The course includes the following awards:

Bachelor of Social Science (Gerontology and Healthy Ageing) BSocSc(Gerontology&HlthAgeing)

Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) BSocSc(SocWelf)

Course Study Modes and Locations

Bachelor of Social Science (Gerontology and Healthy Ageing) (1416GH)

Distance Education - Port Macquarie
On Campus - Port Macquarie

Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) (1416SW)

Distance Education - Wagga Wagga

Availability is subject to change, please verify prior to enrolment.

Normal course duration

Bachelor of Social Science (with specialisations)

Full-time 3.0 years (6.0 sessions)

Part-time 6.0 years (12.0 sessions)

96 point credit package from TAFE or other relevant Diploma reduces actual duration to 1.5 years full time equivalent working on semester 1 and 2 enrolment each year at a full time rate.

Normal course duration is the effective period of time taken to complete a course when studied Full-time (Full-time Equivalent: FTE). Students are advised to consult the Enrolment Pattern for the actual length of study. Not all courses are offered in Full-time mode.

Admission criteria

CSU Admission Policy

1. Students who have completed a relevant TAFE/RTO Diploma (either specialisation)
2. Students transferring from the CSU Bachelor of Social Work  (Social Welfare specialisation only)

Credit

CSU Credit Policy

For the Social Welfare Specialisation:

Students who have successfully completed one of the following two-year Diploma courses (or similar) will be eligible for  96 points or 1.5 years full-time equivalent credit (Recognition of Prior Learning) towards the Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare):
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs)
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
• Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling)
• Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services Work
• Diploma of Community Development
• Diploma of Counselling
• Diploma of Disability
• Diploma of Youth Work

Note:  Some Diploma courses are not 2 years full-time equivalent – please check with the Course Director as to acceptability.

For the Gerontology and Healthy Ageing Specialisation:

Students who have successfully completed one of the following two-year Diploma courses (or similar) will be eligible for  96 points or 1.5 years full-time equivalent credit (Recognition of Prior Learning) towards the Bachelor of Social Science (Gerontology):
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs)
• Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
• Diploma of Community Services (Financial Counselling)
• Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
• Diploma of Community Services Work
• Diploma of Community Development
• Diploma of Counselling
• Diploma of Disability
• Diploma of Leisure and Health

*  Diploma of Nursing

Note:  Some Diploma courses are not 2 years full-time equivalent – please check with the Course Director as to acceptability.

Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) course consists of subjects in the following areas comprising:

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
HCS103 Fields of Practice
PSY113 Child and Adolescent Psychology or PSY216 Psychology of Ageing
HCS204 Research Methods
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology
SOC308 Community Analysis
PHL101 Applied Ethics
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
WEL418 Case Management
SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
2 Electives

Electives

WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling 2
WEL217 Social Dimensions of Disability
WEL409 Grief and Loss
HCS205 Child Abuse and Child Protection
OR
elective as agreed by the Course Director

The Bachelor of Social Science (Gerontology and Healthy Ageing) course consists of subjects in the following areas comprising:

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
PHL101 Applied Ethics
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy

Plus the following specialisaton subjects:

GER102 Gerontology Theory and Research
GER204 Ageing and Professional Practice
WEL206 Facilitating Positive behaviours
WEL409 Grief and Loss
LES302 Leisure and Social Relations or elective as agreed by Course Director
PSY216 Psychology of Ageing (Common to existing Social Welfare Strand as a restricted elective choice)
WEL418 Case Management (Common to existing Social Welfare Strand)

Electives

WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling 2
WEL217 Social Dimensions of Disability
WEL 228 Disability Issues for Families
LES 102 Leisure Programming with Diverse Populations
LES 110 Foundations of leisure activity
LES 202 Community Leisure and Health Issues
HCS 321 Child Welfare Practice
HCS 310 Mental Health Practice

OR
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Enrolment Pattern

Social Welfare

Part time Distance Education

Year 1

Session 1 (30)

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
PHL 101 Applied Ethics

Session 2 (60)

HCS103 Fields of Practices
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology

Year 2

Session 1 (30)

HCS204 Research Methods
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 2 (60)

SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
PSY113 Child & Adolescent Psychology or PSY216 Psychology of Aging

Year 3

Session 1 (30)

SOC308 Community Analysis
WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling 2
or
WEL409 Grief and Loss
OR
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Session 2 (60)

WEL418 Case Management
WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling 2
or
WEL217 Social Dimensions of Disability
or
HCS205 Child Abuse and Child Protection
or
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Fulltime Enrolment Pattern

Session 1 (30)

HCS102 Communication & Human Services
PHL101 Applied Ethics
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology
HCS204 Research Methods

Session 2 (60)

HCS103 Fields of Practices
SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
WEL418 Case Management
PSY113 Child & Adolescent Psychology or PSY216 Psychology of Aging

Year 2

Session 1 (30)

SOC308 Community Analysis
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
WEL229 Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling 2
or
WEL409 Grief and Loss
or
GER204 Ageing and Professional Practice
or
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Gerontology and Healthy Ageing

Part time Distance Education

Year 1

Session 1 (30)

HCS102 Communication and Human Services
PHL101 Applied Ethics

Session 2 (60)

GER102 Gerontology Theory and Research
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology

Year 2

Session 1 (30)

WEL206 Facilitating Positive Behaviours
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

Session 2 (60)

SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
PSY216 Psychology of Aging

Year 3

Session 1 (30)

GER204 Ageing and Professional Practice
WEL409 Grief and Loss

Session 2 (60)

WEL418 Case Management
LES302 Leisure and Social Relations
or
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Fulltime Enrolment Pattern

Session 1 (30)

HCS102 Communication & Human Services
PHL101 Applied Ethics
IKC101 Indigenous Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities
WEL206 Facilitating Positive Behaviours

Session 2 (60)

GER102 Gerontology Theory and Research
SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
PSY216 Psychology of Aging

Year 2

Session 1 (30)

GER204 Ageing and Professional Practice
WEL409 Grief and Loss
WEL418 Case Management
LES302 Leisure and Social Relations
or
elective as agreed by the Course Director

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) degree is recognised throughout Australia, and by the Commonwealth and NSW Public Services as an approved three-year tertiary qualification for employment purposes.  It is envisaged that the specialisation of gerontology could also gain recognition for employment in the sector where a focus on aged care work is required.