2014 UOW Social Sciences Discipline Book

connect: Social Science

The social sciences look at why and how we live the way we do.

What we learn in the social sciences helps us see change coming, helps us prepare for it, and gives us the knowledge to make better decisions in the future.

We seek to understand, explain, predict and change human behavior to make things better.

To do this, social scientists engage in interdisciplinary study on human behaviour including foundations in behavioral sciences like psychology, human geography, research methodology, indigenous studies, human services, community studies, and social determinants of health and wellbeing.

Change is a constant all over the world, so there is an ongoing need for reflective practitioners and researchers who are able to help us understand the complex and changing needs of people in the face of technological, economic and social change.

This breadth of knowledge and skill, the ability to consider the needs of individuals, groups and populations from the smallest community to the largest continent, and the local and global focus—these all make the social sciences an exciting field to study and excellent foundation for a range of careers and employment opportunities.

2 UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG

Five reasons to study Social Science at UOW 1. START BROAD THEN SPECIALISE You will study a common first year with all the other students, then choose your specialty for your second year. You will learn to understand and appreciate human society and through analysis, how to improve people’s lives by applying common approaches and your specialty skills.

2. LEARN FROM THE BEST The academics teaching you are at the forefront of their specialisations. They’re connected to local, national and professional research networks. They’re published authors, accredited professionals, and respected researchers. They take all this experience with them to the classroom. They use it to answer your questions, and guide your learning. You will have the personal attention of some of Australia’s leading minds.

3. SEE THE COUNTRY OR WORLD Learn new perspectives from around the country and around the world, then apply them to your work right here. Go and see for yourself: you will have options to combine study and travel through study abroad with an International Studies minor, optional overseas professional experience, or rural placements doing community projects.

4. MAJOR AND MINOR CHOICES If you’re interested in the social sciences, our degrees will let you design the course of study that suits you best. You can choose one of 6+ major study areas and more than 30 minor studies. Our degree has opportunities for high performing students to apply for an additional Honours year that provides supervised research and a pathway to PhD.

5. Multiple campuses You can complete all the common core subjects at any UOW campus, and if your preferred major or minor is offered at another campus you can apply to transfer for those subjects in second year.

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COURSES

Geography and Human Geography Bachelor of Social Science (Human Geography) ATAR

72

DURATION

3 years

STARTS

Autumn (March)

LOCATION

Wollongong (UAC 755300)

Batemans Bay (UAC 755302)

Bega (UAC 755303)

Moss Vale (UAC 755304)

Shoalhaven (UAC 755301)

Southern Sydney (UAC 755305)

CRICOS 081145A

Bachelor of Science (Human Geography) go.uow.edu.au/bsci-humgeog ATAR 75 Duration

3 years

Starts

Autumn (March) Spring (July)

Location

Wollongong

UAC

757621

CRICOS

003283D

Bachelor of Science Advanced (Human Geography) go.uow.edu.au/bsci-adv ATAR 95 Duration

4 years

Starts

Autumn (March) Spring (July)

Location

Wollongong

UAC

757601

CRICOS

052463E

International Bachelor of Science go.uow.edu.au/intbsci ATAR 95 Duration

4 years

Starts

Autumn (March)

Location

Wollongong

UAC

757600

CRICOS

072610M

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Human Geography encompasses the study of both people and their environments.

Geographers maintain that place matters in debates about population, economic development, environmental management, planning and citizenship. They study conflicts and tensions about access to resources and are able to make important contributions in resolving these conflicts.

WHAT YOU STUDY You will study core subjects that focus on population analysis, geography, resource management and climate change. You can then choose from additional electives if you wish to gain further knowledge in a particular area. You could take subjects in sociology and ethics to explore the social implications of land use and climate change.

You could focus on physical geography subjects to predict how environmental changes affect population movements. You could even take politics subjects to investigate the relationship between policy, social change and the environment.

CAREERS Human Geographers contribute to environmental management, urban planning and the management of social and economic change. Human Geography often incorporates questions of social and environmental justice. It uses scientific tools to analyse human, social and natural processes to identify imbalances—and propose sustainable solutions.

