Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Single degrees

Bachelor of Social Sciences (ABSS) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

The degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences may be awarded either as a pass degree or as a degree with honours and can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. The pass degree requires completion of 360 credit points and, if taken full-time, is designed to be completed in three years with students completing 120 credit points at each year level. The course allows students to major in one of the social science disciplines and complete subjects in policy and social research methods.

First year (120 credit points)

In their first year, students study six introductory social sciences subjects from List A below and in addition complete two Elective subjects, as follows. In first year, each subject is worth 15 points.

Teaching period Requirements
TE-SEM-1 List A subject List A subject List A subject Elective
TE-SEM-2 List A subject List A subject List A subject Elective
List A
Teaching period Area / subject title Subject code
Anthropology
TE-SEM-1 Culture and Globalisation: introduction to anthropology ANT1CAG
TE-SEM-2 Our Global Village: introduction to anthropology ANT1FET
Asian studies
TE-SEM-1 Introduction to Asia: Japan and Indonesia AST1IJI
TE-SEM-2 Introduction to Asia: China and India AST1ICI
Legal Studies
TE-SEM-1 Law and Legal Consciousness LST1LAS
TE-SEM-2 Crime and Criminology LST1CCR
Politics
TE-SEM-1 Australian Politics: government and society POL1AUP
TE-SEM-2 Representation and Participation in Australian Politics POL1RAP
Sociology
TE-SEM-1 Introduction to sociology SOC1SAC
TE-SEM-2 Australia and Beyond: introduction to sociology SOC1AAB

Second year (120 credit points)

In second year, students select a core discipline from anthropology, legal studies, politics, or sociology and complete the following:

  • two second year subjects (40 credit points) from their chosen core discipline, including any designated core subjects (see below)
  • the subject SOC2MSR Social Research Methods (20 credit points)
  • one second year policy subject (20 credit points) from List A below, and
  • two second year Elective subjects (40 credit points).
Second year core subjects
Area / subject title Subject code
Anthropology
Core Issues in Anthropology ANT2CIA
Legal Studies
Law, Justice and Power LST2LJP
Politics
Australian Political Culture POL2APC
Nations and States POL2NAS
Sociology
Theory, Culture and Society SOC2TCS
List A
Students should check individual discipline listings for availability of the following subjects.
Policy subject title Subject code
Asian-Pacific Cities SOC2APC
Development, Globalisation and Culture ANT2DGC
Ethnicity and Identity: social and political approaches SOC2EAI
Families and Change SOC2FAC
International Law and International Organisation POL2ILO
Politics and the Economy POL2PAE
The Politics of Economic Regions POL2PER
Sex, Gender and Work SOC2SGW
Social Policy, Welfare and the State SOC2SWS
Sociology of Health and Illness SOC2SHI

Third year (120 credit points)

In third year, students complete the following:

  • two third year subjects (40 credit points) from the chosen core discipline
  • one third year policy subject (20 credit points) from List A below,
  • one research methodology subject (20 credit points) from List B below and
  • two third year level Elective subjects (40 credit points).
List A

Students should check individual discipline listings for availability of the following subjects.

Area / subject title Subject code
Policy subjects
Asian-Pacific Cities SOC3APC
Development, Globalisation and Culture ANT3DGC
Ethnicity and Identity: social and political approaches SOC3EAI
Families and Change SOC3FAC
International Law and International Organisation POL3ILO
Politics and the Economy POL3PAE
The Politics of Economic Regions POL3PER
Sex, Gender and Work SOC3SGW
Society, Health and Medicine SOC2SHM/SOC3SHM
List B

Students should check individual discipline listings for availability of the following subjects.

Area / subject title Subject code
Research methodology subjects
Doing Anthropology ANT3MQA
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods SOC3MQB
Quantitative Methods in Social Research SOC3MTB