Bachelor of Social Science with Honours

Why study the Bachelor of Social Science with Honours at UNE?

This course is designed to allow well-qualified graduates to extend their studies in the areas of Psychology or Sociology, either to improve their career prospects or to proceed to higher degree studies. Completion of the degree to the standard of Honours Class II Division 2 or better is the normal mode of entry to the research degree of Master of Philosophy. Completion to the standard of Honours Class II Division 1 or better is the normal mode of entry to candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Graduates of honours in psychology are eligible to apply for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society and provisional registration to practise as a psychologist and for admission to the professional Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree.

Please note that admission to Honours in Psychology is only available in Trimester 1.

For Honours in Psychology only - Applications close EST 11.59pm on Tuesday 31st October 2017.

Career Opportunities

Entry to Masters level or Doctoral level research programs depends upon level of attainment. Graduates of honours in psychology are eligible for associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society and provisional registration as a psychologist and for admission to the professional Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree. Examples of other careers outside academia include positions in a wide range of public and private sector organisations, including roles as policy advisers, planning and research officers for state/federal government, market and social researchers, personnel officers and human resource management.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time

FEES

CSP
International

2018 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 1, On Campus
Trimester 2, Online
Trimester 2, On Campus

Official Abbreviation BSocSc(Hons)
Course Type Bachelor Honours
CRICOS Code 002578G
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Course Duration
  • 1 Year Full-time
  • 2 Years Part-time
Fees CSP / International
Total Credit Points 48
Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements.

Entry Requirements

1. Admission to candidature shall be determined by the head of school on the recommendation of the course coordinator.

2. Except as provided in Rule 3., a candidate for admission to the final honours course shall have:

(a) satisfied all requirements for admission to the AQF Level 7 degree of Bachelor of Social Science in The University of New England; and

(b) passed units to the value of at least 60 credit points in the subject in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and

(c) attained at least Distinction standard in at least 18 credit points at 300 level in the subject in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and

(d) fulfilled any additional requirements prescribed and published by the subject or subjects concerned and approved by the School.

3. With the approval of the Head of School on the recommendation of the course coordinator, a person who has fulfilled the requirements for a degree or other qualification of equivalent standing of a university or other institution recognised by the School for this purpose and who meets requirements considered to be equivalent to those specified in Rule 2., may be admitted to the final honours course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Science with Honours.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Advanced standing shall not be granted for PSYC402H, PSYC403H or SOCY402H.

Academic Colours

Old Rose (BCC 157)

Further Information

You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE

These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in 2018.

Admission to Candidature

1. Admission to candidature shall be determined by the head of school on the recommendation of the course coordinator.

2. Except as provided in Rule 3., a candidate for admission to the final honours course shall have:
(a) satisfied all requirements for admission to the AQF Level 7 degree of Bachelor of Social Science in The University of New England; and
(b) passed units to the value of at least 60 credit points in the subject in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and
(c) attained at least Distinction standard in at least 18 credit points at 300 level in the subject in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and
(d) fulfilled any additional requirements prescribed and published by the subject or subjects concerned and approved by the School.

3. With the approval of the Head of School on the recommendation of the course coordinator, a person who has fulfilled the requirements for a degree or other qualification of equivalent standing of a university or other institution recognised by the School for this purpose and who meets requirements considered to be equivalent to those specified in Rule 2., may be admitted to the final honours course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Science with Honours.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.
Advanced standing shall not be granted for PSYC402H, PSYC403H or SOCY402H.

Period of Candidature

The period of candidature shall be:
(a) one year as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to two years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

1. To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 48 credit points at 400-level comprising:
(i) an advanced course work component to the value of 24 credit points in the relevant subject; and
(ii) a dissertation component to the value of 24 credit points in the relevant subject.

2. A candidate shall complete a final honours course and pass the examination in either Psychology or Sociology.

3. Each Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) candidate is required to spend periods in face-to-face consultation with his or her supervisor(s). The nature and extent of such consultation will be determined by the supervisors and Head of School after consultation with the candidate prior to commencement of each year of candidature.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 48 cps
Total 48 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here (Psychology)

To view complete Program of Study click here (Sociology)

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Bachelor of Social Science with Honours.

Classes of Honours

There shall be three classes of honours, namely Class I, Class II, and Class III. Class II shall have two divisions.
An exceptionally distinguished candidate who has been awarded First Class Honours may be awarded a University Medal.

An honours graduate who subsequently satisfies the honours requirements of another subject shall be granted a Certificate of Honours in that subject.

Submission of Dissertation

Submission of the dissertation will be 39 weeks from the commencement of the trimester in which a candidate is enrolled. Candidates must submit an electronic copy of the dissertation for examination.

Examination of Dissertation

1. The dissertation will be assessed by at least two examiners.
2. The examiners may be internal or external to The University of New England at the discretion of the Head of School.
3. The final class of honours will be determined on the basis of marks awarded for both dissertation and course work.
4. A dissertation will not be examined by a candidate's supervisor, but the supervisor should be consulted in the determination of the final result.

Suspensions and Extensions

The School may grant Sociology candidates an extension or suspension of candidature, or a combination of both, to full-time candidates for up to six months and to part-time candidates for up to 12 months as follows:
(a) to compensate by way of extension of candidature, a candidate for time lost by ill-health or unforeseeable and unavoidable difficulties; or
(b) to compensate by way of suspension of candidature, a candidate who produces evidence that he/she shall not be in a position to pursue work towards the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours).

