Help others improve their wellbeing and create positive change in their lives.
In everyday life, the challenges people face are shaped by the society around us, as well as the internal factors that influence individual behaviour and personality. Through integrated studies in the fields of human services and counselling, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to understand the causes of personal and social problems, and to create positive change in people’s lives.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Subject to to final PACFA accreditation approval
- * Subject to to final PACFA accreditation approval
In everyday life, the challenges people face are shaped by the society around us, as well as the internal factors that influence individual behaviour and personality. Through integrated studies in the fields of human services and counselling, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to understand the causes of personal and social problems, and to create positive change in people’s lives.
- Learn about the nature of contemporary Australian society, including social welfare, community development, social justice, cultural diversity and mental health
- Gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary human services practice, including its grounding in critical, anti-oppressive and ethical approaches to practice with individuals, families, groups and communities
- Develop a thorough understanding of counselling theories and skills, and how to use them in diverse and multicultural workplaces and communities
- Build skills in cognitive behaviour therapy, personal and relational empathy, positive psychology, family counselling and responding to crisis, trauma and loss
- Complete two 250-hour professional placements in human services agencies, working with multidisciplinary teams across a range of counselling and other roles
Career opportunities
A wide range of government and non-government human services including community health, telephone counselling, working with individuals, families and groups, disability support, government departments, youth work, welfare work, child protection, corrections, aged services, community development, mental health, administration of counselling services, community corrections and justice, and more.
Accreditation
This program is designed to meet the national accreditation requirements for the Australian Counselling Association (ACA); and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
Program structure
Introductory courses (1) 12 units
COR109 Critical Practice: Self Determination and Social Change
Counselling courses
Introductory courses (3) 36 units
COU101 Families: challenges, critique and change
COU176 Critical Social Work in Health
COU180 Communication and Thought
Developing and Graduate courses (7) 84 units
COU200 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
COU265 Group Processes and Practice
COU300 Introductory Counselling Skills
COU301 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
COU362 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
COU364 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
COU381 Positive Psychology for Counselling
Human Services courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
SCS101 Counselling Development and Supervision 2
SCS110 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SWK172 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
Developing and Graduate courses (12) 156 units
SCS201 International Development and Global Justice
SCS225 Social Research
SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS251
SCS273(24 units)
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SWK277 Working With Children, Youth and Families
SWK278 Ethics, Law and the Helping Professions
SWK285
SWK302 Community Development and Social Action
SWK303
SWK407 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
Elective courses (4) 48 units
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List A:
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS210
CRM101 Introduction to Criminology
JST101 Justice and the Australian Legal System
BUS104 Discovering Management
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List B:
SCS295
SWK286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
CRM101 Introduction to Criminology
JST101 Justice and the Australian Legal System
BUS104 Discovering Management
GEO310 Globalisation, Development and Indigenous Peoples
Select 1 elective course (12 units) from List C:
SWK402
CRM303
HRM311 Enabling Team Synergy and Performance
SCS210
Select 1 elective course (12 units) (200, 300 or 400 coded) from the undergraduate elective course options.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
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In order to commence field education placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Travel to attend field education placements
- 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