Social Research and Policy - 3420
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Contact: Dr Alan Morris
Campus: Sydney
Career: Undergraduate
Typical Duration: 3 Years
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 3
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 144
UAC Code: 422006
International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements
Award(s):
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Major)
Information valid for students commencing 2013.
Students who commenced prior to 2013 should go to the Handbook's Previous Editions
Program Description
The Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (UNSW BSRP) degree combines a core program of skills in policy analysis and research methods with in-depth study in one or more social science disciplines. The degree requires one major stream of study in an approved social science discipline and a minimum level of electives. You will have the opportunity to further develop your professional and workplace skills through an internship and career-orientated focus. The UNSW BSRP can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 3 years), in Dual mode (the equivalent of 2.5 years full-time study) or part-time. The BSRP has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component.
A Bachelor of Social Research and Policy degree offers the opportunity to pursue knowledge in the social research and policy while developing technical and professional skills to apply this knowledge to issues in the real world. Its objectives are:
A Bachelor of Social Research and Policy degree offers the opportunity to pursue knowledge in the social research and policy while developing technical and professional skills to apply this knowledge to issues in the real world. Its objectives are:
- to develop the capacity of students to critically evaluate ideas and policy problems and
- to undertake social research in order to contribute to enlightened policy-making.
Skills developed include written communication skills with particular emphasis on reports, submissions, position papers and proposals; the ability to undertake research and data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative; analysis and critical evaluation of research, arguments and policies; and technologies involved in social research and information processing. The internship experience promotes development of excellence in professional practice.
The Depth component is:
- The completion of a social research and policy core (54 UOC - 9 courses)
- The completion of two social research and policy prescribed electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
- The completion of at least a major stream (54 UOC - 9 courses) selected from the list of UNSW BSRP approved home and external major streams.
The Breadth component (for students completing the program in Single mode) is:
- Free Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses) which can be taken either within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses) which must be taken outside of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The aims of the UNSW Bachelor of Social Research and Policy are:
- To develop students’ creative thinking and their capacity to evaluate ideas and policy problems critically
- To provide skills in undertaking social research, including collecting and analysing data concerning issues and problems particularly in an applied policy setting
- To stimulate informed community and academic debate, and contribute to enlightened policy-making through excellence in professional practice
- To develop students' capacity to contribute to, and work within, the local, national and international community in an ethical way
- To provide familiarity with the theories, bodies of knowledge and methods of social research and explanations that constitute one or more fields of study in social science
- To provide an understanding of the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature of social science.
The Graduate Attributes for this program are as follows:
- An ability to locate an applied problem within a broader conceptual framework; linking theory and practice
- An ability to undertake social research through collection and analysis of data, concerning issues and problems in the social world
- A capacity to analyse and contribute to policy issues and debates within organisations, communities and governance frameworks
- An in-depth knowledge and conceptual understanding in at least one specialist Social Science field within its interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary context
- An understanding of the importance of ethical, social and professional responsibility
- An appreciation of the importance of effective oral and written communication skills in diverse environments
- Teamwork & leadership skills, with the capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively.
Program Structure
The basic requirements for the degree are:
Single mode (144 UOC) made up of:
- Core social research and policy courses (54 UOC)
- Prescribed social research and policy electives (12 UOC)
- One stream (54 UOC) from the approved list
- Free electives (12 UOC)
- General Education (12 UOC)
Dual mode (120 UOC) made up of:
- Core social research and policy courses (54 UOC)
- Prescribed social research and policy electives (12 UOC)
- One stream (54 UOC) from the approved list
Core
Compulsory courses (54 UOC) made up of:
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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SLSP3xxx Social Research and Policy Graduates in the Workplace (6 UOC)
SLSP3xxx Social Research and Policy Internship (6 UOC)
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Prescribed Electives
Social Science prescribed electives: 12 UOC (2 courses).
Students should choose two courses from the following list:
Students should choose two courses from the following list:
- ARTS1210 Concepts of Asia (6 UOC)
- ARTS1211 Australia's Asian Context (6 UOC)
- ARTS1750 Intro to Development Studies (6 UOC)
- ARTS1751 Poor World, Rich World (6 UOC)
- ARTS1810 Int'l Rel: Con & Cha (6 UOC)
- ARTS1840 Intro to Australian Politics (6 UOC)
- ARTS1871 Cultural Experience (6 UOC)
- ARTS2240 Environment and Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2602 Islam in Asia (6 UOC)
- ARTS2751 International Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2752 Local Politics of Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2842 Politics of Globalisation (6 UOC)
- ARTS2845 Sex, Human Rights & Justice (6 UOC)
- ARTS2848 Language, Politics and Society (6 UOC)
- ARTS2870 Global Citizens (6 UOC)
- ARTS2872 Living and dying (6 UOC)
- ARTS2873 People and Place (6 UOC)
- ARTS2876 Understanding the Self (6 UOC)
- ARTS2877 Technologies, Culture, Society (6 UOC)
- GLST1100 Experiencing Globalisation (6 UOC)
Or an appropriate course as agreed to by the Program Convenor.