Human geographers are employed in a very broad range of sectors.

Example careers include:

Community Liaison Cultural Development / Cultural Heritage Foreign Affairs and Trade International Aid / Development Market Research Analyst Native Title Consultant Park Ranger Policy Officer / Analyst Research Officer Secondary Teacher Social Researcher Social Scientist Urban Designer

Land and Heritage Management Bachelor of Science (Land and Heritage Management) go.uow.edu.au/bsci-lhmgmt ATAR 75 Duration

3 years

Starts

Autumn (March) Spring (July)

Location

Wollongong

UAC

757621

CRICOS

003283D

Bachelor of Science Advanced (Land and Heritage Management)

Land and Heritage Management examines how we use and interact with the Earth on both an urban and rural scale. It includes the practices of conservation, restoration, museology, archaeology, history and architecture. This area of science is also concerned with the intangible aspects of heritage and geography, such as traditional skills, cultures, movement patterns and languages.

WHAT YOU STUDY The Bachelor of Science (Land and Heritage Management) provides a core grounding in both the Human and Physical Geography strands, and provides the skills to work on both cultural and natural heritage issues or in land management.

CAREERS

Duration

4 years

Starts

Autumn (March) Spring (July)

Land and Heritage Management scientists work with government bodies, industry engaged in environmental monitoring, and Indigenous groups. Many work environments now involve the intersection of law, policy, business practice and environmental interests.

Good decisions can often only be made with the support of thorough scientific study. This means that the job of managing and protecting land and heritage needs scientists who are trained across a number of interrelated fields, including land and climate change, biology, spatial science, statistics, history and culture, population studies, environmental law, and resource management.

Location

Wollongong

UAC

757601

Example careers include:

CRICOS

052463E

go.uow.edu.au/bsci-adv ATAR 95

Environmental Planner Geographical Systems Officers GIS analyst GIS officer Research Associate Spatial Product Compiler Sustainability projects and Indigenous land management Tourism, heritage assessment and management

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COURSES

Social Science Social Sciences help transform the lives of individuals, families and communities by understanding, explaining, predicting and changing human behaviour and environments. To do this social science students engage in interdisciplinary study about human behaviour, including foundations in psychology, social policy, sociology, human geography, research methodology, indigenous studies, and social determinants of health and wellbeing.

Bachelor of Social Science* ATAR

72 (indicative) Psychology major - 75 (indicative)

DURATION

3 years

STARTS

Autumn (March)

CRICOS

081145A

LOCATION

Wollongong (UAC 755300)

Batemans Bay (UAC 755302)

Bega (UAC 755303)

Moss Vale (UAC 755304)

Shoalhaven (UAC 755301)

Southern Sydney (UAC 755305)

* Subject to final approval

Nationally and globally, there is an urgent need for reflective scholarly practitioners and researchers who are able to contribute to understanding the complex and changing needs of people throughout their lives, and in diverse communities in the face of technological, economic and social change.

With a variety of majors and more than 30 minors to choose from, our Bachelor of Social Science will provide you with the skills and expertise to be able to understand these complex and changing needs as relevant to your chosen field.

Majors you can choose from include: Criminology (Wollongong) Culture Community & Environment (Shoalhaven, Batemans Bay, Bega, Southern Highlands) Health Promotion (Wollongong, Shoalhaven) Human Geography (Wollongong, Southern Sydney, Batemans Bay, Shoalhaven Bega, Southern Highlands) Indigenous Studies (Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Batemans Bay, Bega, Southern Highlands) Psychology (Wollongong) Public Health (Wollongong, Shoalhaven) Social Marketing (Wollongong) Social Policy (Wollongong, Shaolhaven) Sociology (Wollongong, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven, Bega, Batemans Bay) If your preferred major is not offered on your local campus, you can apply to transfer after the first year of common foundation study.

