Program summary
Program overview
Career opportunities
Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
Program structure
Program requirements and notes
Enquiries
Recommended enrolment patterns

Program summary

QTAC code: 011121
OP/Rank for 2007 entry: OP-18 / Rank-61
Award abbreviation: BHumServ
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places, domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
CRICOS code: 057534K

New students: selecting courses for 2007

Program overview

The Bachelor of Human Services is designed to equip students to work with individuals, groups, families and communities in a broad range of supportive roles within the human services field. Outlining contemporary approaches to practice including strengths based work, case management, narrative approaches and evidence based practice, the program is seated firmly within a social justice framework.

The program orients students to a range of practice issues in the human services industry. It incorporates a theoretical and philosophical basis for underpinning a range of practice interventions with individuals, groups and families. It provides students with tools for both understanding and practicing in an industry characterized by diverse challenges.

Students will be exposed to the theory and values base of human services practice, underpinned by a strong ethical approach to work with vulnerable and marginalised groups within society, as well as to relevant practice skills required for working in the industry. In combining theory and practice, the program offers you entry into the growing field of human services / community welfare within Australia.

The Bachelor of Human Services meets the requirements of the Queensland Department of Child Safety as being an appropriate preparation for working in the child safety / child protection field within the department and the large network of funded agencies, making this degree well suited to prepare students for work in this growing and demanding field.

The program features a major in Human Services, and may also incorpoate a minor in Counselling or a major in Social and Community Studies. Introductory and advanced courses in psychology and sociology will assist students to understand the nature of contemporary society, individual, family and community behaviour. Students can specialize in fields of gender and Indigenous issues, health, disability, cultural diversity, and education.

The program also includes two professional placements in human services agencies, the former introducing students to working in the human services. The latter placement provides students with an integrated and focused experience working in a specialist area within the human services.

Career opportunities

Through completing the Bachelor of Human Services students can follow careers in aged services, casework with families, individuals and groups, child protection, correctional services, disability services, human service delivery, juvenile justice, youth work, corrections, education and disability services and welfare work. Students wishing to follow careers in private practice counselling should consider the Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling). Students wishing to work in the community work field should consider the Bachelor of Social Science (Community Work).

Program structure

Core courses

Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Communication and Thought
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability

Introductory courses

4 required courses:
SCS100 Introduction to the Social Sciences: Knowledge, Power and Society
SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Social Change
SCS120 Introduction to Psychology
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Advanced courses

13 required courses:
SCS221 Social Psychology
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS235 Providing for the People: Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS260 Community Work
SCS270 Applications in Social and Community Work
SCS272 Human Services Theory and Practice
SCS273 Human Services Placement 1 (150 hours/24cp)
SCS274 Human Services Placement 2 (300 hours/24cp)
SCS276 Groupwork
SCS277 Working with Families
SCS278 Ethics and Professional Practice
SCS280 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity

Elective courses

Choose 3 courses from any faculty (Arts and Social Sciences, Business or Faculty of Science, Health and Education). Please note: it is strongly recommended that students choose at least one of the following as an elective:

SCS210 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS225 Social and Community Research
SCS279 Human Services Project
SCS285 Health, Society and Culture
SCS286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SCS295 Gender and Culture

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of their USC program, students may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider

Program requirements and notes

1. SCS273 Human Services Placement 1 and SCS274 Human Services Placement 2 are 24 unit courses equivalent to two standard 12 unit courses.
2. No courses may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
3. Electives may be used to complete an additional major or minor to supplement the required major.
4. An introductory level course has a number less than 200 in its course code. An advanced level course has a number greater than 200 and less than 400 in its course code.
5. Refer to the Academic Rules.
6. Refer to explanation of terms.
7. Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns.

Enquiries

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259