Undergraduate
2018
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External: this course is available online through distance education with some on-campus attendance requirements.
BHCS
The Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies develops your skills to understand, critically analyse and apply concepts of community development and international humanitarian assistance. This course focuses specifically on working with indigenous and non-indigenous communities in urban and resource-poor environments. The course is delivered by academics and experienced practitioners. Interdisciplinary course units provide you with knowledge in:
You will also complete two practice placements in your second and third year where you will acquire hands-on skills and knowledge in the fields of humanitarian practice and community development.
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in government agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and agencies engaged in community development or humanitarian assistance.
The program provides you with an excellent basis to further your knowledge in allied fields including but not limited to public policy, humanitarian practice and development, as well as emergency and disaster management.
The Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies is accredited with the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA).
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a Bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline at Charles Darwin University. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments, Student Contribution and 2018 HE Units and Fees.
2019 HE unit fees will be published no later than 1 December 2018.
See the Office of International Services for details on International Course Fees: www.cdu.edu.au/international/future-students/courses.
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2017.
| Applicant background (Semester one intake 2017) | No. of Students | % of all Students |
|---|---|---|
|
A. Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) |
<5 | N/P |
| B. Vocational education and training (VET) study | <5 | N/P |
|
C. Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) |
<5 | N/P |
D. Recent secondary education
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) |
<5 | N/P |
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra offer conditional on minimum ATAR) |
<5 | N/P |
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) |
<5 | N/P |
| International students | 9 | 45.0 |
| All students | 20 | 100.0 |
Notes
"<5" - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
The course is comprised of 240 credit points of core, common and elective units including introductory units in social work, psychology and sociology, direct practice with individuals and groups, community work and community development, project management, legal issues, social policy and remote and regional practice.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
|
Common (2 units) |
20 |
Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below:
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory) Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. |
|
Core (16 units) |
170 |
Compulsory Core units totalling 170 credit points from units detailed below:
PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A |
|
Specialist Electives (3 units) |
30 |
Specialist elective units totalling 30 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below: IND150 Colonising Australia (recoded from ATI150 with new title from 2016) |
| Electives | 20 |
Units totalling 20 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University. Students may select units from any of the approved (specialisations/sequences) as electives, if desired.
When selecting electives choose units at a suitable level. The first number in each unit code indicates the year level at which the subject is taught. Undergraduate units are coded at 100 to 400 level, therefore units coded as SWK1xx, SWK2xx, SWK3xx and SWK4xx, would be first, second, third and fourth year units respectively. |
| 240 | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Students who commenced prior to 2013
Of the total 240 credit points:
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 40 credit points must be taken from 300 level units
* not more than 30 credit points shall be included with a grade of "PT" or "PC" or "PS"
COURSE CHANGES - 2018
SWK312 has a new title in 2018. Previously Social Work Research Methods, now Social Research Methods.
COURSE CHANGES - Unit Code Translation Table - 2016
HCS260 First Humanitarian Mission (Project) unit title change to Introduction to Humanitarian Practice.
HCS350 Second Humanitarian Mission (Field) unit title change to Professional Practice Placement (National/International).
Following is a summary of unit code changes from 2016. Students who have already completed a unit pre-2016 should not enrol in the equivalent recoded unit. ALL students should enrol in the latest unit code from 2016.
| Pre-2016 Unit Code | 2016 Unit Code (recoded equivalent unit) |
| SWK141A Introduction to Human Services | SWK101 Introduction to Human Services |
| SWK142B Communication Skills | SWK102 Communication Skills |
| SWK243 Human Service Organisations | SWK201 Human Service Organisations |
| SWK242A Dynamics of Group Work | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work |
| SWK343 Working with the Developing Communities | SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities |
| SWK341 Social Policy | SWK311 Social Policy |
| SWK347A Social Work Research Methods | SWK312 Social Work Research Methods |
| SWK351 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership | SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership |
| SWK454 Building Safe Communities | SWK401 Building Safe Communities |
| SWK459 Legal Issues in Social Work | SWK403 Legal Issues in Social Work |
| SWK457 Dynamics and Loss of Grief | SWK404 Dynamics of Loss and Grief |
| SWK440A Skills for Regional and Remote Practice | SWK405 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice |
| ATI150 Indigenous Indigenous Knowledges and Experience: History and Colonisation | IND150 Colonising Australia |
COURSE CHANGES and TRANSITION arrangements - 2014
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies prior to 2014 will note there have been changes to this course. To ensure continuing students are not disadvantaged please note the following:
Change to Core Units:
*SWK260 Remote Humanitarian Project Experience has been recoded to HCS260 First Humanitarian Mission (Project).
*SWK350 Humanitarian Field Placement has been recoded to HCS350 Second Humanitarian Mission (Field).
