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Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies)

Course Overview / Course Structure

Course Name	Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies)
Level	Undergraduate
Type	Full-time or part-time
Mode	On-campus or by distance education
Duration	3 years (full-time equivalent)
Credit Points	240
Starting Semesters	1 & 2
Course Code	SS13
CRICOS Code
Host School	Social Sciences

General Information

The Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies) is a three year fulltime course of study (or part-time equivalent). It is intended to provide students with a broad set of skills and understandings which are relevant to a wide number of ministry and professional outcomes in contexts such as welfare-oriented settings which cater to the needs of young people, and various areas of youth ministry, including school chaplaincy.

Career Outcomes

Youth Worker  Youth Minister or Pastor  School Chaplain  Community Worker  Child Protection Worker  House Parent  Welfare Worker  Youth Support Co-ordinator  Families Worker

Attendance

Full-time students undertake 3-4 units per semester. Each unit is equivalent to 10 credit points). Students may enrol in fewer units per semester and extend their degree over a longer period. Australian students enrolled in three or more units may be eligible to claim Austudy benefits. International students are required to study a minimum of 30 credit hours (3 subject equivalent) per semester to fulfil Australian study visa requirements.

Workload for the Course

The Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies) requires 240 credit points for completion. Each credit point indicates an expected student involvement of one hour per week for one semester in both formal contact hours and individual study. A standard unit carrying a weighting of 10 credit points will normally involve an expected ten hours of study and research per week. Students undertaking fulltime study will have a semester load of 40 credit points.

Units in the course are offered at three levels. Introductory units, categorised as 100-level, are units for which there are no pre-requisites. Advanced units, for which some studies at introductory level will normally be a pre-requisite, are identified by 200-level unit codes. Units with a 300-level code normally have advanced (200-level) pre-requisites.

Students may apply for transfer of credit from previous studies. Application for transfer of credit is to be made at the time of entry into the course. During their course of study, students may also apply to engage in cross-institutional study towards the requirements of the course.  A maximum of 50% of the course may be undertaken through transfer of credit and/or cross-institutional study.

Course Structure

Students in the Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies) choose either a Youth Ministry focus or a Youth Welfare focus. Each focus consists of three main components: a Social Sciences core program, a Christian Studies program and a Youth Studies specialisation. The remainder of the course consists of units in Human Behaviour, Youth Studies or Welfare. 

The course structures for the Youth Ministry focus and Youth Welfare focus are outlined below.

Youth Ministry Focus

Social Sciences core LA110 - Academic Communication SO101 - Australian Society: Introduction to Sociology SO242 - Social Science research Methods SO302 - Understanding Humanness Christian Studies major CS100 - Christian Discipleship CS120 - Introduction to the Bible CS200 - Christianity and Worldviews  CS300 - Christian Spirituality and Philosophy Four units selected from: CS140 - Introduction to Christian Spirituality CS211 - Servant Leadership  CS213 - Building Christian Community CS251 - Christianity and Other Religions CS253 - Cross-cultural experience Or other Christian Studies units as approved Youth Studies major YO101 - Introduction to Youth Studies YO121 - Understanding Young People CD101 - Community Development YO202 - The Socio-Cultural Worlds of Young People YO220 - Pastoral Care of Young People YO262 - Group Processes YO260 - Youth Work Practice YO361 - Youth Work Policy and Procedures YO211 - Youth Ministry Placement I YO311 - Youth Ministry Placement II Elective units Two units selected from: HB111 - Personal and Social Relationships HB161 - Basic Skills in Counselling HB162 - Connecting with the Human Story HB220 - Human Behaviour in Organisations HB281 - Major Issues in Counselling HB382 - Child and Adolescent Issues WE301 - Reflecting on the Human Services YO231 - School Chaplaincy YO381 - Religious Education for Chaplains Or other Elective units as approved

Youth Welfare Focus

Social Sciences core LA110 - Academic Communication SO101 - Australian Society: Introduction to Sociology SO242 - Social Science research Methods SO302 - Understanding Humanness Christian Studies major CS100 - Christian Discipleship CS120 - Introduction to the Bible CS200 - Christianity and Worldviews  CS300 - Christian Spirituality and Philosophy Welfare core units WE101 - Introduction to Human Services WE201 - Working in Human Services Organisations Youth Studies major YO101 - Introduction to Youth Studies YO121 - Understanding Young People CD101 - Community Development YO202 - The Socio-Cultural Worlds of Young People YO220 - Pastoral Care of Young People YO262 - Group Processes YO260 - Youth Work Practice YO361 - Youth Work Policy and Procedures YO212 - Youth Welfare Placement I YO312 - Youth Welfare Placement II Elective units Four units selected from: HB111 - Personal and Social Relationships HB161- Basic Skills in Counselling HB162 - Connecting with the Human Story HB220 - Human Behaviour in Organisations HB281 - Major Issues in Counselling HB382 - Child and Adolescent Issues WE301 - Reflecting on the Human Services YO231 - School Chaplaincy YO381 - Religious Education for Chaplains Or other Elective units as approved

Relationship to other courses

Students may exit the Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies) after one year of fulltime study and obtain a Diploma of Social Science, or they may exit after two years of fulltime study to complete the award of Associate Degree in Social Science, subject to course rules.

Students may apply to transfer to any of the other Bachelor of Social Science courses offered by the College, subject to entry requirements. The suite of Bachelor of Social Science courses share most elements of the Core requirements, and many of the units can be applied to various structures within the courses. Students who transfer course are then subject to the rules of their new course.

Summary of Course Rules – Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies)

1) A total of 240 credit points are required for graduation.
2) Completion of all units in either the Youth Ministry focus or the Youth Welfare focus is required for graduation.
3) A minimum of 120 credit points must be completed in units offered at the advanced level.
4) A maximum of 160 credit points may be completed in any single field of study.  
5) No more than 120 credit points gained in prior studies at another institution may be credited towards the requirements of the award.
6) No more than 80 credit points gained in concurrent studies at another institution may be credited towards the requirements of the award.
7) The maximum allowable time for completion of the award is TEN years.
8) Variations of course rules must receive the approval of the Dean and the Board of Studies.