Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
with a major in Climate and Social Justice – Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Selected major: Climate and Social Justice
With the climate crisis hitting a crucial tipping point, develop a critical understanding of the social impacts of climate change. Expand your knowledge of key concepts in conflict resolution, environmental justice and social justice, and be ready to make your mark on a greener, more equitable future.
Develop transferable skills of complex problem solving and critical thinking to analyse, investigate and explore what a more equal and sustainable future will be. Expand your knowledge, grow your confidence to be ready to take impactful action the world needs.
In this multi-disciplinary, you’ll learn about sociology, philosophy, history, Indigenous studies, and politics.
Learn how to support people in an increasingly complex world by becoming a mental health professional.
This Bachelor of Psychological Sciences degree is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and the first step to becoming a psychologist. You’ll study the scope of psychological science and complete a variety of research projects to develop your project management, research and report writing skill set.
Combine with a Bachelor of Arts to widen your knowledge of what drives social change in contemporary society. Majors such as perspectives on globalisation or Indigenous studies will develop your key complex problem solving and cultural competency skills - to broaden your career opportunities helping individuals in need and society at large.
All our bachelor degrees include a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity. Build up your résumé with real industry experience which could be a placement, internship or industry-linked project. In this degree, in the Psychology Project (PSY30003), you'll have the opportunity to explore a student-led project with an industry collaboration. In your second year, in the Skills and Strategies for Social Change core arts unit, collaborate with fellow students and community, civil society and industry partners to create real campaigns for real social change.
Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 26 February 2024
- Semester 2 - 29 July 2024
VTAC code
- 3400212461 (CSP)
Swinburne students work with ACMI
Swinburne’s Bachelor of Arts students created new experiences called Constellations for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) visitors as part of its $40 million transformation.
The Constellation is a large-scale, data-driven exhibit that connects visitors to films, TV series, artworks and video games outside ACMI.
As ACMI’s Major Academic Partner, Swinburne supports the Swinburne Studio – an available to hire multi-purpose function space – home for ACMI’s many diverse festivals and events, as well as a programming collaboration space between the two organisations.
Course details
- Course structure, work integrated learning, career opportunities and professional recognition.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Psychological Sciences requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
View course rules and special requirements
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Technology and Society | ART10002 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Research Methods | PSY10005 | 12.5 |
| Brain and Behaviour | PSY10007 | 12.5 |
| Fundamentals of Psychology | PSY10008 | 12.5 |
| Foundations of Statistics | STA10003 | 12.5 |
| Skills and Strategies for Social Change * | ART20003 | 12.5 |
| Cognition and Human Performance * | PSY20006 | 12.5 |
| Developmental Psychology * | PSY20007 | 12.5 |
| Social Psychology * | PSY20016 | 12.5 |
| Analysis of Variance and Regression * | STA20006 | 12.5 |
| Changemakers in Action * | ART30004 | 12.5 |
| Arts Internship * | ART30005 | 12.5 |
| Psychology Project * | PSY30003 | 12.5 |
| Psychology of Personality * | PSY30008 | 12.5 |
| History and Philosophy of Psychology | PSY30013 | 12.5 |
| Mental health diversity, diagnosis and treatment * | PSY30016 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Selected major: Climate and Social Justice
With the climate crisis hitting a crucial tipping point, develop a critical understanding of the social impacts of climate change. Expand your knowledge of key concepts in conflict resolution, environmental justice and social justice, and be ready to make your mark on a greener, more equitable future.
Develop transferable skills of complex problem solving and critical thinking to analyse, investigate and explore what a more equal and sustainable future will be. Expand your knowledge, grow your confidence to be ready to take impactful action the world needs.
In this multi-disciplinary, you’ll learn about sociology, philosophy, history, Indigenous studies, and politics.
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Movements for Social Change | HIS10005 | 12.5 |
| Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions | SOC10005 | 12.5 |
| History, Politics and Human Rights | HIS20009 | 12.5 |
| Resistance, Activism and Empowerment | INS20004 | 12.5 |
| Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Science | PHI20010 | 12.5 |
| Environmental Philosophy | PHI30009 | 12.5 |
| Conflict, Justice and Peace * | POL30019 | 12.5 |
| Changing our Climate: Past and Future * | SOC30020 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Other studies
8 units (100 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides additional opportunities for you to gain valuable skills and real industry experience in the form of placements, internships or study tours - all while earning credit towards your degree.
Choose a Work Integrated Learning option:
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement co-major has four 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Humanities
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Humanities | SOC20018 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Humanities | SOC20019 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Psychology
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Psychology | PSY20014 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Psychology | PSY20015 | 25 |
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 6 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement minor has two 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Humanities
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Humanities | SOC20018 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Psychology
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Psychology | PSY20014 | 25 |
A Professional Internship is all about gaining valuable real-world skills in your area of study all while earning credit points towards your degree. Plus, it looks great on your CV as it shows you’ve had real industry experience before you’ve even graduated!
You might choose to complete your internship part-time over a semester or in a more intensive block during Summer or Winter terms.
Travel overseas, discover other cultures, enrich your professional experience and enhance your CV all while gaining credit towards your course.
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Course learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, graduates will be able to:
- Psychological Sciences - Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in psychology
- Psychological Sciences - Formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in psychology
- Psychological Sciences - Critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of psychology
- Psychological Sciences - Define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their disciplinary areas of expertise
- Psychological Sciences - Apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
- Psychological Sciences - Interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
- Psychological Sciences - Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international context
- Arts - Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in the humanities and/or social sciences
- Arts - Formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in their areas of expertise
- Arts - Critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of humanities and/or social sciences, and understand the importance of inter-disciplinarity for generating solutions
- Arts - Define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their areas of expertise
- Arts - Apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
- Arts - Interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
- Arts - Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international contexts
Career opportunities
There are countless career opportunities with this double degree combination.
Arts career outcomes may involve activism, advocacy, advertising, administration, anti-corruption, climate action, consumer protection, community development, corrections, content creation, cultural services, diversity and inclusion, ethics, human rights, government and government relations, indigenous engagement, marketing, media and communication, national security and intelligence, international relations, large multinational organisations, NGO/aid work, policy development, politics, public affairs, research, unions, writing and youth services.
An Arts/Psychology double degree can also result in strengthening career directions in areas such as community work, community development, corrections, health communication, research ethics, health policy development, NGO/aid work, and youth services.
Graduates who intend to pursue psychology as a career must follow a sequence of education and training in psychology as required by the Psychology Board of Australia.
Following completion of an accredited bachelor degree, graduates should apply for the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) (or an equivalent APAC-accredited fourth-year program) and, on completion, register as provisional psychologists. Those seeking general registration as practicing psychologists in Australia must subsequently successfully graduate from an accredited postgraduate program such as the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology), or undergo a two-year supervised internship program.
For more detailed information on Australian requirements for registration as a psychologist, visit the Australian Psychological Society website.
Professional recognition
The Psychology sequence within the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Fees
Find out more about fees.
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to enter this course
- Entry requirements, pathways, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.