Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Social Science in Sociology (Dual Degree)

at Western Sydney University - Penrith Campus (Kingswood) Australia

If you’re creative, passionate and a problem solver, our enhanced Arts degree could be for you.

This degree gives you the skills you need to become an in-demand computing professional. You will gain skills in a practice-based learning environment, be introduced to real-world project experience, and acquire a solid knowledge of ICT theory.

Western’s Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology will give you a strong understanding of several industry domains including networking, databases, systems analysis and design and programming. You will also gain relevant skills in web and mobile technologies, project management, professional communications, operating systems and human computer interaction. As well as the necessary mathematical and statistical skills to succeed as an ICT practitioner, you can choose from a broad range of specialisations including entertainment computing and social media analytics. You will also gain access to industry-leading facilities where you can bring your ideas to life and shape an unlimited future.

Mobile Computing

This major covers theories and technologies used for the development of distributed applications for hand-held mobile devices. Students completing this major will understand the advanced principles related to mobile hardware devices, data storage and transmission, and communication networks. In addition they will identify, analyse, and formulate solutions to real-world problems in the mobile domain. In devising these solutions students will also consider principles associated with user interface design, professional and ethical issues, in particular those relating to security and privacy of user data and user behaviour related to mobile devices and its applications.

This degree is suited to those interested in becoming an innovative, articulate musician who contributes to the music community and today’s culture.

Music graduates who previously would have planned to pursue contracts with one or more large record companies or orchestras now have a future where they will be able to self-publish their work to the world, or they may require a more entrepreneurial approach than that previously required of a musician or music technologist.

This double degree brings together the existing Music program with emerging creative industries and allows students who are interested in pursuing careers in music to also engage with new paradigms of creative and cultural production, developing skills in entrepreneurship and working in collaborative projects with creative industries in Greater Western Sydney.

If you’re creative, passionate and a problem solver, our enhanced Arts degree could be for you.

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.

You’re curious, enjoy telling stories, and you want to use media to share ideas about the things that get people talking.

Our Communication degree will give you the professional skills and knowledge to build the ‘go anywhere, do anything’ career you want. Major in Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations or Screen Media and develop job-ready skills in communication, digital media, media production, research, and innovation.

Public Relations

The Public Relations major covers the skills and knowledge required in the profession of public relations, including event management, issues and crisis management and campaign development.

The major focuses on the role of the public relations practitioner or adviser and provides a theoretical framework of the industry. Students engage with both theory and practical projects and complete an internship placement.

The degree will develop the mindset, risk tolerance, creativity, passion, big thinking, team formation and leadership capabilities – the key distinct characteristics of high-impact entrepreneurs.

In an entrepreneurial ecosystem, you will learn the knowledge and techniques for opportunity discovery, impact analysis, customer analysis, strategic team-building and leadership, the psychology and ethics of the start-up, funding modelling and financial analysis, growth and exit strategies.

The Games Design and Simulation specialisation will convert your passion for playing games into deep knowledge of the science and art of problem solving through development and application of games and simulations.

This area of study includes gamification, games design, game-based learning, and psychology of gaming, serious games, games entrepreneurship, as well as broader modelling and simulation. It features two majors that are not available in any other Western University degree - Game Programming and Game Design.

Upon completion you will have developed an entrepreneurial mindset and will know how to apply this mindset to address a diverse range of problems through game and simulation-based solutions.

The program incorporates practical experience in every semester of study, placing students in entrepreneurial environments (incubators, technology parks, innovation centres) and enabling them through all the stages from creative ideation through the sustainable development of the idea into a lean start-up.

Game Programming

In this major you will gain skills in programming, data structures, video game development, artificial intelligence and more. 

The degree will develop the mindset, risk tolerance, creativity, passion, big thinking, team formation and leadership capabilities – the key distinct characteristics of high-impact entrepreneurs.

In an entrepreneurial ecosystem, you will learn the knowledge and techniques for opportunity discovery, impact analysis, customer analysis, strategic team-building and leadership, the psychology and ethics of the start-up, funding modelling and financial analysis, growth and exit strategies.

The Games Design and Simulation specialisation will convert your passion for playing games into deep knowledge of the science and art of problem solving through development and application of games and simulations.

This area of study includes gamification, games design, game-based learning, and psychology of gaming, serious games, games entrepreneurship, as well as broader modelling and simulation. It features two majors that are not available in any other Western University degree - Game Programming and Game Design.

Upon completion you will have developed an entrepreneurial mindset and will know how to apply this mindset to address a diverse range of problems through game and simulation-based solutions.

The program incorporates practical experience in every semester of study, placing students in entrepreneurial environments (incubators, technology parks, innovation centres) and enabling them through all the stages from creative ideation through the sustainable development of the idea into a lean start-up.

Game Design

If you’re creative, passionate and a problem solver, our enhanced Arts degree could be for you.

If you’re creative, passionate and a problem solver, our enhanced Arts degree could be for you.