Bachelor of Social Science
Townsville, Cairns
DEGREE STRUCTURE — BACHELOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
The Bachelor of Social Science degree has a versatile structure which can accommodate the individual needs of students. The program selected may be highly concentrated in one or two areas of study or students may choose to combine a wider range of topics and include areas of personal interest along with subjects of relevance to a future career.
Students have the option of putting together an individually tailored program of study which allows them to obtain a good depth of knowledge in several areas which may increase their flexibility in the job market. Alternatively, they may choose to focus on one or two areas of study which will prepare them for a particular career or for further study in a particular field at postgraduate level. The Bachelor of Social Science can accommodate any of these needs.
Programs of study are referred to as Strands. These strands indicate the specific subject requirements at levels 1 to 3 for students who wish to obtain specialisations in particular areas or disciplines. Students who plan to pursue study at the Honours level are advised to follow the specified strand for their discipline of interest. Combined Honours in two disciplines is also possible. Students are advised to consult with an Academic Advisor in the Faculty when putting together specialised combinations of study.
While the Bachelor of Social Science offers a flexible program of study, there are some basic rules regarding the minimum and maximum number of subjects which should be taken at each level of study and from Tables Ia and III of the Master Schedule of Subjects.
Level 1 students are advised to enrol in several disciplines before settling on a specific strand of study at level 2. This allows greater flexibility in later years of study and provides an opportunity to experience a wider range of fields of thought and different approaches to understanding the world.
The flexibility of the Bachelor of Social Science degree allows combined study across different fields so that students may tailor their education to meet their particular career aspirations. Students are advised to see the Academic Advisers available in each Faculty when putting together degree programs which combine two or more major strands of study. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged to give students the range of options they will need to compete in the many and varied careers available in today’s workforce.
GENERAL STRAND
The General strand allows a student, in consultation with the Academic Advisers, to construct an individually tailored degree program which fulfils the conditions of the BSocSc requirements.
Level 1 students are advised to enrol in the General strand in order to experience several discipline areas before selecting one or more specific strands at level 2. Additionally, students who do not wish to follow precisely any of the single discipline or interdisciplinary strands listed below, should enrol in the General strand for all three years of the BSocSc degree.
Once enrolled in a specific strand a student is not obliged to remain in it but may change to the General strand or, provided the prerequisites are fulfilled, to a different specific strand.
LEVEL 1
(a) At least six level 1 units from subjects from Anthropology (AN), Archaeology (AR), Psychology (PY), Sociology (SY), Welfare Studies (WS) or Women’s Studies (WC);
(b) at least six level 1 units from subjects from Table Ia or III of the Master Schedule of Subjects;
(c) remaining level 1 subjects from the Master Schedule.
(Note: The normal full-time load is 24 units. Students must have at least 18 units of level 1 subjects but can have up to 30 units of level 1 subjects in their degree.)
LEVEL 2
(a) At least eight units of level 2 subjects from Table Ia or III of the Master Schedule of Subjects;
(b) at least seven units of level 2 subjects from the Master Schedule of Subjects;
(c) remaining subjects can be drawn from Table Ia or III level 2 subjects, or from other parts of the Master Schedule which comply with Sections 2.2 and 4 of the BSocSc Requirements.
LEVEL 3
(a) At least 12 units of level 3 subjects from Table Ia or III of the Master Schedule of Subjects;
(b) at least six units of level 3 subjects from the Master Schedule of Subjects;
(c) remaining subjects can be drawn from Table Ia or III level 3 subjects, or from other parts of the Master Schedule which comply with Sections 2.2 and 4 of the BSocSc Requirements.
Strands within the Bachelor of Social Science degree
While the Bachelor of Social Science degree is characterised by its diversity and flexibility, students wishing to specialise in a particular discipline should refer to the recommended strands listed below and those under the Bachelor of Arts program beginning on page 250.
