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Program

Social Research and Policy - 3420

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: Dr Kim Spurway

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 3 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 144

UAC Code: 422300

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Major)

View program information for previous years

Program Description
The Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (UNSW BSRP) degree combines a core program of skills in policy analysis and research methods with in-depth study in one or more social science disciplines. The degree requires one major stream of study in an approved social science discipline and a minimum level of electives. You will have the opportunity to further develop your professional and workplace skills through an internship and career-orientated focus. The UNSW BSRP can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 3 years), in Dual mode (the equivalent of 2.5 years full-time study) or part-time. The BSRP has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component.

A Bachelor of Social Research and Policy degree offers the opportunity to pursue knowledge in the social research and policy while developing technical and professional skills to apply this knowledge to issues in the real world. Its objectives are:
  • to develop the capacity of students to critically evaluate ideas and policy problems and
  • to undertake social research in order to contribute to enlightened policy-making.
Skills developed include written communication skills with particular emphasis on reports, submissions, position papers and proposals; the ability to undertake research and data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative; analysis and critical evaluation of research, arguments and policies; and technologies involved in social research and information processing. The internship experience promotes development of excellence in professional practice.

The Depth component is:

  1. The completion of a social research and policy core (54 UOC - 9 courses)
  2. The completion of two social research and policy prescribed electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  3. The completion of at least a major stream (54 UOC - 9 courses) selected from the list of UNSW BSRP approved home and external major streams.

The Breadth component (for students completing the program in Single mode) is:

  1. Free Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  2. General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses)

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The aims of the UNSW Bachelor of Social Research and Policy are:
  1. To develop students’ creative thinking and their capacity to evaluate ideas and policy problems critically
  2. To provide skills in undertaking social research, including collecting and analysing data concerning issues and problems particularly in an applied policy setting
  3. To stimulate informed community and academic debate, and contribute to enlightened policy-making through excellence in professional practice
  4. To develop students' capacity to contribute to, and work within, the local, national and international community in an ethical way
  5. To provide familiarity with the theories, bodies of knowledge and methods of social research and explanations that constitute one or more fields of study in social science
  6. To provide an understanding of the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature of social science.

The Graduate Attributes for this program are as follows:

  1. An ability to locate an applied problem within a broader conceptual framework; linking theory and practice
  2. An ability to undertake social research through collection and analysis of data, concerning issues and problems in the social world
  3. A capacity to analyse and contribute to policy issues and debates within organisations, communities and governance frameworks
  4. An in-depth knowledge and conceptual understanding in at least one specialist Social Science field within its interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary context
  5. An understanding of the importance of ethical, social and professional responsibility
  6. An appreciation of the importance of effective oral and written communication skills in diverse environments
  7. Teamwork & leadership skills, with the capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively.

Program Structure
The basic requirements for the degree are:

Single mode (144 UOC) made up of:

  1. Core social research and policy courses (54 UOC)
  2. Prescribed social research and policy electives (12 UOC)
  3. One stream (54 UOC) from the approved list
  4. Free electives (12 UOC)
  5. General Education (12 UOC)
Dual mode (120 UOC) made up of:
  1. Core social research and policy courses (54 UOC)
  2. Prescribed social research and policy electives (12 UOC)
  3. One stream (54 UOC) from the approved list

Core

Compulsory courses (54 UOC) made up of:
 
 
     
Level 1
  
       
     
Level 2
  
       
     
Level 3
  
       
 

Prescribed Electives

Social Research and Policy prescribed electives: 12 UOC (2 courses).

Students should choose two courses from the following list:
Or an appropriate course as agreed to by the Program Convenor.

Major Streams

54 UOC from any of the Internal Streams or External Streams (denoted with '*') listed below
 
Media, Culture and Technology
Indigenous Studies Politics
International Relations
Globalisation Studies
(This Stream is no longer accepting new enrolments)
 Marketing (48 UOC)* Sociology and Anthropology
 * denotes majors offered by Faculties other than UNSW Arts & Social Sciences.

External Streams

Economics: Students in a Single award program who choose this stream are required to make up the additional 6 UOC from their Free Elective or General Education. Students in a Dual award program are required to to complete an additional 6 UOC (one course).

Human Resource Management, International Business, and Marketing: Students who choose any of these streams are required to complete 6 UOC of Arts & Social Sciences Prescribed Elective.

Arts & Social Sciences Prescribed Elective

An Arts & Social Sciences Prescribed Elective is any course chosen by the student from the offerings of UNSW Arts & Social Sciences. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) cannot be studied as Arts & Social Sciences Prescribed Electives.

Free Electives

Students completing the program in Single mode have a 12 UOC free elective breadth requirement. Students may complete any courses for which they are eligible to enrol either within or outside UNSW Arts & Social Sciences.

ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities

This course is available as an Arts & Social Sciences Prescribed Elective or Free Elective for students wishing to develop their academic writing skills. Click here for further details about the course.

General Education

Students completing the program in Single mode or with another UNSW Arts & Social Sciences program complete 12 UOC of General Education. Students must complete any two courses for which they are eligible to enrol outside UNSW Arts & Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external major or minor (for example, Economics) is completed. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education if students are not following a major in Indigenous Studies in the BSRP program.

Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective

A Prescribed Social Research and Policy Elective is any course chosen by the student from the list of Social Research and Policy offerings of UNSW Arts & Social Sciences.

Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

High achieving Bachelor of Social Research and Policy students (in Single or Dual mode) who have successfully completed all program requirements may apply for admission to honours in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504 or the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Honours) 4507 if undertaking the Social Research and Policy honours stream. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the stream(s) seeking to be further studied.

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Honours) program 4507

Sample Program

 
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (BSRP) - Sample Program - Example Only
 
CORE COURSES
(compulsory)		 PRESCRIBED SRP ELECTIVES
MAJOR STREAM
Example from
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
FREE ELECTIVES AND GENERAL EDUCATION
LEVEL 1 - 48 UOC 
S1
Prescribed SRP Elective (6 UOC)
(6 UOC)
Free Elective 
(6 UOC)
S2  
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
 
General Education
(6 UOC)
LEVEL 2 - 48 UOC 
S1 SRAP2001 Qualitative Social Research (6 UOC)
Prescribed SRP Elective
(6 UOC)
 
Development Studies (6 UOC)
  
S2  
Development Studies (6 UOC)
 
Development Studies (6 UOC)
General Education
(6 UOC)
LEVEL 3 - 48 UOC 
S1


 
Development Studies (6 UOC)
 
 
S2
 
  
Development Studies (6 UOC)

Development Studies Capstone
(6 UOC)
 
  


Academic Rules

Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy and complete 144 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete the requirements for one stream
  5. complete 12 UOC of Free Electives
  6. complete 12 UOC of General Education
  7. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  8. specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
  9. complete at least 24 UOC in their major stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
  10. complete 120 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course

Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Social Research and Policy and complete 120 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for prescribed electives
  4. complete the requirements for one stream
  5. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  6. specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into Level 2
  7. complete at least 24 UOC in their major stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
  8. complete at least 72 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course

Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BSRP and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

Further Information
Contact the UNSW Arts & Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

Glossary of Terms
UNSW Arts & Social Sciences Glossary of Terms - Click here

Area(s) of Specialisation
Social Research and Policy

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