- Program summary
- Program overview
- Career opportunities
- Special features
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation
- Program structure
- Program requirements and notes
- Enquiries
Program summary
QTAC code: 011121
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-18 / Rank-64
Award abbreviation: BHumServ
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
USC program code: AR372
CRICOS code: 057534K
Program overview
The Bachelor of Human Services equips you to work with individuals, groups, families and communities in a broad range of supportive roles in community welfare.
Employment opportunities are diverse, and may include youth work, support for the aged, work in culturally diverse communities or in family and children’s services. You will work with people who require assistance and support with everyday living, and help them to make changes to enhance their lives.
The Bachelor of Human Services is a three-year professional program that provides you with the practical, theoretical and philosophical tools for understanding and practising in an industry characterised by diverse challenges.
Courses explore contemporary approaches to practice within a social justice framework, and the program is underpinned by a strong ethical approach to work with vulnerable and marginalised groups within society.
You will complete specialist studies in child protective practices, and may undertake a major in counselling. Other courses focus on gender, Indigenous issues, health, disability and cultural diversity. You will also complete two professional field education placements in human services agencies.
The Queensland Department of Child Safety, as a significant employment destination for human services students, has authorised the program as a potential entry point for work as child protection officers within the department. The program is also accredited with the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers.
Career opportunities
The human services profession is represented in a large range of organisational structures, including government and non-government community services. It features a diversity of professional roles in:
- aged services
- casework (families, individuals and groups)
- child protection
- disability services
- human service delivery
- juvenile justice
- youth work
- corrective services
- education services
- disability services
- welfare work
Special features
- 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
- equips students to work with individuals, groups, families and communities in a broad range of supportive roles within the human services/community welfare field
- benefits from a strong field education (internship) program, where you will work with community welfare agencies, linking your learning with practical experience
- accredited with the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers
Program structure
Core courses
Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Health Promotion Principles
COR110 Health Promotion Settings
COR111 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation
Introductory courses
5 required courses:
PSY100 Communication and Thought
SCS110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
SCS130 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
SCS172 Introduction to Psychology A
SCS180 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
Advanced courses
10 required courses:
ENP236 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SCS201 Social Work and Human Services Practice
SCS235 Counselling for the Human Services Professional
SCS273 Rural and Regional Sustainability(24 units)
SCS274 International Community Development and Global Justice(24 units)
SCS276 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS277 Human Services Placement 1
SCS278 Human Services Placement 2
SWK302 Group Work
SWK303 Working With Families
Elective courses
2 required courses from:
INT140 Ethics and Professional Practice
SCS210 Community Development and Social Action
SCS225 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and Practice
SCS230 An Introduction to Australian Politics: The Makings of a Republic?
SCS285 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS286 Social Research
SCS290 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS295 Health, Society and Culture
Plus select 3 courses from any faculty (Arts and Social Sciences, Business or Faculty of Science, Health and Education).
Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program
As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
Program requirements and notes
- SCS273 Disability: Culture, Community and Change and SCS274 Understanding Cultural Diversity are 24 unit courses equivalent to two standard 12 unit courses.
- No courses may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
- Electives may be used to complete an additional major or minor to supplement the required major.
- 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.
- Refer to the Academic Rules.
- Refer to explanation of terms.
- Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including, for example, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations.
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
Requirements for field education
In order to complete this program, you need to successfully complete field education (ie SCS273 Gender and Culture and SCS274 which is required to obtain a Blue Card (issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian).
Your enrolment in field education will be conditional upon the following:
- the eligibility for a Blue Card at the time of the first enrolment in the program
- maintenance of that eligibility throughout the entire of the program
- acquisition of a Blue Card prior to commencement of field education.
In the event that you become ineligible for a Blue Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the program, you will not be able to complete the degree.
Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester.
Field education includes professional or clinical placements. You may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at your own expense.
Enquiries
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
Program Leader
Dr Jan Foster
Tel: +61 7 5459 4661
Email: jfoster@usc.edu.au