Course Structure

The course structure is based on six semesters (each of 12 weeks duration, plus a study week), with four subjects taught in each semester. It comprises:

• 15 compulsory core subjects (150 credit points)
• 7 subjects from the specialisation focus area/major (70 credit points)
• 2 elective subjects (20 credit points)

Areas of specialisation are:

• Counselling
• Chaplaincy/Pastoral Care
• Youth Work Social Science / Community Work
• Cross Cultural / Community Work

To qualify for award of the degree of Bachelor of Applied Social Science a candidate shall complete at least 240 credit points, including satisfactory completion of the core subjects.

For more information see the Student Handbook.

FOR ACADEMIC ADVICE - Email: SocialScience@ac.edu.au

FOR STUDENT SUPPORT AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES - Email: studentsupport@ac.edu.au

Subjects

Specialisations - Choose 7 subjects of the following

Counselling

• Applied Counselling Theories A & B
• Working with Families
• Working with Relationships
• Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
• Supervised Placement

Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

• Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
• Working in Schools
• Working with Addictions
• World Religions
• Christian Spirituality
• Communicating the Christian Faith
• Supervised Placement

Youth Work

• Concepts of Youth Work
• Methods of Youth Work
• Youth Issues
• Working with Children and Adolescents
• Working with Addictions
• Working with Offenders or Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
• Supervised Placement

Social Science / Community Work

• Cultural Anthropology
• Theology of Social Justice
• World Religions

Cross Cultural Community Work

• Australian Aboriginal Studies
• Cultural Anthropology
• Foundations of Cross Cultural Field Ministry
• Global Poverty
• Theology of Social Justice
• World Religions

Elective 2 subjects

• Working with Children and Adolescents
• Working with Addictions
• Working with Relationships
• Working with Families
• Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
• Youth Work
• Youth Issues
• Introducing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Recommended Course Progression

First Year

Semester 1

1. CORE: RES101 – Introduction to Academic Writing
2. CORE: SSC101 – Psychology of Emotion
3. CORE: SSC104 – Skills for Counselling
4. CORE: SSC201 – Human Lifespan Development

Semester 2

1. CORE: SSC102 – Case Management
2. CORE: SSC202 – Counselling Frameworks
3. CORE: SSC207 – Group and Community Work
4. CORE: THE101 – Christian Worldview

Second Year

Semester 1

1. CORE: SSC203 – Introduction to Psychology
2. CORE: SSC206 – Mental Health
3. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling:  SSE201 - Applied Counselling Theories A
   • Youth Work: SSE208 – Concepts of Youth Work (2021)
   • Chaplaincy:   SSE205 – Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
   • General:       SSE304 – Cultural Anthropology (2021)
4. MAJOR
   
   1. Counselling:  SSE203 - Working with Families
   2. Youth Work: SSE210 - Youth Issues (2021)
   3. Chaplaincy:   MIN102 – Christian Spirituality
   4. General:        SSE203 – Working with Families

Semester 2

1. CORE: SSC204 – Grief and Loss
2. CORE: SSC205 - Social Identity in Australia
3. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling:  SSE202 - Applied Counselling Theories B
   • Youth Work: SSE209 – Methods of Youth Work
   • Chaplaincy:   MIN202 – Communicating the Christian Faith
   • General:        SOC201 – Theology of Social Justice
4. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling: SSC301 - Working with Relationships
   • Youth Work: SSE317 - Working with Children and Adolescents
   • Chaplaincy: SSE317 - Working with Children and Adolescents or SSE211 – Working in Schools (2021)
   • General: SSC301 - Working with Relationships

Third Year

Semester 1

1. CORE: SSC302 – Working with Trauma
2. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling:  SSE311 - Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
   • Youth Work:  SSE302 – Working with Addictions
   • Chaplaincy:    SSE302 – Working with Addictions
   • General:         CCM204 – World Religions
3. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling:  SSE314 - Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
   • Youth Work: SSE314 - Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy (alternate to EXP306 – Working with Offenders)
   • Chaplaincy: CCM204 – World Religions
   • General: SSE314 - Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy (recommended)
   
   
4. ELECTIVE:
   
   • Counselling:   SSE302 - Working with Addictions or Social Science / approved AC unit
   • Youth Work:  SSE203 - Working with Families, SSE205 Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care, or Social  Science / approved AC unit
   • Chaplaincy:     SSC301 – Working with Relationships, or Social Science / approved AC unit
   • General:          SSE302 Working with Addictions, or Social Science / approved AC unit

Semester 2

1. CORE: SSC303 - Accountability in Practice
2. CORE: SSC304 - Ethical and Legal Considerations
3. MAJOR:
   
   • Counselling:  EXP304 - Supervised Placement
   • Youth Work: EXP304 - Supervised Placement
   • Chaplaincy:   EXP304 - Supervised Placement
   • General:        Any Social Science Elective Unit, EXP304 - Supervised Placement, or other AC approved unit
   
