and gender in
society, sociology of organisations, current issues
in sociology, methodology of social research,
sociology and social policy, cybercities, sociology
of the electronic age.
Career opportunities
Social research, administration, community
development, public housing, human resources,
marketing, social work.
Professional recognition
Australian Sociological Association.
Information sessions
Sunday 27 August between 11.00am and 3.00pm
and Wednesday 13 December between 4.00pm
and 8.00pm. Attendance at one of these sessions
is recommended.
Further information
School of Social & Behavioural Sciences
Tel: (03) 9214 5209
Email: sbsadmin@swin.edu.au
Website: www.swin.edu.au/sbs
Health and Human Services – Degrees
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