Bachelor of Social
Science
An Introduction
Presenter:
Dr Patricia Short
School of Social Science
Position:
Program Director, B. Social Science
Want to Make a Difference?
Social Scientists are interested in how
societies work, how they came to be that
way and how they might be different.
A UQ Bachelor of Social Science is a way
to make a difference in the fields of:




Development
Health and Society
Social and Public Policy
Criminal Justice
UQ Open Day 2009
A Bachelor of Social Science
 The UQ Bachelor of Social
Science is a multidisciplinary
program
 Teaching and Learning have an
applied focus
 Students work with skilled
researchers, practitioners and
peers
UQ Open Day 2009
What do you study in a
Bachelor of Social Science?
Core courses in the social sciences, including
sociology, psychology, political science, and
social science research methods
A block of courses in a Major Field of Study
Courses you choose which could consist of a
structured Minor Field of Study or other courses
on the BSocSc list or any other undergraduate
course
Capstone research and development project,
a small group project undertaken with Industry
Partners and Academic Advisors.
UQ Open Day 2009
Majors
 Development
 Health and Society
 Social and Public Policy
 Criminal Justice
UQ Open Day 2009
Development
This major provides a social science
perspective on international and community
development issues.
Courses include analysis of the social impacts
of development, evaluating international aid &
community development projects , and
environmental policy.
The major emphasises working in multidisciplinary teams to alleviate poverty and
inequality and develop sustainable societies,
communities and environments.
UQ Open Day 2009
What do you study in the
Development major?
 Introduction to International Inequality and
Development
 Politics of Development
 Sociology of the Environment
 Globalisation & Development in Post-Colonial
Societies
 Community Development: Local and
International Practices
 Conflict Prevention & Resolution
UQ Open Day 2009
Social and Public Policy
This major connects the social sciences to the world of
practical politics. Students gain the skills to analyse
social and economic issues and develop, implement and
evaluate policy solutions
Courses include analysis of social and economic issues,
policy development, implementation, management, and
evaluation, and community engagement and
development
This major emphasises the ways in which social policy
impacts on us all, and the importance of social policy in
producing change for individuals and for society as a
whole.
UQ Open Day 2009
What do you study for a Social
and Public Policy major?
 The Welfare of Australians
 Australian Social Policy
 Politics and the Economy
 Indigenous Politics & Policy
 Environmental Politics & Policy
 Analysis and Practice in Social Policy
 Social Work Practice and Housing
 Governance and Australian Public Policy
UQ Open Day 2009
Health and Society
This major focuses on the social factors influencing
health and illness, on the way health systems works, and
on the relevance of social science in health care.
Courses cover inequalities in health and illness, health
promotion, health care administration , health-related
project management and evaluation, and health-related
research.
The major emphasises the social and ethical
determinants of health, and the local and global factors
important for achieving better health
UQ Open Day 2009
What do you study in the
Health major?
 Introduction to Health, Illness & Society
 Introduction to Psychology
 Sex, Drugs and Disease: the health of the
marginalised
 Health and Social Justice in Global Contexts
 Health Services Planning and Evaluation
 Health and Social Justice in Global Context
 Sociology of Health Communication
 Health Services Planning
 Health Promotion
UQ Open Day 2009
Criminal Justice
This major gives students the background and
skills to critically evaluate how we can better
respond to emerging crime problems in our
communities.
Courses included in the major focus on the
social factors leading to criminality and the
response to criminal behaviour from the justice
system.
This major emphasises applied social policy
issues relating to criminal justice.
UQ Open Day 2009
What do you study in the
Criminal Justice major?
 Introduction to Criminal Justice
 Introduction to Sociology
 Police and Society
 Crime, Victims and Justice
 Indigenous Politics and Policy
 Psychology of Law and Justice
 Community Crime Prevention
UQ Open Day 2009
Where does a degree in
Social Science take you?
Jessica, Sudan (email sent from Thailand)
Jessica’s Story…
After graduating I got an internship with an INGO that is American
based. I…was flown to Cambodia where I managed a research
program into the current trends of human trafficking.…I was able to
design the research, hire a team of 6 to work on data gathering and I
analyzed the data and wrote a report. The report was used by many
other NGOs working in the field and also presented at a forum to
those who work with government policy on the issue. …After this
finished I was employed to work on another of our programs in
Cambodia as a program manager in a schools feeding program …in
partnership with the World Food Program. During this time I also cocoordinated relief distributed to families affected by some serious
flooding in Cambodia and travelled to do some work in Burma. In April
this year I was transferred to work in Darfur, Sudan. I have been
working on a Women and Children’s protection program, funded by
USAID with some18,000 beneficiaries. …In a few weeks I will be
flying to attend a conference in Kenya. So it’s been an amazing
journey. …I feel I have had so many great experiences in the work
world which UQ had prepared me for! So thank you.
