Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Environmental Futures / Bachelor of International Studies (Dual Degree)

at Western Sydney University - Parramatta South Campus Australia

With a Bachelor of Social Science from Western, you will have the ability to help shape the world we live in. This degree expands your knowledge through theory, research and practical application and offers you a deep understanding of our complex, culturally diverse and dynamic world. You will gain access to industry-based projects and placements, local and international work experience and build the practical skills that will get you ready to apply your knowledge to the workforce.

Heritage Tourism

In a highly mobile world (migration, tourism, media and communications, travel and transport) and in contemporary life where the preservation of historical and natural environments present as one of the major challenges facing all societies, heritage has become a touchstone for social and cultural identity, our understanding of modernity, peace and development, our senses of citizenship, custodianship and community. At the same time heritage places have become significant tourist destinations and so in a world of flows and networks, the heritage-tourism relationship is a critical one. In the 21st century it is impossible to disentangle the two.

This major introduces contemporary heritage issues and provides an in-depth understanding of tourism as a social phenomenon. It enables a critical examination of the relationship between heritage and tourism in number of settings within Australia (including Indigenous Australia) and internationally.

Graduates with a heritage and tourism major can contemplate careers within a diverse range of government, non-government organization and businesses that require understanding, insight and skills related to heritage and tourism.

The Bachelor of Laws (Non-Graduate Entry) program satisfies the academic degree requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. Students will engage in collaborative face-to-face problem and case-based learning, will be supported by online learning materials, and will participate in authentic assessment to develop knowledge and skills.

The Bachelor of Laws (Non-Graduate Entry) provides students with a broad progressive legal education with a strong practical orientation to the law. Students develop skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, and ethical and professional awareness and judgement. Students will also develop skills in legal advocacy, negotiation, and legal technology and extend their professional and learning experiences through work integrated learning, clinical placement and international exchange engagements. Students are further supported to broaden their academic interest and to extend their career options by undertaking an additional year of non-law study in an academic area or areas of their own choice.

This program is designed to equip you with the required knowledge and skills for legal practice. You will graduate with the ability to analyse legal material and understand fundamental legal principles. You will also gain an understanding of the relationship between law and society and undertake specialised study into the Australian legal system.

Even if you are not seeking to practise as a lawyer, your learning will be enriched by exposure to the ethos and practice of law.

This program examines the relationship of nations, cultures, languages and systems of government within the international system

International Studies provides you with the diverse skills and knowledge needed to meet the changes in societies, governments and businesses.

It develops your capacity to analyse the historical development of relations among nation states and contemporary political, social and cultural issues, such as globalisation, transnationalism and migration.

You will be able to combine studies from a range of discipline areas, including Asian and Islamic Studies, cultural and social analysis, history, politics and philosophy, and modern languages (Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian or Arabic). The program provides for one semester study abroad during three years of full-time.

This combined degree is designed for students who want to combine their interest and expertise in International Relations and Asian Studies with a good understanding of basic business issues, complemented by a high level of knowledge relevant to a specific business discipline.

Graduates will have a solid grounding in the relationships of societies, cultures, languages and systems of government within the international system.

Students will develop their capacity to appreciate the historical development of relations among nation states, and analyse contemporary political, economic, social and cultural issues such as globalisation, transnationalism and migration.

Students complete a major in International Relations and Asian Studies, a minor in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Japanese languages, and a major in Marketing. When combined with a high level of knowledge from the specific business majors, you will be ready for the workplace of the future.

Human Resource Management

The Human Resource Management Major is designed for people who seek careers in human resource management and industrial relations. Graduates’ careers focus on enhancing the value of human and social capital through supporting employee engagement for many different kinds of organisations, market-oriented and community-oriented organisations and many kinds of people.

The teaching philosophy is based on knowledge in action, a fusion of the Australia Human Resource Institute’s capabilities for HR professionals and the Western Sydney University Graduate Attributes designed to secure success. An aim of the program is to instil those values and attitudes that can support leaders in judgements about balancing the pursuit of organisational objectives with creating opportunities for developing people’s capacities and careers. The perspectives are local and international, with an emphasis on the value of cultural and demographic diversity. 

Graduates can plan a career in media, public relations, journalism or advertising companies with skills adaptable to many environments.

This combined degree ensures that your future work appeals to the right target audience.

The Bachelor of Communication component covers all areas of creative communication, enabling you to understand how your field of study is connected to other disciplines.

The Creative Industries degree partners with creative industries to provide an interdisciplinary, experiential degree that combines a core of entrepreneurship with major studies including culture and society, creative writing, design, enterprise innovation, journalism, literature, media arts, music performance and photo media.

Digital Cultures

The Digital Cultures Major offers students the opportunity to learn about how cutting edge technology and digital practices are changing society.

By analysing new media, visual arts, and digital design and the effects that the use of these new technologies have on culture and society, students will gain the necessary skills to position themselves for careers in a wide variety of contexts that require understanding of technology or digital media and its impact.

Complementing these analytical skills, students will also gain practical skills in the creation of digital media and design.