Your Degree, Your study pathway Students will be able to build a unique study pathway. From a strong common foundation of compulsory core Social Science subjects in first year, you will choose and complete a specialty area/major, which is then complemented by your choice of elective subjects from any area of UOW offering cross-faculty enrolment. You can build a subspecialty/minor or choose any electives.

Field, Rural or International Experience As part of the program you will be given opportunities to complete work integrated learning. You will gain vital community experience in local, rural and international areas.

You are given the choice to study abroad or stay local and undertake activities to build your cross cultural communication skills through our Global Communicators program.

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Bachelor of Social Science (Scholar)*

The Bachelor of Social Science (Scholar) degree provides an enriched educational experience for high-achieving students who hope to make a practical and scholarly contribution to transforming lives and communities through their chosen area of study.

ATAR

90 (indicative)

Scholar students are able to:

DURATION

3 years

STARTS

Autumn (March)

CRICOS

081145A

LOCATION

Wollongong (UAC 755320)

Batemans Bay (UAC 755322)

Bega (UAC 755323)

e xtend subject loads and select major or minor subjects offered outside Autumn and Spring sessions to accelerate degree completion apply for study abroad before third year have guaranteed entry to the Bachelor of Social Science Honours degree, subject to achieving a credit grade average and maintaining high academic integrity standards throughout the program of study.

Moss Vale (UAC 755324)

Shoalhaven (UAC 755321)

Southern Sydney (UAC 755325)

Each Scholar student has access to a mentor who is a member of academic staff. Mentors offer advice in the general field of Social Sciences and, where appropriate, in the Scholar’s major area of study.

Scholars will also benefit from:

* Subject to final approval

E xtended library privileges Invitations to attend School workshops and seminars Autumn and Spring Scholar network events hosted by the Associate Dean and Senior School academics.

Casual UOW employment in Faculty, community, research, or quality improvement projects supervised by leading practitioners or scholars, for 15 hours per annum.

Reference from Faculty project casual employment supervisor Scholar’s Lounge Access to the Scholar and Honours computer lab hot desks

Associate Professor Samantha Thomas School of Health and Society

As a Public Health Social Marketing expert, I have had the opportunity to work on some of the most pressing health issues of the modern era, including obesity, mental health, and the harm caused by gambling on individuals and communities. Most recently, my research has focused on the powerful impact that industry marketing tactics from corporations such as alcohol, food and gambling, have had on the health of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

My research in this area is regularly reported in the media, and has been used in testimony to parliamentary enquiries. In research, it is exciting to see the range of cutting edge projects that our students are undertaking, and the opportunities they have to use their research to advocate for the improved health of our communities.

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COURSES

Bachelor of Social Science – Bachelor of Education (Primary)* ATAR

75 (indicative)

DURATION STARTS

LOCATION CRICOS

Autumn (March)

5 years Wollongong 081144B

* Available from 2016 subject to final approval

This double degree brings together the innovation that comes with the new Bachelor of Social Sciences and the strength that comes with an established, leading professional teaching degree. Meeting the needs of children and their families as a primary educator, and working in complex and challenging organisations such as schools—that are often the heart of a community and at the forefront of social change—needs informed, reflective practitioners. This double degree will produce graduates who have a deep understanding of human behaviour, the relationship of individuals, and communities to their environment, and the specific competencies required of professional educators.

The course aims to develop reflective, professional teachers, acknowledging the role of the teacher in the community, the demands of emerging technologies and the increasingly diverse classroom environment. Core subjects cover professional development, curriculum studies, special and gifted education, Aboriginal education, educational psychology and cultural diversity in classrooms.

Professional Experience (PeX) Practical teaching experiences, which usually occur in local schools in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Southern Sydney, are integrated into the program, commencing in the second year of study. Students also have the opportunity to apply for rural or international professional experiences.

Professional Accreditation This degree will be accredited through Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) and as such will be nationally recognised as a professional teaching qualification.

