Course

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Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science

Approved Abbreviation: BA/BSocSc

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1808.3

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 089201M

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relavant to the year they commenced. This version of the course 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 2017 to 2019 - 1808.2 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science

Commencement Year 2015 to 2016 - 1808.1 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science

This double degree program is designed for students whose interests span the Arts and Social Sciences. It will produce versatile graduates who can work across a range of academic and professional disciplines, including the opportunity to develop global perspectives and communication skills in an Asian language. In the Social Science area, students can design their own academic program within the Bachelor of Social Science course structure, which must include a Social Science Major. This qualification in Social Science is then combined with an Arts major, such as: Culture and Society; English; History and Political Thought; International Relations and Asian Studies; Islamic Studies; Philosophy; Linguistics; Indigenous Australian Studies; Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese. Please note: the Indonesian major will no longer be available from 2021.

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 Di Dickenson

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

Admission

Assumed Knowledge: two units of HSC English.

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.

IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall score with a minimum 6.0 in each subtest

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 Western Sydney 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.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this course. Please contact the Course Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points comprising

A Bachelor of Social Science Core of 80 credit points,
A Bachelor of Arts Core of 40 credit points,
A Bachelor of Arts major of 80 credit points,
A Bachelor of Arts sub-major of 40 credit points
A Social Science major of 80 credit points

Social Science core units

101552

Applied Social Research

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

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

Arts core units

Students must complete 40 credit points from the following units

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

102735

Foundations of Academic English

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

Arts Majors

Some Majors and Sub-majors have inherent requirements.

Click here for details of the Inherent Requirements

Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses.

Arabic

Chinese

Creative Writing

Cultural and Social Analysis

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1131 Culture and Society.

Culture and Society

Economy and Markets

English

Global Business

History and Political Thought

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1137 History and Political Thought.

M1137

History and Political Thought

M1041

Indigenous Australian Studies

M1093

Indonesian

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

M2514

Innovation and Change

M1129

International English

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1132 International English.

M1132

International English

M1055

International Relations and Asian Studies

Islamic Studies

Japanese

Linguistics

Musicology

Music Performance

Organisations and Work

M1058

Philosophy

M1110

Psychological Studies

Arts Sub-majors

Note: Not all Arts sub-majors are available on all campuses.

Arabic

Chinese

Creative Writing

Cultural and Social Analysis

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1138 Culture and Society.

SM1138

Culture and Society

SM1071

English

SM1072

History and Political Thought

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1145 History and Political Thought.

SM1145

History and Political Thought

SM1128

Immersion Language

SM1049

Indigenous Australian Studies

SM1112

Indonesian

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

SM1132

International English

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1139 International English.

SM1139

International English

SM1073

International Relations and Asian Studies

Islamic Studies

Japanese

Linguistics

Musicology

Music Performance Studies

SM1076

Philosophy

SM1115

Psychological Studies

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 for students at Bankstown and Penrith campuses

Year 1

Autumn session

102735

Foundations of Academic English

101551

Understanding Society

101557

The Individual in Society

Choose one of

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

One Level 1 Arts major unit

Spring session

102170

People, Place and Social Difference

102815

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

One Level 1 Arts major unit

Year 2

Autumn session

102816

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

One Level 1 Social Science major unit

Choose one of

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

One Level 1 Arts major unit

Spring session

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

One Social Science major unit

One Arts major unit

One Arts sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

101552

Applied Social Research

One Social Science major unit

One Arts major unit

One Arts sub-major unit or one Social Science major unit

Spring session

Two Arts Major units

Two Social Science major units or one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Year 4

Autumn session

One Arts Major unit

One Arts sub-major unit

Two Social Science major units or one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Spring session

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

One Arts major unit

Two Social Science Major units or one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Recommended Sequence for students at Parramatta campus

Year 1

Autumn session

101557

The Individual in Society

101551

Understanding Society

One Level 1 BA Core unit

Spring session

102170

People, Place and Social Difference

102815

Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies

One Level 1 BA Core unit

Year 2

Autumn session

102816

Investigating and Communicating Social Problems

One Level 1 Social Science major unit

One Level 1 Arts major unit

One Arts sub-major unit

Spring session

101555

Ethics in the Social Sciences

One Level 1 Arts major unit

Two Social Science major units OR one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

101552

Applied Social Research

One Social Science major unit

One Arts major unit

One Arts sub-major unit OR one Social Science major unit

Spring session

Two Arts Major units

Two Social Science major units OR one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Year 4

Autumn session

One Arts Major unit

One Arts sub-major unit

Two Social Science major units OR one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major unit

Spring session

102203

Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

One Arts major unit

Two Social Science major units OR one Social Science major unit and one Arts sub-major 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