Bachelor of Social Science in Human Services

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

Health and Physical Education teachers educate and promote a range of movement areas including games and sports, dance, gymnastics, aquatics and athletics. They also promote healthy lifestyle issues in schools to encourage lifelong movement, healthy behaviours associated with drugs, good nutrition, self-esteem development, knowledge about sexual health and interpersonal skills.

This four-year degree gives you expert theory and professional experience for employment as a Health and Physical Education teacher. You may also gain employment in other educational environments, with roles such as Game Development Officers and coaching in sports or active after school care programs. You will learn through face-to-face delivery in classrooms, online learning and community settings.

You will complete extensive professional experience throughout your degree, which allows you to learn by observation and apply your skills in the classroom. This includes a Professional Experience (PEX) in second and third year with a final seven week PEX/Internship in fourth year. You will also have opportunities for rural and international professional experiences, to study overseas with UOW's international exchange and study abroad partners, and to join international cultural immersion programs.

You can also apply for the Honours program, which is embedded in third/ fourth year, involves a research project under academic supervision. Entry to honours is based on application and merit.

What you will study
You will study health and physical education subjects including movement skills, games and sports, rhythmic movement, mental health and sexuality, relationships, drug and personal safety, curriculum and pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching), anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and educational foundations. You will also study broader complementary subjects including Aboriginal Education, Information and Communication Technology, Learners with Exceptional Needs, Educational Research, Communication, and Risk and Behaviour Management.

Teaching is an academically rigorous profession and teachers play a critical role in our communities. Strengthening requirements for studying teaching degrees in an initiative of the NSW Government to ensure that initial teacher education programs prepare high quality graduate teachers who can respond to the needs of all learners to make a positive impact on student learning. At UOW we are committed to ensuring our graduates are of the highest standard by setting appropriate entry criteria and maintaining a strongly developmental program that supports teacher education students from diverse backgrounds with diverse experiences, abilities and perspectives to become the teachers of the future.

Indigenous Studies explores the controversies, complexities and contradictions that shape what it means to be Indigenous in Australia and the world today. Contemporary Indigenous Australia is a fascinating crossroad of history, culture, power and politics. It includes the study of practical issues, political issues as well as understanding where these issues overlap.

Indigenous Studies at UOW is designed to equip you to think incisively about issues that impact on Indigenous individuals and communities on a local, national and global scale. This includes a focus on cultural, political, economic and social factors that have shaped, and continue to shape, the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is developed through the study of international Indigenous experiences and engagement with a range of Indigenous perspectives and organisations on a global scale.

What you will study
The Indigenous Studies major consists of four core subjects that will introduce you to indigenous Australia, the critical themes, global perspectives and research methodologies.

The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation will expose you to ideas that have been inspiring people since their inception — in Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the Modern Era. You will have the unique opportunity to directly engage with a carefully curated selection of some of the most influential works in the Western tradition of thought and art.

This degree also offers thirty generous scholarship opportunities valued at up to $30,000 per annum across the full course of study, as well as an opportunity to engage in a bespoke scholarly experience.

What you will study
You will philosophically reflect on questions about art, literature, science and religion while also investigating such topics as the nature of selfhood, truth, reason and wisdom. You will discover how great ideas and art can shape us - our understanding of ourselves and the world - and how ideas can make a difference for good or ill.

You will develop informed and reasoned views about significant contemporary concerns, such as the value of democracy, benefiting from your acquired knowledge of the history of ideas. You will become acquainted with diverging perspectives from within various Western traditions of thought and art as well as under-represented voices and perspectives from outside of those traditions.

You will choose one major from the following: Archaeology and Ancient History; Creative Writing; History; Indigenous Studies; Languages; Sociology; English Literatures; Philosophy; Politics; International Relations; Global Sustainable Development.

As data sets continue to expand exponentially, connecting data with artificial intelligence technology can provide new insights that are critical to solving complex problems.

Big Data can solve problems in science, society and business including population growth, transport, security, medical technology, trade and commerce. However, data first needs to be processed and refined so we can gain intelligence and make better decisions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to develop computer software and hardware to enable machines to learn from experience, adapt to new, incoming information and tackle tasks that require human-like thinking.

The most common examples of AI today - from chess computers to driverless vehicles - are based on deep learning, computer vision and natural language processing and various other methods. With these technologies, computers can be trained for specific tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns in the data.

AI is being integrated into every major technological system in the world in healthcare, legal and financial services, manufacturing, education, transport, agriculture, mining and other industries where automation and robotics can enhance production and improve safety.

What you will study
You will study subjects in the foundation of AI and Big Data, augmented and virtual reality and complete subjects in foundations of AI, modern AI, Big Data management, Big data mining techniques and implementation.

Supply Chain Management is concerned with the entire lifecycle of a product or service, from before it is made, to how it is disposed of, and how it moves between each stage. As well as goods and services, supply chain professionals analyse and manage information from the suppliers, through intermediaries, to the customer and their customers (in the case that your client is a business). It includes managing technical processes: both within the company between functions such as procurement, manufacturing and marketing; and between the company as organisations such as manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will major in Supply Chain Management and gain overall understanding of supply chain structures and develop an understanding of procurement and inventory management models, the role of enabling technologies within the supply chain, and performance measurements techniques.

Career opportunities include planning and inventory manager, purchasing manager, supply planner, transport manager, logistics manager, and purchasing officer. You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
You will learn the principles and tools associated with operations management and continuous quality improvement. You will also gain an understanding of total supply chain management, systems thinking and simulation and strategic management.

The Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) is for students who have a passion for helping people and communities to address inequalities, foster positive social change and create a just society. This degree will prepare you for a career in a range of human services agencies in the Australian Commonwealth, state and territory governments as well as non-government organisations, community-based organisations and private service providers.

This degree
The UOW Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) involves a common foundation of compulsory social science subjects in the first session of study, followed by a major in Human Services. You will have the opportunity to complement your degree with a minor study area or electives from any field in the University offering cross-faculty enrolment.

What you will study
You will examine how human services are delivered and analyse the planning, funding and regulation of social aspects of human services. You will also gain practical skills through work integrated learning including placements with human services organisations.

The Bachelor of Arts will equip you for today’s rapidly changing world. You will develop skills and capacities necessary to understand how the world has come to be the way it is today. The disciplines housed in the Bachelor of Arts degree share a common interest in addressing the fundamental questions of human social life. What do we need to know to create a better future, and what are the best ways of finding out? You will see and appreciate the world afresh, developing the analytical and communicative abilities to enrich life and your community. Share in the rich and global dialogue on contemporary human cultures.

What you will study
You construct your Bachelor of Arts degree by selecting majors and minors. Many of the majors and minors reflect areas of study that will be familiar (such as English, History, Politics) and some that may be less familiar (such as International Relations, Sociology and Environmental Humanities). Completing a major (or two) as part of your Bachelor of Arts degree will give you a set of skills that relate to the discipline you are studying (gaining expertise in History, for example) and also versatile skills in critical thinking, analysis, cultural intelligence, and conceptual frameworks. Because you can do more than one major, it is a good idea to choose widely in your first year, before settling on a major or majors in your second year.

Students must select one major and a second major or a minor, from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

Majors:

• Archaeology and Ancient History
• Community, Culture and Environment*
• Creative Writing
• English Literatures
• Environmental Humanities
• French
• History
• Indigenous Studies
• International Relations
• Japanese
• Legal Studies
• Mandarin for Non-Chinese Background Students
• Mandarin for Character Background Students
• Philosophy
• Photography
• Politics
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Writing & English Literatures

As long as you complete at least one major and one minor from the Bachelor of Arts, you can also take a major and/or minor from outside of the Bachelor of Arts degree. Popular majors from outside the Bachelor of Arts include: Criminology, Digital and Social Media, Economics, Global Screen Media, Global Sustainable Development, Human Geography, Journalism, Marketing, Communication and Advertising, Visual Communication Design, Global Sustainable Development, International Business, Economics, Human Resource Management, Management and Public Relations.

The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation combined with the Bachelor of Laws is an exciting and unique double degree combination. It will take you on a unique philosophical adventure through which you will engage with a carefully curated selection of some of the greatest intellectual and artistic masterpieces ever produced. It will also equip you with a comprehensive legal education.

Your UOW Law degree will provide a thorough grounding in Australian law, with a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates.

This degree also offers thirty generous scholarship opportunities valued at up to $30,000 per annum across the full course of study, as well as an opportunity to engage in a bespoke scholarly experience.

What you will study
You will philosophically reflect on questions about art, literature, science and religion while also investigating such topics as the nature of selfhood, truth, reason and wisdom. You will discover how great ideas and art can shape us - our understanding of ourselves and the world - and how ideas can make a difference for good or ill. By undertaking this double degree you will also master the prescribed areas of knowledge needed for future admission to the legal profession. It will equip you with skills in legal research, interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and negotiation.

You will develop informed and reasoned views about significant contemporary concerns, such as the value of democracy, benefiting from your acquired knowledge of the history of ideas. You will become acquainted with diverging perspectives from within various Western traditions of thought and art as well as under-represented voices and perspectives from outside of those traditions.

All students undertaking a Law degree are required to undertake a compulsory internship as part of their studies, so students can apply their legal knowledge to real-life situations. UOW is the only university in NSW to provide this experience to all its students.

If you've excelled in your Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree, you should consider an Honours year to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic that interests you. The Honours research topics available are varied and negotiable: if you are passionate about a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported to do so.

Whatever your topic, being able to demonstrate your ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently will be highly regarded by potential employers.

What you will study
The Honours year has two functions at UOW; as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research.

Studying Honours will:

• Teach you research skills, navigation skills and how to use information systems (archives, the library, databases and electronic research networks)
• Provide an opportunity to articulate complex ideas in both verbal and written format
• Provide the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and preparing a major project to meet a deadline
• Provide experience in devising, researching and delivering an individual topic of study in an extended thesis of approx. 15,000 words

Social Science looks at why and how we live the way we do. The social sciences look at society and social behaviour to understand, explain and change human behaviour to positively transform the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Social Scientists work in diverse social environments to identify issues and develop strategies for solutions to social problems. Nationally and globally there is a demand for social scientists who are able to understand the complex and changing needs of societies in the face of technological, economic and social changes that constantly affect the smallest of communities to the largest of continents.

This degree
The UOW Bachelor of Social Science degree embeds Indigenous knowledge’s and content, and subjects that will develop your understanding of social inequalities impacting on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. You will also be provided with career ready experiences throughout the degree to prepare you for a changing world of work.

What you will study
You will complete a common foundation of compulsory core subjects and engage in interdisciplinary study through majors that come from a number of social science disciplines. You will also have the opportunity to complement your studies with a minor or elective subjects from any field in the University offering cross faculty enrolment.