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Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) – Bachelor of Education (Primary)* ATAR

75 (indicative)

DURATION 5.5 years STARTS Autumn (March)

This double degree brings the innovation of our interdisciplinary social science studies, with the strength of our established psychology subject stream and the reputation of our leading professional preparation degree for teachers. This double degree will prepare graduates for a choice of rewarding careers such as teaching children from Kindergarten to Year 6 (ages 5 – 12 years) in public and private schools across Australia or to become a school counsellor. Students will be eligible to apply for entry to honours in psychology as the next step on the pathway to registration as a psychologist.

CRICOS 081142D

Core subjects cover professional development, psychology, educational psychology, Aboriginal education, special and gifted education, curriculum studies and cultural diversity in classrooms.

* Available from 2016 subject to final approval

Students who undertake this double degree must select the psychology major for their Social Science specialty.

LOCATION Wollongong

Professional Experience (PeX) Practical teaching experiences, which usually occur in local schools in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Southern Sydney, are integrated into the program, commencing in the second year of study. Students also have the opportunity to apply for rural or international professional experiences.

Professional Accreditation This degree will be accredited through Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) and as such will be nationally recognised as a professional teaching qualification.

For students pursuing studies in Psychology: Completion of four years in Psychology is an important first step for registration as a psychologist in Australia. This double degree is accredited as the first three years of study.

To complete the four years students must complete an add-on Honours year to meet the academic requirements for conditional registration as a psychologist in NSW. An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. This can be through two years’ supervised practice in the community or a fifth year at university plus one year of supervised practice in the community, or an accredited two-year Masters degree in Psychology.

Accreditation with the Australian Psychological Society, the national professional association, requires six years of approved academic study.

Social Science

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Majors Criminology

Indigenous Studies

Criminology is a social science that draws on a range of disciplines to critically examine debates about the causes, regulation, detection, prevention, control and representation of crime, and how these contested theories and values translate into criminal justice policies and practices. You will focus on: offenders, victims and agents of control; multidisciplinary understandings of crime; crime prevention; safe communities; security; probation and parole; human rights; and community justice.

This interdisciplinary major links together Indigenous Studies subjects and a number of subjects offered by the Faculties of Law, Humanities and the Arts and Social Sciences, to provide Indigenous and non-Indigenous students with a coherent program in the study of Indigenous Australia.

Community, Culture & Environment The theme of this major reflects its name, Community, Culture and Environment. Subjects offered by Sociology inform the theme of community, those offered by English, History and Cultural Studies inform the cultural theme and those offered by Earth Sciences and Science and Technology Studies inform the environmental theme. However, many of the subjects offered will often combine two of the themes listed in the degree, especially the Indigenous Studies subjects.

Health Promotion Health promotion is directed at enabling people to increase control over the determinants of their health and also changing social, environmental, political and economic conditions to reduce their impact on the health of communities. You learn how to plan, implement and evaluate health policies and projects, undertake health education initiatives, use media, engage with communities and develop advocacy strategies. Most of all you learn how to make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

Human Geography Human geography develops a holistic understanding of the complementary concepts of people, place and space, and uses a powerful mix of geographical and interdisciplinary skills to solve a range of problems. You explore what places mean, how people shape places, and how places shape lives, as well as space, that is measuring the locations and flows of social and material actions (mapping distances, boundaries, topographies, building types, transport systems, behaviours over time and so on). This major develops a broad geographical understanding of humans, environments and the dynamic relationships between them.

Psychology Psychology increases knowledge of how and why people act in the ways they do, as well as how to apply this knowledge in a wide variety of settings in a systematic, reproducible way. This three-year degree in Psychology provides students with knowledge of the processes basic to human psychological functioning, including the biological and social bases of behaviour, cognition, learning, perception, social and organisational behaviour, personality, and abnormality, as well as a grounding in research and assessment tools.

Students with an excellent academic record may apply to transfer to the four-year Bachelor of Psychology degree, which provides conditional accreditation by the State Registration Board.

Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) will have an indicative ATAR of 75.