Anthropology
LEVEL 1
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AN1001:03 | Anthropology 1A: Discovering Anthropology (Sem 1) |
| AN1002:03 | Anthropology 1B: Australia and Regional Culture (Sem 2) |
| One of | |
| AR1001:03 | The World of Archaeology (Sem 1) |
| AR1002:03 | Archaeology: Methods and Approaches (Sem 2) |
| One of | |
| PY1101:03 | Exploring Psychology 1 (Sem 1) |
| SY1001:03 | Introduction to Sociology(Sem 1) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 2
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AN2001:04 | Key Debates in Anthropology (Sem 1 Townsville; Sem 2 Cairns) |
| AN2012:04 | Anthropological Research Techniques (Sem 1 Cairns; Sem 2 Townsville) |
| At least four additional units of level 2 Anthropology subjects | |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 3
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AN3005:04 | Culture, Politics and Economics (Sem 2) |
| At least eight additional units of level 3 Anthropology subjects | |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 4 (Honours students only)
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AN4001:24 | Anthropology Honours 4 |
| or | |
| AN4002:12 | Combined Honours (Anthropology) |
Archaeology
LEVEL 1
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AR1001:03 | The World of Archaeology (Sem 1) |
| AR1002:03 | Archaeology: Methods and Approaches (Sem 2) |
| One of | |
| AN1001:03 | Anthropology 1A: Discovering Anthropology (Sem 1) |
| AN1002:03 | Anthropology 1B: Australia and Regional Culture (Sem 2) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 2
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AR2201:04 | Principles of Archaeological Investigation (Sem 1) |
| AR2202:04 | Archaeology Field School (July) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| At least 4 additional units of level 2 Archaeology subjects. Other subjects chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 3
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| At least one of | |
| AR3201:04 | Archaeological Analysis and Interpretation |
| AR3202:04 | Critical Issues in Archaeology |
| At least four additional units of level 3 Archaeology subjects | |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 4 (Honours students only)
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AR4001:24 | Archaeology Honours 4 |
| or | |
| AR4002:12 | Combined Honours (Archaeology) |
Psychology
Refer to the Bachelor of Psychology program on page 270 for the APS accredited strand of study.
Sociology
LEVEL 1
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| AN1001:03 | Anthropology 1A: Discovering Anthropology (Sem 1) |
| PY1101:03 | Exploring Psychology 1 (Sem 1) |
| SY1001:03 | Introduction to Sociology (Sem 1) |
| SY1002:03 | Australian Society (Sem 2) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 2
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| SS2011:04 | Fundamentals of Social Research Methods |
| SY2021:04 | The Transformation of Modern Societies (Sem 1) |
| At least four units of level 2 Sociology subjects. | |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 3
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| SS3022:03 | Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods (Sem 2) |
| or | |
| SS3023:04 | Qualitative Methods (Sem 1) |
| SY3020:04 | Self and Identity in Contemporary Society (Sem 2) |
| or | |
| SY3023:04 | Contested Knowledge Development of Social Theory (Sem 2) |
| At least eight units of level 3 Sociology subjects. | |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 4 (Honours students only)
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| SY4005:12 | Sociology Honours Thesis |
| or | |
| SY4015:12 | Sociology Honours Thesis (Part-time) |
| Plus | |
| SY4006:04 | Directed Readings in Sociology |
| or | |
| SY4016:04 | Directed Readings in Sociology (Part-time) |
| Plus | |
| SY4007:04 | Research Design in Sociology |
| SY4008:04 | Contemporary Sociological Analysis |
Welfare Studies
LEVEL 1
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| WS1001:03 | Introduction to Social Policy (Sem 1) |
| WS1003:03 | Issues in Social Policy (Sem 2) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 2
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| WS2012:03 | Human Rights and Social Justice (Sem 1) |
| WS2020:04 | Working Across Cultures (Sem 2) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 3
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| WS3011:03 | Politics of Community Work (Sem 1) |
| WS3012:03 | Managing Community Organisations (Sem 2) |
| WS3013:03 | Community Practice (Sem 1) |
| WS3014:03 | Socio-environmentalism and Community Work (Sem 2) |
| ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS | |
| Additional units may be chosen from the Master Schedule of Subjects in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Social Science. | |
LEVEL 4 (Honours students only)
| CORE SUBJECTS | |
| WS4003:12 | Community Welfare Honours Literature Review and Proposal |
| WS4004:12 | Community Welfare Honours Thesis |
It is emphasised that the specific strands are identified primarily to provide guidance for students. Thus enrolment in a specific strand is not compulsory, although students considering BSocSc Honours are advised to enrol in a specific strand in the Honours discipline (or, in the case of combined Honours, in two disciplines).
Strands – Townsville campus
Anthropology; Archaeology; Asian Studies; Australian Studies; Cultural Heritage Studies; Economics; Education; Environment Studies; Geography; History; Indigenous Australian Studies; Politics; Psychology; Public Policy; Social Policy; Sociology; Southeast Asian Studies; Welfare Studies; Women’s Studies.
Strands – Cairns campus
Anthropology; Geography; History; Politics; Psychology; Public Policy; Social Policy; Sociology; Welfare Studies.