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Program

Social Research and Policy - 3420

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: School of Social Sciences

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 3 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 144

UAC Code: 422300

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Major)

View program information for previous years

Program Description

This program is for students commencing from 2016.

Students commencing prior to 2016 should refer to the program rules for the year they started.

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. If you are enrolled in Single mode you will do both the depth and breadth component. If you are enrolled in Dual mode you will 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:
  • to develop your capacity 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.

If you study in either the single or dual mode, you will complete:
  1. a social research and policy core of 54 UOC (nine courses)
  2. a social research and policy prescribed elective of 6 UOC (one course)
  3. a major stream of 60 UOC (ten courses) selected from the list of UNSW BSRP approved home and external major streams.

If you study in single mode, you will also complete:
  1. 12 UOC of Free Electives (two courses)
  2. 12 UOC of General Education (two courses)

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The Program Learning Outcomes for this Program are as follows:

At the conclusion of this program, you should be able to:
  1. Locate an applied problem within a broader conceptual framework, linking theory and practice.
  2. Undertake social research through collection and analysis of data, concerning issues and problems in the social world.
  3. Analyse and contribute to policy issues and debates within organisations, communities and governance frameworks.
  4. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and conceptual understanding in at least one specialist Social Science field within its interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary context.
  5. Show understanding of the importance of ethical, social and professional responsibility.
  6. Communicate effectively in both oral and written communications in diverse environments.
  7. Demonstrate teamwork and 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:

  1. Core Social Research and Policy courses (54 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Social Research and Policy elective (6 UOC)
  3. One major stream (60 UOC) from the approved list
  4. Free electives (12 UOC)
  5. General Education (12 UOC)
Dual mode (120 UOC) made up of:
  1. Core Social Research and Policy courses (54 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Social Research and Policy elective (6 UOC)
  3. One major stream (60 UOC) from the approved list

Core

Compulsory courses (54 UOC) made up of DIPP1112 Introduction to the Workplace (6 UOC) and the following :
 
 
     
Level 1
  
       
     
Level 2
  
       
     
Level 3
  
       

Prescribed Elective

Social Research and Policy prescribed elective: 6 UOC (one course).

You should choose one course from the following list:
Or an appropriate course as agreed to by the Program Convenor.

Major Streams

60 UOC from any of the Internal Streams or External Streams (denoted with '*') listed below.
 
Media, Culture and Technology
Indigenous Studies Politics
International Relations
Marketing (48 UOC)* Sociology and Anthropology
 * denotes majors offered by Faculties other than UNSW Arts and Social Sciences.

External Streams

Human Resource Management, International Business, and Marketing: If you choose any of these streams you are required to complete 12 UOC of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives.

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives are any courses chosen from the offerings of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. You can use these courses to add depth to your major or minor stream (above the minimum requirements) or undertake other courses from other areas of study within UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) cannot be studied as UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives.

Free Electives

If you are completing the program in Single mode you have a 12 UOC free elective breadth requirement. You may complete any courses for which you are eligible to enrol either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences.

ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities (6 UOC)
HUMS1005 Personalised English Language Enhancement (6 UOC)

These courses, ARTS2050 and HUMS1005, can be counted as UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives or Free Electives.

General Education

General Education requires you to complete 12 UOC (two courses) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if you complete an external major or minor (for example, Economics). Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if you are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BSRP program.

Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective

A Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective is any course chosen from the list of Social Research and Policy offerings of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences.

Award with Distinction

You are eligible for the award of your Pass Degree "with Distinction" if you achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 75 in all courses and complete at least 50% of the requirements of your award at UNSW.

Honours

Once you have completed your Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (in either Single or Dual mode) you can apply for admission to do an Honours year in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504 or the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Honours) 4507 if undertaking the Social Research and Policy Honours stream. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the major stream(s) in which you want to study at Honours level.

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Honours) program 4507

Participation and Enrolment Requirements

Working with Children Check and National Criminal Record Check are handled on a case-by-case basis as they are only required of the students on placement when requested by agencies.

Working with Children Check

The Working With Children Check is valid for five years. It is a requirement for all students and is specifically designed for people who work or volunteer in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct. The result of a Working With Children Check is either a clearance to work with children for five years, or a bar against working with children. Cleared applicants are subject to ongoing monitoring and relevant new records may lead to the clearance being revoked. The Working With Children Check is fully portable so it can be used for any paid or unpaid child-related work in NSW for as long as the worker remains cleared.

You can apply for their Working With Children Check (WWCC) number on the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian website. To be eligible for a WWCC you will have to show proof of identity to a NSW Motor Registry or Council Agency. For more information you may access the online tutorials and fact sheets at Working With Children Check

National Criminal Record Check

A National Criminal Record Check is valid for three years. You must undergo a National Criminal Record Check and provide an original copy of the Check results to the Work Integrated Learning Unit. The result of a Working With Children Check is either that there are ‘no disclosable outcomes’, or that there are ‘disclosable outcomes’ which are then detailed in the certificate. If you have a disclosable outcome(s) on your criminal record check you will need to undergo a risk assessment. Please contact the Work Integrated Learning Unit for further information about this.
All placement students are subject to ongoing monitoring and must disclose new ‘disclosable outcomes’ to the Work Integrated Learning Unit. Some agencies (e.g NSW Health) only accept National Criminal Record Checks obtained through specific accredited agencies.

Sample Program

 
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (BSRP) - Sample Program - Example Only
 
CORE COURSES
(compulsory)		 PRESCRIBED SRP ELECTIVE
MAJOR STREAM
Example from
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
FREE ELECTIVES AND GENERAL EDUCATION
LEVEL 1 - 48 UOC 
S1

(6 UOC)
Free Elective 
(6 UOC)

General Education
(6 UOC)
S2  
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)

General Education
(6 UOC)
LEVEL 2 - 48 UOC 
S1 SRAP2001 Qualitative Social Research (6 UOC)
Prescribed SRP Elective
(6 UOC)
Development Studies Level 2 (6 UOC)
 
Development Studies Level 2 (6 UOC)
  
S2

 
Development Studies Level 2 (6 UOC)
 
Development Studies Level 2 (6 UOC)		  
LEVEL 3 - 48 UOC 
S1

 
Development Studies Level 3 (6 UOC)

Development Studies Level 3 (6 UOC)
 
 
S2
 
  
Development Studies Level 3 (6 UOC)

Development Studies Level 3 (6 UOC)
 
  


Academic Rules

Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree, you must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy and complete 144 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirement for a prescribed elective
  4. complete the requirements for one stream
  5. complete 12 UOC of Free Electives
  6. complete 12 UOC of General Education
  7. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  8. specify your major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
  9. complete at least 48 UOC, including 6 UOC at Level 1 and 6 UOC at Level 2 in your major stream, before enrolling in Level 3 courses.

Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree, you must:
  1. complete 120 UOC in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirement for a prescribed elective
  4. complete the requirements for one stream
  5. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  6. specify your major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
  7. complete at least 48 UOC, including 6 UOC at Level 1 and 6 UOC at Level 2 in your major stream, before enrolling in Level 3 courses.

Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BSRP and the online enrolment facility provide you with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that you have met the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. You are responsible for ensuring you are enrolling in courses that meet the Academic Rules outlined above. You should take care not to assume that because you have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to your degree program. If you need more help or want to check that your enrolment meets the program rules, get in touch with the Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre.

Glossary of Terms

Further Information
Contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

Area(s) of Specialisation
Social Research and Policy

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