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Public Health Public Health is a social science that aims to improve health and quality of life (positive states that go beyond freedom from disease or deprivation), based on the scientific analysis of populations. With a strong focus on the social determinants of health, themes include the exploration of health as a human experience mediated by individual, societal and global contexts; a reflexive and critical evaluation of factors affecting health and its representations; and an ability to engage actively in the discourses surrounding these concepts.

Social Marketing* Social Marketing draws on marketing theories and skills in seeking to influence the behaviours of target audiences for the greater social good, from health and wellbeing through to crime prevention and sustainable practices. Through integrating research, best practice, theory, audience and partnership insights, the studies inform the delivery of competition-sensitive and segmented social change programs that are cost-effective, equitable and sustainable. *Social Marketing major commencement date TBA.

Social Policy Social policy is concerned with the ways in which societies provide for people’s wellbeing through structures and systems of regulation, distribution, and empowerment. This major is interdisciplinary and focuses on the social ecology of everyday life. This major allows you to understand and investigate the interrelationships and conflicts between social policies and differently placed communities, families and individuals.

Sociology Sociology is concerned with understanding the social relations (biographical/historical, structural, and practice- and conflictrelated) that change, connect and divide individuals, groups, institutions and nations. Sociology’s aim of developing a critical awareness of the social world and self-reflection on the nature of your knowledge of the social involves evaluating theories, explanations and evidence and your own views and understandings of matters such as:

social policy and the state gender, sexuality and the body crime and punishment race and ethnicity social class families and intimacy social interaction social movements globalisation, development, and social change media and popular culture (depending on your choice of electives)

Kylie Austin Outreach and Pathways Manager, UOW

Studying at UOW really broadened my thinking about the world and the community I live in. The subjects that I studied and my teachers really cultivated an understanding of social justice issues and a passion to contribute to the local community.

Since completing my degree, I have utilised the skills and knowledge that I gained at UOW to develop programs for school students and local community members who have experienced disadvantage in their lives which has prevented them from considering higher education as an option.

To be able to work closely with individuals and help them to transform their lives is extremely rewarding.

I am now the Outreach & Pathways Manager at the UOW. This role has allowed me to utilise the knowledge and understanding of social inclusion which I gained through my degree and put in place strategies and programs to create opportunities for individuals in our local community. I am really grateful to have had the opportunities to study and work in a field that I am truly passionate about.

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GRADUATE OUTCOMES

CAREERS

Bachelor of Social Science:

Graduates gain the knowledge and skills to work in a wide variety of areas such as:

Analyse unpredictable, complex problems, issues and situations; apply creative, logical and critical thinking skills; and form evidence-based judgments regarding possible solutions Articulate ideas using a wide range of techniques effective with different audiences including experts and non-experts Consolidate and synthesise theoretical and practical knowledge of the dynamics of social systems and practices in different settings and applying this to your chosen specialty Enquire into and address your ongoing learning needs Enquire into the dynamics of particular social problems and practices using established social science protocols consistent with your specialty Integrate knowledge and understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and social science practice Recognise the importance of ethical practice, social responsibility, social justice and civic awareness when acting to resolve conflicts, address problems and respond to social and environmental challenges.

Work collaboratively with a range of people in different cultural, cross-cultural and regional contexts to best effect desired and desirable social change

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child protection community agencies community planning and development federal policy health care management and policy health promotion human services local and international community development local government market research policy analysis and evaluation social planning and social impact assessment social policy and research areas

Toby Dawson Regional Manager, Cancer Council, NSW, Southern Region

With a staff of 14, Toby Dawson is the public voice of Cancer Council’s NSW Southern Region—providing expert comment on cancerrelated topics affecting communities in the area from Helensburgh in the north, south to the Victorian border and west to Yass.

As Southern Region Manager he’s responsible for developing and implementing the organisation’s strategic direction and vision and managing high-level stakeholder relationships.

Toby, who was born and bred in Wollongong, joined the Cancer Council’s Wollongong office in 2010 as Regional Programs coordinator for the Southern Region and was appointed manager at the start of 2012.