The Master of Public Health focuses on the comprehensive assessment of all determinants of health, which include broader social and environmental factors in addition to physical risk factors. Learning opportunities are aimed at developing the essential knowledge and required skills to effectively assess and respond to emerging public health issues, including evaluation of public health programs and disaster planning and management.

As one of Australia’s premier health sciences education institutions, Western is internationally renowned for its teaching and research across both clinical and non-clinical health sciences. This is why graduates from our Master of Public Health are so highly sought-after.

The Master of Public Health provides students with the ability to assess all determinants of health, including broader social and environmental factors in addition to physical risk factors. It provides you with in-depth knowledge on global and public health issues and determinants from broader social and environmental factors to physical risk. You will receive practical skills in community development and health promotion programs, and also complete a culminating research and practice experience in the evaluation of a contemporary public health issue. This degree also offers a variety of study areas including communicable diseases, policy analysis and economic evaluation, allowing you to focus on your topics interests.

Our graduates are able to identify social factors affecting health and examine implications for policy, health systems and different groups. Completion of this program will equip you with the skills to analyse and interpret results from quantitative data collections in order to interpret health status and health impacts.

Graduates of this program will be exposed to academic and industry leaders who share their experience and knowledge to facilitate insight into contemporary public health issues. Students will develop skills and professional development in the fields of health policy, social determinants of health, epidemiology, biostatistics, applied research and evidenced based practice, as well as an understanding of recent developments in the discipline.

The Graduate Diploma in Health Science provides students with an opportunity to delve deeper into issues relevant to the Australian healthcare system as well as international models of healthcare. It explores the socioeconomic, behavioural, biological and societal determinants of health and disease, providing a sound knowledge in epidemiology and the use of healthcare data for decision-making. It provides an entry point to the Master of Health Science for those who wish to continue on their professional development journey with further studies.

This program includes work integrated learning opportunities that involve using the workplace and community as a site and as a source for learning. Work integrated learning partners include various Local Health Districts, hospitals, aged care providers, and other health service providers found within the community. Two subjects will be focused on work integrated learning, one using workplaces and communities as sources for learning through project-based learning, and the other using the workplace and community as a site for learning.

In addition to three core subjects, you will complete five electives from a wide range of fields of study including, but not limited to, Communicable Diseases, Health Workforce Planning, Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care, and Surveillance and Disaster Planning.

This double degree program is designed for students whose interests span the Arts and Social Sciences.

It will give you the skills and versatility to work across a range of academic and professional disciplines, including the opportunity to develop global perspectives and communication skills.

You need to include a Social Science Major, so you can design your own academic program within the Bachelor of Social Science program structure.

Disability Studies

This major is designed to meet the increasing demand for specialist expertise in disability care, rights and services. Recent changes in global policy and social service frameworks have generated new labour markets in disability support, and this major meets the need for professionals with in-depth knowledge of contemporary disability issues.

Incorporating units from Social Sciences and Health Sciences, this major explores contemporary frameworks for disability studies. Students will explore inclusive practices and evaluate the impact of social policy on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Scholars) degree is designed to develop your communication and personal skills, creativity, capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations, and problem-solving abilities.

Geography and Urban Studies

Geography is the integrated study of people, places and environments. In this major, you will examine the geography of contemporary Australian cities and regions. The interests of today’s geographers include post-colonialism, the emergence of global information economies, indigenous issues, class and cultural disparities, population movement, sexuality and space, and the global diffusion of popular culture.

Urban Studies is a discipline focused on social justice within the city, through its critical assessments of people’s access to scarce urban resources, such as housing, transport, education and employment.

The political, economic and cultural forces that shape cities and urban policy are the key concerns of the Urban Studies curriculum. These applied interests in urban wellbeing and city structure are the intellectual basis for the urban planning profession.

Get ready for a journey of discovery when you study Science at Western. Develop the skills you need to investigate a wide range of scientific disciplines from astronomy to zoology. Help create a sustainable future in all businesses and industries.

Pick which subjects suit your career goals. Open up to a world of unlimited opportunities in astrophysics, conservation biology, drug design and pharmaceuticals, environmental health, food formulation, forensics, biomedical and biophysical research, hospital or pathology labs,  plant science and horticulture, and wildlife management. 

Chemistry

A Bachelor of Science with a chemistry major will prepare you to take part in a process of inquiry, by both contributing to it and by using scientific knowledge to solve current problems. The Chemistry program provides a strong background in the key topic areas of contemporary chemistry, including aspects of chemical theory in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, with a strong emphasis on practical laboratory skills, and applications in contemporary research, industry and the environment. A research project is available to students in the final year of the degree preparing you for a professional career in a wide range of chemistry based industries. The degree allows for the completion of a second major or additional sub-majors and electives to diversify learning for the careers of the future.

Graduates of this degree can look forward to career opportunities as a research scientist, forensic scientist, or a scientist in environment, mining or manufacturing industries. Other opportunities can be found in pharmaceutical industries, health and food industries, in scientific and technical sales, consumer affairs or you can progress into pursuing a research or secondary teaching career.