Bachelor of Social Science in Peace and Development Studies / Bachelor of Laws

at Western Sydney University - Parramatta South Campus Australia

There is an urgent need for Humanitarian Workers worldwide. Western is taking the lead in training the next generation of qualified Humanitarian and Development Aid Workers.

The Bachelor of Humanitarian and Development Studies is unique being the only degree of its kind in Australia. This program was developed in consultation with NGOs to ensure what you learn is current and practical. Academics delivering this program include experts and practitioners from the United Nations agencies and international NGOs to ensure what you learn is current and practical. 

You will gain knowledge and practical experience in disaster management, humanitarian response and development assistance. Using our state of the art facilities, the experiential learning techniques applied utilise your theoretical knowledge for emedded simulation activities, case, problem and solution-based studies. We offer students regular opportunities with experts and practitioners from the United Nations agencies and international NGOs as guest speakers, seminars and career panels.

The comprehensive field experience package enhances your learning, research and real world experience to ensure you are career ready. A major component of the degree is a placement overseas for a full semester, which will be assisted by international partners including United Nations agencies and international NGOs. During your placement you will work on implementing life-saving programs and policies.

The Graduate Diploma program in public health is designed for health professionals who wish to extend and consolidate both practical and research skills for public health practice. For this program, students will study a wide range of evaluation processes and research methods relating to public health and policy analysis, economic evaluation, epidemiology and biostatistics. This program provides an entry point to the Master of Public Health for those who wish to continue their professional development with further studies.

Subjects of study include: A Global Perspective on Social Determinants of Health; Public Health, Policy and Society; Introduction to Epidemiology; and Introduction to Biostatistics.

You will additionally complete four electives from a wide range of fields of study including but not limited to Communicable Diseases, Health Workforce Planning, Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care and Surveillance and Disaster Planning.

The Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Scholars) degree is designed to develop your communication and personal skills, creativity, capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations, and problem-solving abilities.

Peace and Development Studies

The Peace and Development Studies major is concerned with inequalities of power and opportunity that lead to international and local conflict, uneven development, social dislocation and environmental degradation. This major examines the structural causes of racist and gendered violence, environmental crises, forced migration, poverty, resource conflict, and inter-generational inequity.

You will be introduced to theories and methods for identifying, measuring and resolving conflict and environmental degradation. Constructive solutions include empowerment and self-determination, sustainable living, peace building and conflict resolution strategies.

The major is organised around three fields of inquiry: structural inequality, social justice and human rights; development and sustainability; and peace and humanitarian responses/ actions.

We live in a world of screens ­– screens that need content. The Bachelor of Screen Media provides students with the tools and the know-how to make compelling, in-demand content crossing the spectrum of film, television, documentary, web series, video games and interactive experiences.

At Western, we’re pioneering a curriculum that prepares graduates to become the visual communicators of the future. Using our world-class facilities, you will learn to write, produce, direct and edit your own original content whilst also serving as collaborators on your classmates’ productions. You’ll work on campus in our TV studio, fully fitted with multi-cameras, green-screen and professional lighting. We’ll show you how to shape your content in the edit suites, and enhance your productions in the large Mac labs. You can also borrow equipment from the loan store to shoot content on location.

In your first year you’ll gain a strong foundation in different approaches and genres, and get hands-on experience creating short pieces. You’ll learn best-practice filmmaking, camera, editing, sound, be introduced to animation and visual effects, and build an understanding of the business of the industry. As you progress through the degree, you will develop skills in digital storytelling, and explore virtual, augmented and mixed reality. From Day 1, you will start building your portfolio with content created in class, so that by the time you graduate, you will have a rock-solid showcase of your work to impress potential employers.

In your second and third years, you’ll have the opportunity to  choose complementary subjects in either Journalism or Design, depending on your area of interest. If you’d like a future career creating short or long-form documentaries – insightful exposés of ex-world leaders or ‘tiger kings’, or highlighting the impact of climate change: choose the Journalism stream. Or if you’re more interested in creating interactive online experiences, apps and game design – choose the Design stream. Both streams complement the skills and knowledge you develop in your screen media subjects, further enhancing career opportunities.

This double degree program is designed for students whose interests span the Arts and Sciences. Our graduates work across a range of academic and professional disciplines, including the opportunity to develop global perspectives.

