Program Overview

If you have a keen social conscience and would like to spend your career investigating society’s key challenges, then the Bachelor of Social and Economic Policy (Sociology) lets you explore how social, economic and political factors help shape human actions in modern society. You’ll develop a solid grounding in the social sciences, which will help you gain skills to analyse social and economic issues in the real world. The course will see you investigate social policy reform matters from a distinctive perspective thanks to Canberra’s location as the centre of federal and ACT government socio-economic policy design, implementation and evaluation.

The course’s flexibility allows for a variety of subject areas and disciplines to be explored, including international relations and political science, as well as business, management, law and commerce. On top of analytical and critical thinking skills, you’ll gain experience in research and data analysis, providing you with practical abilities for a contemporary policy and analysis career. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for a range of roles which may include working within the government, private, not-for-profit or community sectors. Or if further learning is your preferred next-step, you’ll be well-prepared to engage in study for a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) degree.

Study a Bachelor of Social and Economic Policy (Sociology) at UC and you will:

• Analyse the complexities of contemporary policy environments, identifying key sociological issues and developing corresponding solutions
• Evaluate a range of social and cultural theories and apply them to contemporary social problems and scenarios
• Critique popular explanations of contemporary social life through the application of rigorous methods of enquiry
• Examine the dynamics of power, cultural meanings and social inequities
• Recognise, analyse and evaluate the relationships between the scarcity of resources, the nature of values, and the design of social and economic policy in local and global contexts.

Work Integrated Learning

The structure and content of this degree has been informed by the needs of employers and industry specialists, making it relevant to successful employment and career outcomes. It includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities in the form of internships, professional practice units, capstone projects, networking and Study Abroad opportunities. The School of Politics, Economics and Society (SchoPES) employs renown economics and sociology scholars so you’ll have opportunities to become involved in high-profile socio-economic research if you’re keen to explore a research-led route.

Given the broad employment prospects associated with the degree, student WIL placements can occur across a range of fields, including with state and federal government departments, regulatory agencies, not-for-profit and community organisations, consulting firms, peak body associations and the private sector.

Core Major: Government and Policy

The core proposed for this degree provides a foundation for students in social sciences. The degree engages students by exposing them to the composite disciplines at the nexus of business and government. Students are required to undertake studies in key themes and issues in sociology, economics, politics and government, and skills relating to research in government and policy to ensure they have a basic understanding and foundation in social science disciplines to further their abilities as they progress and specialise in sociology and economic policy.

Through the provision of an 8 unit-strong core with elements common across the School of Government & Policy, the proposed core structure encourages the emergence of strong student cohort effects. Five units of the core will be taught in first year, followed in the 2nd and 3rd years by Professional Practice 1, Professional Practice 2 and Professional Evidence (Government and Policy). The proposed shared core will facilitate networking, inclusion, and peer effects among graduates of the proposed degree.