Bachelor of Applied Social Science

Become a change agent for your clients

If you care deeply about people and want to make a real difference in their lives, this course may be the next step for you.

Choose from three streams: Community Development, Counselling or Youth Work, all taught within a Christian worldview and ethos.

You’ll gain profession-centred knowledge, expertise and skills for employment.

Where will this lead me?

Counselling Stream

Graduates who specialise in counselling may find employment as a counsellor or chaplain in Christian or public schools, in community agencies or private practice.
Counselling graduates may also become counsellors, clinicians, life coaches, peer support workers, mentors, pastoral carers, and community development workers within church, community and government agencies as well as private practice.
Successfully completing the minimum requirements of 80 hours of counselling and 20 hours of supervision over the two Counselling Field Education units in the Counselling Stream will allow you to apply for registration as a counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and/or as a provisional member with the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA), a Constituent Member
Association of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). However, to reach graduate level accreditation for CCAA, an additional 160 hours of counselling and 40 hours of supervision within two years of becoming a provisional member are required for registration.

Community Development Stream

Graduates may find employment in the field of community development including community organisations, local councils, government agencies and churches.

Youth Work Stream

Graduates who specialise in youth work may find employment in youth drop-in centres, youth welfare organisations, faith-based organisations and government agencies.

COURSE Structure

The Bachelor of Applied Social Science is composed of 24 units of 6 Credit Points each completed over 3 years full-time equivalent (144 Credit Points in total).

Students choose one of three streams; Counselling, Community Development

Students are required to complete the following core areas.

Students are required to complete one of the following Streams.

Counselling (14 units, 6cp each)

Students are required to complete electives which may be chosen from any 500, 600 or 700 level unit the College offers (as long as pre-requisites are met).

Those undertaking the Counselling Stream – (1 unit, 6cp each)
Those undertaking the Community Development Stream – (5 units, 6cp each)
Those undertaking the Youth Work Stream – (2 units, 6cp each)

What Students

are saying

The support of the teachers has been fantastic. I've always felt like a person. At Eastern our lectures were participatory. We felt like we were always in a conversation throughout the class time. I'd always come away going, "this is amazing." I don't feel like I've been talked at but I've taken away so much.

Course Outcomes

Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community.
Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly work
Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Applied Social Science disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one discipline or area of practice.
Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about individuals and society informed by a Christian worldview.
Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community informed by a Christian worldview.
Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex human problems informed by a Christian worldview and one or more disciplines’ approaches.
Demonstrate autonomy and responsibility for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts.

Entry Requirements

All applicants will be required to meet Eastern’s General Entry Requirements.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)

ATAR Based Admissions
Satisfactory completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)* or equivalent obtaining an ATAR score of 60.
Other Admission Pathways
Students who had exceptional circumstances in the completion of their secondary studies may be admitted with evidence of difficulties from the secondary institution, medical practitioners and/or other professionals who can attest to the impact upon the prospective student’s ATAR.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants must have completed a Certificate IV or higher.

Applicants with higher education study

Successful completion of the Diploma in Arts or equivalent OR
Successful completion of the Associate Degree in Arts or equivalent OR
Other higher education studies (complete or incomplete) that may or may not be granted advanced standing.

Applicants with work and life experience

Mature Age entry for those who have reached the age of 21 is available. Applicants must demonstrate an aptitude for their desired Stream during the New Student Interview and demonstrate an ability to study at the required level through their responses on the application form.

Applicants must meet the English language requirements.

Applicants must demonstrate in the New Student Interview.
- self-awareness, including the capacity to relate in a facilitative way with others and to reflect on and examine the impact of these actions.
- relational capacity.
- a capacity to understand and practice ethical behaviour and be prepared to follow a code of ethics.
- a certain level of mature life experience on the part of the applicant and this is shown by the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to positive and challenging feedback.
To undertake a professional placement the placement organisation may require a satisfactory police check and/or a working with children check.

Advanced standing, academic credit, recognition of prior learning (RPL)

You may be entitled to credit for prior learning, whether formal or informal. Formal learning can include previous study in higher education, vocational education, or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning or various kinds of work and life experience. Credit can reduce the amount of study needed to complete a degree.

For further information about credit and recognition of prior learning please see Admissions Information or call the College on 9790 9200 and speak to the Registrar.

Eastern College Australia values the history, culture and languages of First Nations people and we welcome their participation in all of our courses.

Pathways

Exit Pathways
Depending on the units chosen students may choose to exit with a Diploma in Arts or Associate Degree in Arts.

Students who choose not to complete, or are not given permission to complete, the practicum units of their Stream may change to a Bachelor of Arts award.