Chemistry

Chemistry knowledge underpins all aspects of our modern society. Chemists can use an understanding of chemical structures and processes to adapt, control and manipulate systems involved in energy production, food safety, forensics, biomedical technology, and ecosystem. Indeed, there is not an area of our society that has not been impacted by chemical knowledge. At Western Sydney University, we teach the theoretical and practical aspects of chemical sciences covering the sub-disciplines of physical, analytical, inorganic and organic chemistries. We have a particular focus on contemporary spectroscopy and separation methods that are required to solve big-picture problems in all areas of scientific discovery. Our graduates have opportunities to be closely mentored by experienced academics. We aim to produce scientists who are confident and self-directed, having gained independence in scientific discovery through an integrated theoretical and practical teaching programme that seeks to solve problems relating to societal needs.

The speed of change in Information and Communications Technology requires everyone to update their knowledge every few years. Western Sydney University programs recognise this. In addition we concentrate on the vital role that computer networks, including internet and web technologies, are playing in all areas of life.

The Master of Information and Communications Technology (Advanced) prepares computing professionals and recent graduates for work in the information and communications technologies sector at the top of today's thoroughly globalised and networked environment. The program combines both Web Engineering and Networking majors, giving a strong foundation for your professional life in computing.

Globalisation and new developments in information and media technology are reshaping visual communication design.

This degree combines practice and theory to develop your creative, intellectual and technical skills. Work on real community and industry projects and build a body of work for your portfolio.

The world of tomorrow is filled with exciting creative challenges and opportunities.

Work on real community and industry projects. Learn how to interpret design briefs. Gain experience with an extensive range of digital technologies. Undertake a major design project in your 4th year. Get ready. At Western.

This double degree program will allow you to combine your interest and expertise in science with a sophisticated understanding of international issues and systems. This will equip you to work in globalised science-based professions and industries.

You can design your own academic program within the Bachelor of Science program structure, which must include a Science major. This can be combined with an International Studies major in International Relations and Asian Studies.

The Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of International Studies equips you to work in globalised science-based professions and industries. Our graduates have a solid grounding in a core science disciplines such as Biological Science, Chemistry or Mathematics.

Biology

This major provides students with a broad knowledge base of biology from the molecular world to global ecosystem science with a focus on the sustainability of the natural world. The major allows students to use the learning beside a range of other diverse majors and is especially applicable to students who are considering teaching as a career. Students will have the opportunity to develop discipline knowledge alongside scientific laboratory and inquiry based skills. The major also includes developing strong communication and critical thinking skills, essential for the future role of biology graduates.

This double degree program is designed for students whose interests span the Arts and Social Sciences.

It will give you the skills and versatility to work across a range of academic and professional disciplines, including the opportunity to develop global perspectives and communication skills.

You need to include a Social Science Major, so you can design your own academic program within the Bachelor of Social Science program structure.

Global Business

The global economy is becoming increasingly important for organisations seeking out new opportunities to expand their customer base and develop partnerships.

Managers who are well-versed in the needs of doing business internationally and who can exploit these opportunities will therefore play an integral role in any such corporation.

This major provides you with the detailed knowledge of the international dimension of business and the necessary understanding of the workings of that market system.

This double degree program is designed for students whose interests span the Arts and Social Sciences.

It will give you the skills and versatility to work across a range of academic and professional disciplines, including the opportunity to develop global perspectives and communication skills.

You need to include a Social Science Major, so you can design your own academic program within the Bachelor of Social Science program structure.

Anthropology

Social Anthropology is the study of humans and the cultures they create.

The major in Anthropology within the Bachelor of Social Science offers students the opportunity to examine social patterns and practices across cultures, to discover similarities and differences between cultures, and to understand the processes by which humans organise and create meaning.

Areas of focus include the development of anthropology as a discipline; globalisation and culture; power and politics; gender and sexuality; identity and belonging; ethnography and ethnographic methods; indigenous peoples and nation states. Specific attention is given to cultures of Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and to cross cultural interactions, at both global and local levels.

The major seeks to equip students with multi-cultural knowledge as well as to provide a thorough grounding in research methods and ethics with utility in a variety of professional and academic contexts.