- Program summary
- Program overview
- Special features
- Honours disciplines
- Entry requirements
- Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
- Program structure
- Program requirements and notes
- Classes of honours
- Enquiries
Program summary
Award abbreviation: BSocSc(Hons)
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places, domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Program code: AR402
CRICOS code: 058120B
Program overview
An honours degree offers student's the opportunity to continue undergraduate studies at a higher level, specialising in an area of interest. Completing an honours degree develops the student's ability to design and complete a research project relatively independently within a given time frame.
This style of independent learning can give student's an advantage when entering the workforce. An honours degree is also the main pathway to further postgraduate study, particularly research-focused study.
In the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, research supervision is offered in a wide range of research areas by experienced academic staff. Students might like to visit current honours projects or ideas for research projects.
Special features
- opportunity to specialise in an area of vocational interest
- consolidation of research skills
- pathway to further research-based postgraduate study
- signals an ability to work individually and independently
- demonstrates the ability to identify problems in design methods, to research and to write a significant report
- provides qualifications to work as a project leader
Honours disciplines
Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) is offered in the following areas:
- Community Work
- Counselling
- Environmental and Planning Studies
- Human Services
- Politics and International Relations
- Social and Community Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
Entry requirements
Students must have completed a Bachelor of Social Science, or a related degree, with at least eight courses in the area of study of your thesis topic. A good level of achievement in the intended area of study must be demonstrated. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Importantly, enrolment is contingent upon the faculty's capacity to provide appropriate supervision.
Program structure
The honours program is normally as follows:
- a 48 unit coursework component (consisting of a combination of courses weighted from 12 to 24 units, up to 48 units), and
- a 48 unit thesis component (also known as a dissertation component).
Satisfactory participation in the Faculty Honours Seminar is also required.
If student's are completing their honours program part-time over two years, the first year will normally comprise coursework and the second will be dedicated to their thesis.
Coursework component
Coursework comprises a mix of:
(a) CMN574 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
(b) reading courses based on a program of supervised reading
(c) existing courses in the chosen area of study, with additional prescribed reading and assessment
(d) dedicated honours courses, or
(e) relevant courses through other universities
Thesis component
The thesis component consists of a sustained scholarly project developed from the research proposal submitted with the enrolment application. The nature and topic of this component is determined by the student's interests, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.
The research proposal accompanying the honours enrolment application is normally 2–3 pages. It includes an outline of the research topic, its rationale, an indication of the research methodology, and should refer to relevant literature in the topic area.
Enrolment and fees
- In any semester, standard full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL
- In any semester, standard part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date
- Commonwealth supported students pay student contributions
- Students who are not Commonwealth-supported pay full tuition fees
EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL
Program requirements and notes
Length of thesis
Student's thesis will be a research project normally of 15,000–25,000 words in length. The length is determined by the precise nature of the research in consultation with your supervisor and subject to the approval of the Dean.
Faculty Honours Seminar Program
The Honours Seminar Program helps to build an honours research culture and allows students from every honours area to meet in a flexible way, throughout the semesters.
At least one presentation at the Honours Seminar will be a requirement of the honours program and students will not be deemed to have successfully completed the program if they have not presented at the Seminar.
Examination
All coursework is normally graded internally. A copy of each student's thesis will be sent to two independent examiners, one of whom is normally internal and the other of whom is external to this University.
Assessment requirements
To be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) students are required to pass the thesis and all components of the coursework. Satisfactory participation in the Faculty Honours Seminar is also required.
Classes of honours
The degree is awarded in one of the three classes:
- Class 1
- Class 2 (Class 2 honours is awarded as Division 1 or Division 2)
- Class 3
The class of honours awarded may not be more than one grade higher than the grade for the thesis. For example, if student's receive a credit for thier thesis, they may not be awarded the honours degree at a higher level than Class 2 Division 1, regardless of the average mark.
Enquiries
Dr Elizabeth Eddy
Honours Coordinator
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1269
Email: eeddy@usc.edu.au