Articulation Arrangements
Students who have completed a relevant diploma in counselling may articulate into this award.

Pathways to Further Learning
Successful completion of the award with the Counselling Stream will allow students to progress to the Master of Community Counselling.

Fees

For a breakdown on the fees for this course please visit our fees page.

Units attached to this course

For a comprehensive list of all units attached to this course see below.

CD520 Community Development and Social Change
CD530 Applied Human Rights
CD610 Art and Social Action
CD622 Art and Community Development
CD631 Inequality and Marginalisation
CD721 Leading and Organising for Social Change
CD730 Gender and Sexuality
CD731 Community Advocacy
CD781 Community Development Professional Experience 1 (10 days)
CD782 Community Development Professional Experience 2 (10 days)
CF501 Living in Christ
CF502 Foundations for Faith
CF503 Introduction to the Bible
CF604 Faith, Reason and Justice
CF701 Integration of Vocation and Faith
CN510 Introduction to Counselling
CN520 Personal Philosophy of Counselling Practice
CN602 Common Counselling Issues
CN603 Strengths-based Collaborative Approaches to Counselling
CN605 Counselling for Addiction
CN611 Basic Counselling Skills
CN621 Counselling Skills and the Counselling Profession
CN701 Family Counselling
CN704 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
CN724 Counselling Field Education 1
CN725 Counselling Field Education 2
EN503 Literature and Worldview
PS511 Introduction to Psychology
PS602 Human Development: Implications for Counselling
PS701 Mental Health for Counselling
SS501 Introduction to Sociology
SS502 Indigenous Australia and the Nation
SS600 Innovative Social Action
SS601 Ethical and Professional Practice
SS700 Social Research Methods
SS701 Social Policy
YT501 Theories of Youth Work
YT541 Youth Work and the Youth Sector
YT602 Group Work and Program Design
YT603 Youth Rights and Participation
YT670 Youth Work Field Education 1 Part A
YT671 Youth Work Field Education 1 Part B
YT701 Leadership in Youth Work
YT720 Trauma Informed Youth Work
YT770 Youth Work Field Education 2 Part A
YT771 Youth Work Field Education 2 Part B

2023 Intake

Now Open

Step out in faith and submit your application today! We’re exited to begin this next season in your life together.

Semester 1 applications close 3rd February

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If you care deeply about people and want to make a real difference in their lives, this course may be the next step for you.

Choose from three streams: Community Development, Counselling or Youth Work, all taught within a Christian worldview and ethos.

You’ll gain profession-centred knowledge, expertise and skills for employment.

Where will this lead me?

Counselling Stream

Graduates who specialise in counselling may find employment as a counsellor or chaplain in Christian or public schools, in community agencies or private practice.
Counselling graduates may also become counsellors, clinicians, life coaches, peer support workers, mentors, pastoral carers, and community development workers within church, community and government agencies as well as private practice.
Successfully completing the minimum requirements of 80 hours of counselling and 20 hours of supervision over the two Counselling Field Education units in the Counselling Stream will allow you to apply for registration as a counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and/or as a provisional member with the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA), a Constituent Member
Association of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). However, to reach graduate level accreditation for CCAA, an additional 160 hours of counselling and 40 hours of supervision within two years of becoming a provisional member are required for registration.

Community Development Stream

Graduates may find employment in the field of community development including community organisations, local councils, government agencies and churches.

Youth Work Stream

Graduates who specialise in youth work may find employment in youth drop-in centres, youth welfare organisations, faith-based organisations and government agencies.

COURSE Structure

The Bachelor of Applied Social Science is composed of 24 units of 6 Credit Points each completed over 3 years full-time equivalent (144 Credit Points in total).

Students choose one of three streams; Counselling, Community Development

Students are required to complete the following core areas.

Students are required to complete one of the following Streams.

Counselling (14 units, 6cp each)

Students are required to complete electives which may be chosen from any 500, 600 or 700 level unit the College offers (as long as pre-requisites are met).

Those undertaking the Counselling Stream – (1 unit, 6cp each)
Those undertaking the Community Development Stream – (5 units, 6cp each)
Those undertaking the Youth Work Stream – (2 units, 6cp each)

What Students

are saying

The support of the teachers has been fantastic. I've always felt like a person. At Eastern our lectures were participatory. We felt like we were always in a conversation throughout the class time. I'd always come away going, "this is amazing." I don't feel like I've been talked at but I've taken away so much.

Course Outcomes

Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community.
Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly work
Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Applied Social Science disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one discipline or area of practice.
Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about individuals and society informed by a Christian worldview.
Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community informed by a Christian worldview.
Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex human problems informed by a Christian worldview and one or more disciplines’ approaches.
Demonstrate autonomy and responsibility for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts.