“Now as Manager, I’m coordinating 14 people to contribute to an even greater impact in the fight against cancer. There’s a lot of job satisfaction. We have had some huge achievements in this region. We’ve recruited more schools to the SunSafe Primary Schools program than we have before and pioneered quite a lot of different programs and events.”

Toby says specialising in Public Health at UOW prepared him well for his career with the Cancer Council.

“The theoretical side of the degree was pretty much reflected in everything I did when I started working with the Cancer Council. My role really was the practical realisation of the theory that was taught at UOW.”

“As coordinator, I was working with different stakeholders in various communities to provide information and support to patients with cancer, providing prevention programs and lobbying governments to introduce such things as smoke-free policy. It was very frontline.”

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ADVANCED PROGRAMS This Advanced Program information is only applicable to students studying Human Geography and Land and Heritage Management.

If you want a challenge, an advanced program will give you freedom to push yourself as far as you want to go.

Advanced Degrees The Bachelor of Science Advanced and Advanced specialist degrees are for highachieving students who want to take their studies further. In addition to the scientific training available in the base degrees, you’ll have access to a number of special benefits and opportunities including: Research Assistantships (get paid to work alongside leading researchers on their research grants) Vacation scholarships (get paid to work over summer) Access to internships and research only subjects Work experience, networking, mentoring and professional development activities.

HONOURS Honours is available as an additional year of study after completing a Bachelor degree, and is focused on a significant research project.

Honours distinguish a graduate as a high-achiever and it is recognised as a qualification above and beyond a Bachelor degree. Honours students prove to employers that they are independent learners with advanced research skills.

Completing Honours is also the main path from an undergraduate degree to a PhD. You apply for Honours at the end of your degree—you don’t have to do anything now except think of the possibilities.

Research Honours years and Advanced degrees offer you the chance to undertake a significant research project. This is serious research where you can make a real contribution to the body of scientific knowledge.

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Scholarships At UOW, scholarships and grants are just a part of our commitment to student equity and our recognition of academic excellence across all areas of study. Our range of scholarships cover academic achievement, work integrated and Indigenous opportunities, and sporting excellence. Our grants help students overcome financial or social disadvantage to achieve their best. Each year, UOW’s EdStart grants are provided to a thousand UOW undergraduate domestic students, helping cover the costs of textbooks and other expenses.

To find out more, visit: uow.edu.au/about/scholarships

scholar Program The Scholar program provides an enriched educational experience for high achieving students. Students enrolled in Scholar degrees will fulfil the same requirements for their respective courses but will be allocated an academic mentor and engage in enriched assessment tasks in specified subjects.

Scholars will also benefit from: Extended library privileges Invitations to attend School workshops and seminars Autumn and Spring Scholar network events hosted by the Associate Dean and Senior School academics.

Casual UOW employment in Faculty, community, research, or quality improvement projects supervised by leading practitioners or scholars, for 15 hours per annum.

Reference from Faculty project casual employment supervisor Scholar’s Lounge Access to the Scholar and Honours computer labs hot desks

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LEARN MORE SEE US FOR YOURSELF: CAMPUS TOURS You don’t need to be a student at UOW to see firsthand why our campus is special and why we all love it here. UOW campus tours allow you to see our facilities and meet people doing what they do best. It’s your chance to check out UOW and ask as many questions as you like.

Our free, hour-long tours are conducted by current UOW students, and run at 10 am and 3 pm every Friday throughout the year. Arrange a tour via phone on 1300 367 869 or book online at uow.edu.au/future

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Student Services +61 2 4221 3981 ssc@uow.edu.au socialsciences.uow.edu.au GENERAL ENQUIRIES www.uow.edu.au/future Within Australia: 1300 367 869 International: +61 2 4221 3218 uniadvice@uow.edu.au facebook.com/uowfuture

The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure the information contained in this publication is correct at the time of production (April 2014); however, sections may be amended without notice by the University in response to changing circumstances or for any other reason. Check with the University at the time of enquiry for any updated information. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG CRICOS: 00102E