• Program summary
• Program overview
• Teaching mode
• Career opportunities
• Special features
• Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes
• Enquiries

Program summary

QTAC code: 517428
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 4 years full-time
Fee type 2009: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places
Total units: 288 units (normally 24 courses) being 192 units (16 courses) completed at the University of the Sunshine Coast and 96 units credit transfer (equal to 8 courses) upon completion of the Diploma at the Sunshine Coast TAFE (SCT)
Recommended prior study: English
Commence: Semester 1 only
CRICOS code: not available to international students on student visas

New students are not required to complete any USC courses until they complete their SCT diploma.

Program overview

The Diploma of Community Welfare Work/Bachelor of Social Science is a dual degree program that combines practical experience in community work with comprehensive knowledge in social and political theory, social research and public policy.

Offered jointly by the Sunshine Coast TAFE (SCT) and the University of the Sunshine Coast, the dual award consists of a diploma through SCT and a Bachelor of Social Science through the University.

In the first two years, you undertake studies at SCT’s Mooloolaba campus. These studies form the platform for the next two years at the University’s Sippy Downs campus. In the USC courses, you will gain understandings of the social, political, economic and environmental processes that underpin social change and conflict at local, national and global levels, and will choose a major (eight courses) in one of the following areas:

• Counselling
• Human Services
• Psychology
• Social and Community Studies
• Sociology

The dual program allows you to graduate with two awards in less time than if you were to study the program separately. You will gain practical skills and knowledge relevant to careers in a wide variety of welfare and social science-related roles.

Teaching mode

There are different teaching modes between the SCT 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 involve 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 that 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 SCT diploma.

Career opportunities

• advocacy
• community education
• community work
• industrial relations
• local/regional planning
• policy analysis/development
• social planning

Special features

• combines practical skills with relevant theory
• flexibility to add any Social Science major to the TAFE qualification
• obtain qualifications from both TAFE and USC in three years of study

Program structure

This program is an articulation between the Sunshine Coast TAFE and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast TAFE (SCT)

Students study the Diploma of Community Welfare Work at SCT 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
COR199 Core Course
SCS276 Groupwork 
SCS299 Advanced Social and Community Studies electives x 3

University of the Sunshine Coast (USC)

Students will complete 16 courses at USC.

Introductory courses

4 required courses:
COR109 Communication and Thought
SCS110 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SCS225 Social Research
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory

Advanced courses

• Counselling
• Environmental and Planning Studies
• Human Services
• Justice Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Psychology
• Sociology #

Elective courses

Select 4 elective courses from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

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

1. No more than 10 introductory level courses are to be completed, including core courses and courses credited for study at SCT.
2. No course may be counted towards more than one major or minor.
3. Refer to the Academic Rules.
4. Refer to explanation of terms.

Enquiries

Sunshine Coast TAFE (SCT)
Tel: +61 7 5459 3000
Email: sct.information@det.qld.gov.au
Refer to the Sunshine Coast TAFE website

University of the Sunshine Coast
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Back to top