Program Overview

The Bachelor of Social and Economic Policy (Economic Policy) will help you explore the most important and complex social, business and government policy issues; matters made all the more poignant when analysed from a unique location at the heart of the country’s socio-economic policy making in Canberra. The degree provides major grounding in economics and sociology, but offers flexibility in terms of subject areas explored, meaning you can study disciplines such as political science and international relations, as well as law, justice studies, business, commerce or management.

The course focuses on developing intuition and critical thinking, and aims at producing well-rounded graduates with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You’ll become equipped with quantitative, research and policy-relevant tools that have a direct use in the market place and are valued by prospective employers. By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a confident understanding of real-world policy issues and their economic solutions, and will be prepared for either further study in the form of a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), or a career in the corporate or regulatory sectors, and beyond.

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

• Analyse the complexities of contemporary times through identifying central economic problems and developing corresponding solutions
• Consider and evaluate a range of economic theories and apply them to contemporary problems and scenarios in order to develop and suggest policy responses
• Explain and critique the popular explanations of economic life through the application of rigorous and systematic methods of enquiry that assess resource allocation
• 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.