Major Streams
54 UOC from any of the Internal Streams or External Streams (denoted with '*') listed below
| Human Resource Management (48 UOC)* | Media, Culture and Technology | |
| Indigenous Studies | Politics | |
| International Business (48 UOC)* | International Relations | |
| Marketing (48 UOC)* | Sociology and Anthropology |
| * denotes majors offered by Faculties other than Arts and Social Sciences. |
External Streams
Economics: Students in a Single award program who choose this stream are required to make up the additional 6 UOC from their Free Elective or General Education. Students in a Dual award program are required to to complete an additional 6 UOC (one course).
Human Resource Management, International Business, and Marketing: Students who choose any of these streams are required to complete 6 UOC of Prescribed Faculty Elective.
Human Resource Management, International Business, and Marketing: Students who choose any of these streams are required to complete 6 UOC of Prescribed Faculty Elective.
Free Electives
Students completing the program in Single mode have a 12 UOC free elective breadth requirement. Students may complete any courses for which they are eligible to enrol either within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
General Education
Students completing the program in Single mode or with another FASS program complete 12 UOC of General Education. Students must complete any two courses for which they are eligible to enrol outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external major or minor (for example, Economics) is completed.
Prescribed Faculty Elective
A Prescribed Faculty Elective is any course chosen by the student from the offerings of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective
A Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective is any course chosen by the student from the list of Social Research and Policy offerings of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Award with Distinction
High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".
Honours
High achieving students (in Single or Dual mode) may apply for entry to Honours. Honours is an additional year of study (two years part-time) which allows a student to further explore the Social Research and Policy in greater depth. Qualified students can choose to complete Honours in either of the following areas; (a) Social Research and Policy, (b) their major stream, or (c) combined Honours in Social Research and Policy and their major stream. Honours involves seminars and the completion of a research project or thesis. Those students who are considering Honours should submit an expression of interest at the beginning of Level 3 and complete a formal application at the end of Level 3. Both should be submitted to either the School of Social Sciences Honours Convenor or the Honours convenor of the School or stream if a stream major is being undertaken. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the core and prescribed electives of the program, or the major stream, or both depending on the type of study chosen and is subject to resources and the approval of the Head of the School Social Sciences. Honours is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions, and Class 3). If requirements for these classes are not met the Pass degree will be awarded if the student is not already a Graduate of the program.
Sample Program
| Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (BSRP) - Sample Program - Example Only | |||||||||
| LEVEL |
CORE COURSES (compulsory) |
PRESCRIBED SRP ELECTIVES |
MAJOR STREAM
Example from
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
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FREE ELECTIVES AND GENERAL EDUCATION
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| LEVEL 1 - 48 UOC | |||||||||
| S1 |
Prescribed SRP Elective (6 UOC)
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(6 UOC)
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Free Elective (6 UOC)
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| S2 |
(6 UOC)
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Free Elective (6 UOC)
General Education (6 UOC)
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| LEVEL 2 - 48 UOC | |||||||||
| S1 | SLSP2001 Applied Social Research 1 (6 UOC) |
Prescribed SRP Elective (6 UOC)
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Development Studies (6 UOC)
Development Studies (6 UOC)
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| S2 |
Development Studies (6 UOC) Development Studies (6 UOC) |
General Education (6 UOC) | |||||||
| LEVEL 3 - 48 UOC | |||||||||
| S1 |
Development Studies (6 UOC)
Development Studies (6 UOC)
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| S2 |
SLSP3xxx Social Research and Policy Graduates in the Workplace (6 UOC)
SLSP3xxx Social Research and Policy Internship (6 UOC)
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Development Studies Capstone (6 UOC)
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Academic Rules
Single Mode
To qualify for the award of the degree, a student must:
- enrol in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy and complete 144 UOC;
- complete the requirements for the core
- complete the requirements for prescribed electives
- complete the requirements for one stream
- complete 12 UOC of Free Electives
- complete 12 UOC of General Education
- complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
- specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
- complete at least 24 UOC in their major stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
- complete 120 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course
Dual Mode
To qualify for the award of the degree, a student must:
- enrol in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy and complete 120 UOC;
- complete the requirements for the core
- complete the requirements for prescribed electives
- complete the requirements for one stream
- complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
- specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
- complete at least 24 UOC in their major stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
- complete at least 72 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course
Honours
To qualify for the award of the degree with Honours, a Single or Dual award student must:
- be a Graduand or Graduate of the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy
- hold a WAM of 70 or higher in either (a) core and prescribed electives (b) their stream (c) their core and prescribed electives and their stream
- complete the seminar coursework requirement for their area of study (18 UOC)
- complete a research project or thesis (30 UOC)
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html
Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BSRP and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.
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