UQ Open Day 2009
Angela, Canberra
From Angela…
I joined the Australian Public Service as a Graduate in
2007….just recently moved into my third really interesting
position as a policy analyst at the Indigenous Policy Unit,
The Treasury (Commonwealth). …will be working on
some pretty complex policy issues such as Indigenous
health, education, child protection, remote families and
communities, and employment through processes such
as COAG and Northern Territory Emergency Response.
Angela now works for the MJD Foundation, an
organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for
Indigenous Australians and their families living
with Machado Joseph Disease, in Arnhem Land and
beyond. Angela is responsible for the management of the
MJDF's grants, as well as the day to day management
of key projects.
UQ Open Day 2009
Dianne, Alice Springs
Dianne’s ‘office’...
….some photos taken at ‘the office’. The first is from a
trip last week - when we reached Docker river about
10 kms from WA border. We travelled 1600 kms to 3
communities to discuss various issues such as tobacco
use, Volatile Substance Abuse (petrol, glue sniffing etc)
and Alcohol and Gunja use. Second, a huge lake in
the middle of the desert (goes for kilometres and
thousands of different birds make it their home), and
third is at Alpurrurulam, a small town located 20k away
from the QLD border. …My social science degree with
UQ has opened up doors for me to work in the most
amazing places (since completing my degree I have
travelled throughout Australia for work).
UQ Open Day 2009
Juvenile Justice Programs
Officer, Brisbane
Working in juvenile justice...
As you know, the field of criminal justice extends well
beyond policing, courts and corrections. Restorative justice
still is a key focus. It’s about offenders acknowledging
harm, accepting responsibility, and redress for victims.
...Working on criminal justice can involve developing
policies or programs such as Bail Support services for
young offenders or reintegration programs. It may involve
working directly with offenders on probation and parole, or
evaluating programs, or doing research focused on finding
evidence of what works in crime prevention and early
intervention. There’s also a lot of interest in community
policing – thinking about how communities can work with
police, welfare and youth services to prevent crime.
UQ Open Day 2009
Banthida, Laos
Combining Major Fields of
Study
I currently work for World Vision in Laos. I'm the Community
Health Coordinator and I'm responsible for Early Childhood
Care and Development (ECCD) project and the Water and
Sanitation
Hygiene
(WASH)
project
and
any
other community health related projects. ECCD aims to
improve maternal and child health and well-being….I'm now
at the stage of mainstreaming ECCD in 32 villages across 7
Area Development Projects (ADPs) in the southern province
of Savannakhet in Laos. We are also starting to
introduce ECCD to 3 other provinces.
…The knowledge, information and experience I gained from
my studies in UQ has helped me immensely with my
development work here in Laos. I really benefitted from
the hands-on research, real world experience and analytical
skills.
UQ Open Day 2009
Susan, Brisbane (photos from South Africa)
Susan’s Studies Abroad…
I came to Cape Town to study for a semester (through the UQ
Abroad Program) as it seemed to be an opportunity to put into
context much of what I had learned in my BSocSc/BA, majoring
in Development and Peace and Conflict Studies. …During my
time here I have taken courses at the University of Cape Town
on South African politics, policy and administration, and gender,
sexuality and politics. I have also undertaken an internship with
a local NGO, the Southern African Media and Gender Institute
(SAMGI), in which I worked on their "Xenophobia and Racism"
project. … I have also been lucky enough to engage in
considerable travel (both before and during my semester)
through East Africa, Namibia and other parts of South Africa.
These experiences have been amazing and invaluable, and
have given me a lot to reflect on. Highlights of my travels are
many, and include the warm freshwater of Lake Malawi, and the
dreamland of the dunes in Sossuvlei, Namibia.
UQ Open Day 2009
Amy, Brisbane and Dhaka
Amy’s Honours Experience…
I’ve been researching a local food movement called
‘permablitzing’, which organises teams of volunteers to
converge on backyards to build food producing gardens. I’ve
been spending my weekends with a shovel in one hand, and
a notebook in the other, speaking to volunteers about the
benefits to their community of growing food locally.
Honours has been a challenging but very rewarding year. I’ve
been working alongside students researching topics as
diverse as bin diving, community gardening, corporate social
responsibility in mining, online video piracy, youth and conflict
in East Timor, domestic violence, and indigenous identity in
Chile. Now, I’m heading to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to take up the
position of Research and Communications Officer with a local
NGO. …looking forward to a new challenge!
UQ Open Day 2009
Graduate with a Bachelor of Social
Science, or Bachelor of Arts/Social
Science
 Core skills in research, writing, and analysis in the
social sciences
 Capacities for independent, self-directed work,
team-work, consultation, community engagement
and advocacy
 Knowledge in one or more applied fields of study




Development
Health and Society
Social and Public Policy
Criminal Justice
 Possible fourth year of focused study at honours
level