*SWK365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies has been recoded to HCS365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies.
COURSE CHANGES and TRANSITION arrangements - 2011
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies prior to 2011 will note there have been changes to this course. To ensure continuing students are not disadvantaged please note the following:
Change to Core Units:
HEA401 has been replaced by SWK365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies. Students who have completed HEA401 prior to 2011 can count the unit as a core unit in leiu of SWK365 or can count HEA401 as an Elective unit, and count SWK365 as a Core unit.
As of 2011, *CUC106 is the preferred academic skills common unit for this course. Students who have completed CUC100 prior to 2012 or are transferring into the course from another Bachelor degree are not required to undertake CUC106.
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted;
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200; and
♦ ensure HCS365 and HCS350 are enrolled into during the same semester. HCS365 is the online support unit for HCS350.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU |
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services (previously SWK141A) | CO | SWK102 Communication Skills (previously SWK142B) | CO |
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | SOC145 Global Sociology | CO |
| Specialist elective 1 | SE | Specialist elective 2 | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations (previously SWK243) | CO | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work (previously SWK242A) | CO |
|
SWK312 Social Research Methods (previously SWK347A) (new title 2018) |
CO | PMO201 Project Management | CO |
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities (previously SWK343) | CO | HCS260 Introduction to Humanitarian Practice (unit title change from 2016) (20cp - available in SP-2) | CO |
| Elective 1 | E | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals/Families in Partnership (previously SWK351) | CO | HCS365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies | CO |
| SWK311 Social Policy (previously SWK341) | CO | HCS350 Professional Practice Placement (National/International) (unit title change from 2016) | CO |
| SWK403 Legal Issues in Social Work (previously SWK459) | CO | SWK405 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK440A) | CO |
| Elective 2 | E | Specialist elective 3 | SE |
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted;
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200; and
♦ ensure HCS365 and HCS350 are enrolled into during the same semester. HCS365 is the online support unit for HCS350.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||
| SWK102 Communication Skills (previously SWK142B) | CO | ||
| SOC145 Global Sociology | CO | ||
| Specialist elective 1 | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work (previously SWK242A) | CO |
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services (previously SWK141A) | CO | PMO201 Project Management | CO |
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | HCS260 Introduction to Humanitarian Practice (unit title change from 2016) (20cp - available in SP-2) | CO |
| Specialist elective 2 | SE | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations (previously SWK243) | CO | HCS365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies | CO |
|
SWK312 Social Research Methods (previously SWK347A) (new title 2018) |
CO | HCS350 Professional Practice Placement (National/International) (unit title change from 2016) | CO |
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities (previously SWK343) | CO | SWK405 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK440A) | CO |
| Elective 1 | E | Elective 2 | E |
| Year 4 | |||
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals/Families in Partnership (previously SWK351) | CO | ||
| SWK311 Social Policy (previously SWK341) | CO | ||
| SWK403 Legal Issues in Social Work (previously SWK459) | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective 3 | SE | ||
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a standard load Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted;
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200; and
♦ ensure HCS365 and HCS350 are enrolled into during the same semester. HCS365 is the online support unit for HCS350.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester | |||
| Year 1 | |||||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||||
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | SOC145 Global Sociology | CO | ||
| SWK101 Introduction to Human Services (previously SWK141A) | CO | SWK102 Communication Skills (previously SWK142B) | CO | ||
| SWK201 Human Service Organisations (previously SWK243) | CO | PMO201 Project Management | CO | ||
| Specialist elective 1 | SE | Specialist elective 2 | SE | ||
| Year 3 | |||||
| SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities (previously SWK343) | CO | SWK202 Dynamics of Group Work (previously SWK242A) | CO | ||
|
SWK312 Social Research Methods (previously SWK347A) (new title 2018) |
CO | HCS260 Introduction to Humanitarian Practice (unit title change from 2016) (20cp - available in SP-2) | CO | ||
| SWK313 Engaging with Individuals/Families in Partnership (previously SWK351) | CO | Elective 2 | E | ||
| Elective 1 | E | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||
| SWK311 Social Policy (previously SWK341) | CO | HCS365 Integrated Methods of Humanitarian and Community Studies | CO | ||
| SWK403 Legal Issues in Social Work (previously SWK459) | CO | HCS350 Professional Practice Placement (National/International) (unit title change from 2016) | CO | ||
| Specialist elective 3 | SE | SWK405 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice (previously SWK440A) | CO | ||
The information below will help you recognise which method applies to you.
If you have successfully completed, or are about to complete one of the following at CDU, you can apply through MyNextCourse:
If you haven't met one of the pathways above, or if you have never studied at CDU, you will need to apply through SATAC.
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