   
4. ELECTIVE:
   
   • Counselling:   SSE317 - Working with Children and Adolescents, Social Science / approved AC unit
   • Youth Work:   SSE203 - Working with Families, SSE205 Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care, Social Science / approved AC unit
   • Chaplaincy:    SSC301 – Working with Relationships or Social Science / approved AC unit
   • General:          SSE302 - Working with Addictions or Social Science / approved AC unit

Note:

-   Information below is based on a full time load, and allows students to follow a path with incremental learning and skill development

-   For a Part Time load, students are encouraged to complete the units in first year, prior to moving on to second and then, third year.

-   It is possible to consider a Counselling Major with a Youth emphasis – we recommend students following the Counselling Major and have their two electives be Youth units. Following the Counselling Major meets requirements for Counsellor (Intern) Registration in Australia.

For more details on which subjects you can choose, see the current enrolment guide for this course.

Admission Criteria

Academic

Applicants with Recent Secondary Education (within the past 2 years)

Applicants admitted on the basis of their recent secondary education must demonstrate the completion of Australian Higher School Certificate with an ATAR of no less than 65 (or the completion of an International Baccalaureate  or overseas equivalent qualification and result) for admission into this course.

Special admission is also available for Year 12 students who’s ATAR (or equivalent) falls within 5 points of the published guaranteed ATAR but have done well in subjects relevant to the course of study. These Special Admission Pathways are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director and then tabled for approval by the Admissions Committee.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study

Applicants with a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification will demonstrate the completion of a Certificate III or higher qualification awarded by an authorised institution or registered training organisation (RTO).

The Program Director will conduct a pre-admission interview (either face-to-face or phone or via Zoom) with all applicants seeking entry into the course on the basis of a Certificate III qualification. This interview aims to assess academic suitability and preparedness of the applicant for undergraduate level study.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

Applicants whose highest level of study enrolment since leaving secondary education is a higher education qualification must demonstrate the completion of an AQF Level 5 Higher Education Diploma (or higher) by an authorised institution for admission into this course.

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

If you are over the age of 21 at the time of commencement, you can apply for admission into this course on the basis of provisional entry, and complete the provisional entry qualifying period to become a full candidate.

Language

Overseas students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency skills. Such students admitted into our programs must attain an overall IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5. IELTS (or equivalent) is not required for applicants who have undertaken five years of required higher education study (or equivalent) in English from an approved country or who have completed a Certificate IV or higher qualification awarded in English under the Australian Qualification Framework by an authorised institution or registered training organisation.

Essential Requirements for Admission:

All students are required to complete the new Working with Children Check online before they will be allowed to participate in professional practice subjects. Students will be classified as a ‘volunteer’ in Education.

Students may be requested to submit a Statement of Intention as part of their application for admission into this course. In addition, a pre-admission interview may also be conducted.

Study Modes

Delivery Mode: Face-to-face, Online**
Locations: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart
Durations:  3 years full-time/Up to 10 years part-time
Intakes: Semester 1, Semester 2

*Limited subjects offered

** Some subjects must be completed face-to-face to meet professional accreditation requirements

Fees & Timetable

A complete Fee Schedule for all Alphacrucis programs and courses can be found in our Fees Information section.

For a full list of course dates for new and continuing students, MCU and Professional development dates please see our Timetables.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

• Understanding and knowledge of historic and current thinking within the social sciences; in-depth ethical, theoretical and practical knowledge about providing informed care to others; as well as a broad and coherent understanding of the dynamic relationship between the two.
• Broad, coherent and practical knowledge about the underlying principles and concepts for both maintaining currency in their chosen profession and independent lifelong learning; the limits inherent in these and their relevance to selfcare and professional conduct;

Skills:

• Able to critically and respectfully debate the nature of self, others and the world in which they live; exercising judgement and the ability to research, analyse, consolidate and synthesise relevant materials from the social sciences to substantiate their claims.
• Appraise individual and cultural diversity in both development and relationships and the practice implications of these; demonstrate the cognitive, technical and creative abilities to maintain these skills in changing contexts
• Display self-awareness and the ability to be self-evaluative
• Communicate effectively and creatively, through electronic media, orally and in writing with individuals, families, groups and organisations

Application of Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrate social responsibility in their engagement with others and by shaping the culture around them in a holistic, ethical, respectful and client focused manner
• Able to work independently, exercising responsibility and accountability in matching complex concerns with evidence-based practices; able to identify and action learning opportunities after reflection on feedback;
• Develop those specific attributes that prepare them for membership in their chosen professional association and the lifelong learning skills to retain or advance this membership