Make a difference in your community.
This diploma provides skills and knowledge for workers involved in service delivery, either directly with clients or via health promotion and community development projects.
This diploma provides skills and knowledge for workers involved in service delivery, either directly with clients or via health promotion and community development projects.
Graduates have an understanding of indigenous culture and history and are able to work with local communities in the provision of services.
Graduates may also have responsibility for the supervision of other staff and volunteers. You may undertake certificate-level study at some campuses in the first year.
The bachelor component provides a complementary theoretical grounding in social sciences. Refer to the Bachelor of Social Science for more information.
Career opportunities
Refer to separate entry for Bachelor of Social Science.
Teaching mode
There are different teaching modes between the TAFE diploma modules and the University’s Bachelor of Social Science courses. Diploma modules are face-to-face teaching with performance-based assessment.
The University’s Bachelor of Social Science courses include three or four hours of contact per course per week, generally in the mode of a one-hour lecture and two-hour tutorial. Students complete a further six to seven hours of self-directed learning per course per week.
The self-directed learning consists of readings, research, assignments and other assessment items.
Please note: This full-time program commences only in Semester 1 each year. New students are not required to complete any USC courses until they complete their TAFE diploma.
Program structure
This program is an articulation between TAFE Queensland East Coast and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
TAFE Queensland East Coast
Students study the Diploma of Community Services Work at TAFE Queensland East Coast and USC will award credit for the Diploma as specified below.
8 courses credit:
ART199 Introductory level Arts and Social Sciences electives x 2
ART299 Advanced level Arts and Social Sciences elective x 1
COR199 Core Course x 1
GEN199 General course x 1
SCS299 Advanced Social and Community Studies electives x 3
University of the Sunshine Coast (USC)
Students will complete 16 courses at USC.
Introductory courses (2)
SCS110 Direct Practice 1
SCS130 Social Theories for Practice: Power, Oppression and the ‘Good Society’
Advanced courses (5)
SCS225 Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
SCS230 Master of Social Work Field Education 1
SCS235 Advocacy and Leadership in Social Policy and Legal Contexts
SCS290 Children, Youth and Families: Challenges, Critique and Change
SCS295 Direct Practice 2
PLUS select 8 courses to complete 1 major or 2 minors from:
Major courses
Minor courses
- Community Development
- Development Studies
- Geography
- Indigenous Studies
- Politics and International Relations
- Public Policy
Electives (1)
PLUS select 1 elective course from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses, including the core course
- Present your completed Diploma of Community Services Work to enable 8 courses (96 units) of transfer credits to be applied to your academic record
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Not available to international students on a Student Visa
- When enrolling, please refer to the Plan your study tab
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Apply for your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)