Entry Requirements

All applicants will be required to meet Eastern’s General Entry Requirements.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)

ATAR Based Admissions
Satisfactory completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)* or equivalent obtaining an ATAR score of 60.
Other Admission Pathways
Students who had exceptional circumstances in the completion of their secondary studies may be admitted with evidence of difficulties from the secondary institution, medical practitioners and/or other professionals who can attest to the impact upon the prospective student’s ATAR.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants must have completed a Certificate IV or higher.

Applicants with higher education study

Successful completion of the Diploma in Arts or equivalent OR
Successful completion of the Associate Degree in Arts or equivalent OR
Other higher education studies (complete or incomplete) that may or may not be granted advanced standing.

Applicants with work and life experience

Mature Age entry for those who have reached the age of 21 is available. Applicants must demonstrate an aptitude for their desired Stream during the New Student Interview and demonstrate an ability to study at the required level through their responses on the application form.

Applicants must meet the English language requirements.

Applicants must demonstrate in the New Student Interview.
- self-awareness, including the capacity to relate in a facilitative way with others and to reflect on and examine the impact of these actions.
- relational capacity.
- a capacity to understand and practice ethical behaviour and be prepared to follow a code of ethics.
- a certain level of mature life experience on the part of the applicant and this is shown by the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to positive and challenging feedback.
To undertake a professional placement the placement organisation may require a satisfactory police check and/or a working with children check.

Advanced standing, academic credit, recognition of prior learning (RPL)

You may be entitled to credit for prior learning, whether formal or informal. Formal learning can include previous study in higher education, vocational education, or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning or various kinds of work and life experience. Credit can reduce the amount of study needed to complete a degree.

For further information about credit and recognition of prior learning please see Admissions Information or call the College on 9790 9200 and speak to the Registrar.

Eastern College Australia values the history, culture and languages of First Nations people and we welcome their participation in all of our courses.

Pathways

Exit Pathways
Depending on the units chosen students may choose to exit with a Diploma in Arts or Associate Degree in Arts.

Students who choose not to complete, or are not given permission to complete, the practicum units of their Stream may change to a Bachelor of Arts award.

Articulation Arrangements
Students who have completed a relevant diploma in counselling may articulate into this award.

Pathways to Further Learning
Successful completion of the award with the Counselling Stream will allow students to progress to the Master of Community Counselling.

Fees

For a breakdown on the fees for this course please visit our fees page.

Units attached to this course

For a comprehensive list of all units attached to this course see below.

CD520 Community Development and Social Change
CD530 Applied Human Rights
CD610 Art and Social Action
CD622 Art and Community Development
CD631 Inequality and Marginalisation
CD721 Leading and Organising for Social Change
CD730 Gender and Sexuality
CD731 Community Advocacy
CD781 Community Development Professional Experience 1 (10 days)
CD782 Community Development Professional Experience 2 (10 days)
CF501 Living in Christ
CF502 Foundations for Faith
CF503 Introduction to the Bible
CF604 Faith, Reason and Justice
CF701 Integration of Vocation and Faith
CN510 Introduction to Counselling
CN520 Personal Philosophy of Counselling Practice
CN602 Common Counselling Issues
CN603 Strengths-based Collaborative Approaches to Counselling
CN605 Counselling for Addiction
CN611 Basic Counselling Skills
CN621 Counselling Skills and the Counselling Profession
CN701 Family Counselling
CN704 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
CN724 Counselling Field Education 1
CN725 Counselling Field Education 2
EN503 Literature and Worldview
PS511 Introduction to Psychology
PS602 Human Development: Implications for Counselling
PS701 Mental Health for Counselling
SS501 Introduction to Sociology
SS502 Indigenous Australia and the Nation
SS600 Innovative Social Action
SS601 Ethical and Professional Practice
SS700 Social Research Methods
SS701 Social Policy
YT501 Theories of Youth Work
YT541 Youth Work and the Youth Sector
YT602 Group Work and Program Design
YT603 Youth Rights and Participation
YT670 Youth Work Field Education 1 Part A
YT671 Youth Work Field Education 1 Part B
YT701 Leadership in Youth Work
YT720 Trauma Informed Youth Work
YT770 Youth Work Field Education 2 Part A
YT771 Youth Work Field Education 2 Part B

2023 Intake

Now Open

Step out in faith and submit your application today! We’re exited to begin this next season in your life together.

Semester 1 applications close 3rd February

Related Courses

You might be interested in...

Get in Touch

Our friendly team is ready to answer any questions you may have.

You can apply directly to the College via our online application form Below.

Get in Touch

Our friendly team is ready to answer any questions you may have.

You can apply directly to the College via our online application form Below.