Bachelor of Psychological Science and Sociology

Study On Demand – a 100% online psychological science and sociology degree designed specifically for online learning.

Take full control over your study - access support seven days a week, plan your study around your life, view learning resources 24/7, and log into the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.

UniSA’s Bachelor of Psychological Science and Sociology is the only degree of its kind in Australia, formally bringing together two powerful disciplinary perspectives on how we live as social beings.

As a student, you'll be challenged to think deeply about the world we live in as you explore the way individuals, groups and communities behave, think, react and interact.

Studying sociology and psychology enables students to consider how these dimensions come together in everyday life.

As a graduate, you'll come out with a complementary skill set that the industry is telling us they need.

The implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Australia's ageing population and increasing demand for childcare and home-based care services has contributed to a booming sector, which is predicted to show the highest rate of employment opportunities of any industry over the next five years.1 1 2016 employment projections, Dept of Employment

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result:

Higher education study

• Successfully completed equivalent to a minimum of half a year of full-time study of a higher education program at a recognised higher education provider

OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above

OR Work and life experience (for domestic students only)

• Passed a UniSA Online literacy and numeracy test and have relevant work experience, or
• Completed a UniSA Foundations Studies program or equivalent, or
• Qualify for Special Entry

OR Recent secondary education

• Completed a secondary education qualification equivalent to SACE, such as an interstate year 12 or international qualification

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

The Bachelor of Psychological Science and Sociology will give you a solid foundation in the underlying principles and concepts of sociology, social policy and psychology. Professionals who can apply their knowledge from two powerful perspectives in psychological science and sociology can more readily tackle practical problems to support individuals and communities in leading happier, healthier, and more independent lives. In this degree, you will:

• develop specialised knowledge in either ageing and disability and/or criminal justice;
• explore topics such as sociological theory, counselling, social policy analysis and community-based and participatory research methods; and
• solve real-world case studies relevant to the industry.

You can tailor your degree to your interests and broaden your career prospects with the choice of electives. You can select four electives from any of the UniSA Online degrees.

Studying 100% online means you can engage with course materials at your own pace, whenever it suits you – there is no need to be online at a particular time. It’s flexible around your life so you can control your study schedule week by week. As a general rule, we recommend 10 to 15 hours of study a week for each course.

All assessments, including exams (if required) are 100% online, meaning you’ll never need to travel to submit an assignment or find an exam venue.

Some of your assessments may include:

Your career

Professionals in these sectors can expect to work one-on-one with individuals or families, as well as with small to medium community groups such as neighbourhoods, schools and support groups. You may also work at a larger scale, advocating for policy changes on behalf of clients, organisations, or governments.

A UniSA Online Psychological Science and Sociology degree can help you pursue the following careers:

• Disability support coordinator:
• Assist people with intellectual and physical disabilities in accessing NDIS services; liaise with a range of stakeholders in order to secure suitable support, including requesting and arranging quotes from service providers; manage and coordinate participant support plans to enable independence in the home and community; consult with carers, family, external services and other key stakeholders to help provide the most well-rounded support available.
• Aged care coordinator:
• Employ best practice, evidence-based tools in health promotion, person-centred care, and healthy ageing to manage lifestyle programs and activities for the elderly. Provide strong customer service, undertake regular consultation with residents and families, and tailor programs to suit identified client needs.
• Community development officer:
• Deliver and support a variety of community development and wellbeing initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people from diverse community groups. Work collaboratively with key groups and agencies to develop sustainable partnerships.
• Crime prevention officer:
• Develop, coordinate and implement a variety of crime prevention, safety and community development programs to reduce local crime. Develop information resources to educate citizens and the general public about crime prevention.
• Drug/alcohol caseworker:
• Provide support services to people in the community living with drug and alcohol issues. Work with clients to provide specialised support including assessment, intervention and counselling. Contribute to community development initiatives that promote awareness of drug and alcohol services, healthcare and education.
• Policy development officer and analyst:
• Develop and support the implementation of best practice policies, programs, projects and activities to support overall health and wellbeing at a local, state and national level. Compile qualitative and quantitative data to assess the effectiveness of current policies and regulations, and identify the expected impact of policy changes. Undertake cost-benefit analysis, impact assessments and evaluate projects to address current and emerging issues in the community.