The School may grant Psychology candidates up to 12 months extension or suspension of candidature to compensate time lost by ill-health or unforseeable and unavoidable circumstances.

Re-enrolment

1. A full-time Sociology candidate may be granted special leave by the Head of School to re-enrol in a subsequent year if he or she withdraws from candidature by the census date of the teaching period in which they commenced.

2. A part-time Sociology candidate may withdraw from candidature up to the census date of the teaching period in which they commenced in their first year of enrolment without prejudice to the right to re-enrol in a succeeding year.

3. Candidates who withdraw from their course will not be permitted to re-enrol except with the permission of the Head of School and only under exceptional circumstances.

4. A candidate who withdraws later than the census date from PSYC402H or PSYC403H or SOCY402H but prior to two months before the submission of the dissertation may with Head of School permission re-enrol in PSYC402H or PSYC403H or SOCY402H in the subsequent year, provided that the topic of study undertaken within the dissertation is different from the original enrolment.

5. A candidate who withdraws later than two months prior to the dissertation's submission date shall be deemed to have failed.

6. A candidate who is deemed to have failed may, after a lapse of two years, be permitted to apply for re-admission to the course, provided the proposed dissertation work is in a different topic of study from that of the original enrolment.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Additional Requirements

Psychology
A candidate for Psychology honours in the Bachelor of Social Science with Honours degree must have successfully completed an accredited major in Psychology within the past 10 years and have completed the following units (or equivalent) at a minimum GPA of 5.25:
1. PSYC200, PSYC202, PSYC206 and PSYC213; and
2. PSYC366, PSYC371 and PSYC372 plus at least 6 additional credit points of PSYC units at 300-level.

Note that satisfaction of these requirements does not guarantee a place in the program. The School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences imposes a quota on Psychology Honours enrolments. The closing date for all applications to enter honours in Psychology is 31 October in the year prior to that in which enrolment is sought.

Sociology
Except with permission of the Sociology postgraduate coordinator, a candidate for Honours in Sociology shall have obtained 60 credit points in Sociology of which up to 12 credit points can be substituted by units in another related area; have three Distinctions or better in 300-level Sociology units; and have passed SOCY340 (Foundations of Modernity: An Introduction to Social Theory) and either SOCY345 (Mixed Methods in Social Research).

Course Aims

This course provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in the disciplinary field of either Psychology or Sociology. The course aims to encourage students to extend their intellectual range in their chosen field of study and hone their research abilities and analytical and communication techniques. It prepares students for postgraduate study and establishes a sound basis for a successful future career.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. apply advanced quantitative research techniques to real-world empirical data through statistical analysis and/or survey methodology, and judge the suitability of given methods to given applications; and/or
  2. apply advanced qualitative research techniques to real-world empirical data through a grounding in a range of qualitative methods, and judge the suitability of given methods to given applications;
  3. design, research and present a clear, coherent independent and original exposition of advanced knowledge and ideas in their area of study;
  4. apply advanced writing skills and coherently and persuasively communicate findings in an appropriate form to diverse audiences; and
  5. apply, where appropriate, an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the ethical dimensions of research.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in Psychology or Sociology, including a global perspective, as well as highly developed knowledge of research principles and methods and an advanced comprehension of one particular area of study that the student has selected to research. Supervisors will guide students to identify important resources that will be used as the basis for their dissertation. This knowledge will then be assessed throughout the degree through a range of assessment tasks to be determined by the relevant discipline, including the dissertation.

Communication Skills

Graduates will have high level communication skills, oral and written, and be able to convey ideas and information effetively to a range of audiences. Guided by their supervisor, these communication skills will be developed by students when completing, for example, ethics applications, contacting potential research participants, conducting empirical and other research, communicating their ideas orally, and in the writing of the dissertation. The honing of these skills will stand students in good stead for the workplace.

Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to apply logical, critical and creative thinking to solve a range of problems with intellectual independence. With initiative and judgement these skills will enable students to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts. Students will need to locate, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources throughout their degree. Students will be taught how to evaluate and interpret information in a useful manner and will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct relevant literature and to integrate theoretical and critical approaches into their work.

Information Literacy

Graduates will recognise when information is needed, and identify, evaluate, and effectively use information as required. They will have the advanced cognitive skills to use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access, critically analyse and interpret information. They will have the cognitive skills to exercise critical and creative thinking and judgement in developing new understanding of a subject.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates will be able to recognise, reflect on and respond appropriately to social, cultural and ethical issues. Graduates will be aware of their professional responsibilities as researchers to provide balanced and accurate research and data. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will be prepared for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal and professional development. Graduates will have the research and critical thinking skills as well as intellectual capacity to enable them to continually further their learning. These attributes will be fostered throughout the honours program. Through completing the coursework and dissertation students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to, with a degree of independence, research, write about and discuss critical issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, will be useful in any career positions and are essentially lifelong competences.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will work independently and collaboratively to achieve individual and common goals. Graduates will be able to exercise responsibility and accountability for their own learning and professional practice as well as the ability to work collaboratively with others within broad parameters. Students will be required to participate in professional, respectful and ethical discussions with their supervisor, and with other students, on issues associated with their area of study.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International

For more information, click here

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