Course

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Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Social Science

Approved Abbreviation: BIntlSt/BSocSc

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Western Sydney University Course Code: 1807.2

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 086124K

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Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2020 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

Commencement Year 2015 to 2019 - 1807.1 Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Social Science

The Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Social Science degree is a broadly based, inter-disciplinary four-year double degree offering flexibility and choice within a wide range of offerings in the social sciences, as well as studies of International Relations and Asian Studies and an Asian language. 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 choose a major from the social sciences; a major in International Relations and Asian Studies, and a sub-major in an Asian language. The double degree provides a wide base for understanding issues in the complex, culturally diverse and ever-changing social and international environment of the 21st century both in Australia and Asia.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their BA majors and sub majors subject to WSU limits on advanced standing. Students are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a BA course advisor first.

• Director of Academic Program - Dr Dianne Dickenson

Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time

Admission

Two units of HSC English OR IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall score with a minimum 6.0 in each subtest.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Students must also complete the International Relations and Asian Studies major, a sub-major in Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian or Japanese language and a Social Science major. Please note: the Indonesian sub-major will no longer be available from 2021.

B Arts core units

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

102735

Foundations of Academic English

B Social Science core units

101552

Applied Social Research

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

102170

People, Place and Social Difference

102816

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

101557

The Individual in Society

101551

Understanding Society

102815

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

Major - International Relations and Asian Studies (IRAS)

M1055

International Relations and Asian Studies

Sub-majors

Note: The following sub-majors have inherent requirements, SM1078 - Chinese and SM1080 - Japanese, Please note: the Indonesian sub-major will no longer be available from 2021. Please see the link below:

Inherent requirements

SM1077

Arabic

SM1078

Chinese

SM1112

Indonesian

Please note: the Indonesian sub-major will no longer be available from 2021.

SM1139

International English

SM1080

Japanese

Students may complete the Immersion Language sub-major which covers languages that are not taught at Western Sydney University. Details of this sub-major are available via the link below:

SM1128

Immersion Language

Social Science majors

M1097

Anthropology

M1079

Child and Community

M1069

Criminology and Criminal Justice

M1138

Disability Studies

M1071

Geography and Urban Studies

M1077

Heritage and Tourism

M1083

Peace and Development Studies

M1073

Sociology

Students should seek academic course advice as the Social Science major units are all compulsory and only available in particular semesters.

Recommended Sequence

The recommended sequence below applies to students at Level 1 Language. Students should seek course advice in relation to the level 2/3 language sequences. Students doing Indonesian will need to seek course advice as the Indonesian sub-major will no longer be offered from 2021.

Recommended Sequence for students at Bankstown campus

Year 1

Autumn session

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102735

Foundations of Academic English

101551

Understanding Society

101557

The Individual in Society

Spring session

102170

People, Place and Social Difference

102815

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

101956

Introduction to International Relations

Year 2

Autumn session

101442

Asia in the World

102816

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

Level 1 Language unit

Spring session

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

Level 1 Language unit

Level 1 Social Science Major unit

Level 1 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Year 3

Autumn session

100277

Politics of Australia and Asia Relations

Level 2 Language unit

Level 2 Language unit*

Level 1 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 Social Science major unit

*Students doing Indonesian will do one unit in Autumn and one in Spring and replace the second language unit with one IRAS Major pool Level 2/3 unit

Spring session

101957

The Asian Century

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Year 4

Autumn session

101552

Applied Social Research

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Spring session

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Recommended Sequence for students at Parramatta campus

Year 1

Autumn session

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

102735

Foundations of Academic English

101557

The Individual in Society

101551

Understanding Society

Spring session

102170

People, Place and Social Difference

102815

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

Year 2

Autumn session

101442

Asia in the World

102816

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

Level 1 Language unit

Level 1 Social Science Major unit

Spring session

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

101956

Introduction to International Relations

Level 1 Language unit

Level 1 Social Science Major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

100277

Politics of Australia and Asia Relations

Level 2 Language unit

Level 2 Language unit*

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

*Students doing Indonesian will do one unit in Autumn and one in Spring and replace the second language unit with one IRAS Major pool Level 2/3 unit

Spring session

101957

The Asian Century

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Year 4

Autumn session

101552

Applied Social Research

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Spring session

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit

Level 2/3 Social Science Major unit Or Level 2/3 IRAS unit

Equivalent Core Units

The Core Units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in 2020 or earlier.

101900 - Working with Communities

400337 - Social Research Methods