Learn more about your career in Psychological Science >

Our online career-focused degrees give you full control and ultimate flexibility over your study. It’s Study On Demand, on your schedule, on your terms.

• Study 100% online - no need to come onto campus
• Choose from four start dates in January, April, June and September
• Learn in 10-week blocks
• Get support seven days a week - including on weeknights
• Access learning resources 24/7
• View course content before your term starts
• Work while you study
• Plan your study schedule ahead of time
• Fast-track your studies and receive credit for past study and/or work experience.

Our graduates get jobs

You will be studying with a university known for its employment outcomes. Your UniSA degree is more than just a piece of paper – it will prepare you to start your career, or take it to the next level. In fact, UniSA undergraduates studying online have graduate employment rates well above the national average1.

Specifically designed for online learning

Our team of academic and online experts have created interactive and media-rich course material using innovative digital technology and state-of-the-art teaching and learning resources. Every degree has been specifically designed for online learning to ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge for your future career.

As a general rule of thumb, any desktop or laptop computer purchased in the past three years should be capable of meeting your online learning needs. While mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones will be able to access most of your online course content, there are likely to be elements of most courses where we recommend you use a desktop or laptop computer. Your computer should be able to:

• run a modern browser (Internet Explorer 10, Firefox 24, Safari 5, or Chrome 32 or later versions)
• run Java, and in some cases Flash (devices running on Apple's iOS operating system, such as iPads, iPhones, do not run Flash)
• run programs to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations
• use a web camera and headset (or ear pods with microphone)
• Some UniSA Online degrees require an online exam. The online exam software – Remote Proctor Now – has specific capability requirements. Please refer to the system requirements prior to conducting your exam to ensure your computer is compatible.

Access free IT software and resources

As a UniSA Online student, you'll:

• Get free access to the full Office 365 ProPlus suite, which includes full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access and Lync software. Install the full suite on up to five different devices (PC and Mac compatible).
• Get 1Tb of personal storage that syncs with your PC or mobile device through OneDrive - it's like an extra hard drive that allows you to open any of your files from any of your devices, whenever you need them.
• Get free access to LinkedIn Learning - Access more than 5000 video courses on a broad range of topics such as: the Microsoft Office suite, time management and study skills, health and wellbeing, communication and presentation skills, photography, film making and designing your own games or mobile apps.
• Be able to connect with others using Skype for Business, Yammer and the Outlook Web App.

There are some degrees that have specialised software requirements. We've made this software available to students to access for free - you'll be able to download and install any of the required programs on your own device anywhere and anytime. See if your degree requires specialised software.

Check your device

Our computer system test will determine if your device has the base system resources and software required to study online. It'll also check the speed of your internet connection.

See if your computer, laptop or device is all set up and ready to go – it takes just a few seconds.

The application process is easy – just follow these simple steps:

1. Check your eligibility
2. Take our eligibility checker and answer a few short questions to see if you’re eligible. You’ll be given an option to continue your application, save it for later or request a call back from a Degree Adviser if you have any questions.
3. Gather your relevant documents
4. If you're eligible, you'll receive an email outlining the entry requirements and the relevant documentation you need in order to be considered.
5. In order to verify your academic qualifications, you'll need to upload relevant documents like your official parchment, certificates or transcripts. If you have work experience, you will need to upload your CV as well as any other documents like work references, professional recognition or accreditation or your training certification.
6. Your email will contain information on the specific documents you need to provide as well as a link to log in to your application. You'll be asked to create an account and set your own password.
7. Complete your application and send through your documents
8. In order to proceed with your conditional offer, you’ll need to complete your application and provide required evidence of your previous study or work experience.