Bachelor of Social Science with a Major in Security and Counter Terrorism

Customs and Border Protection Officer

Manage the security and integrity of a country’s borders.

Risk Analyst

Conduct specialist risk analyses of key national operations.

Security Advisor

Provide security insight and advice in private or public organisations.

Immigration Officer

Work to maintain effective immigration control based on the country’s immigration laws.

Higher education

Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Secondary education

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE Pre-requisites

• Applicants must meet the associated minimum ATAR score
• Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL

Work and Life

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.

You will learn about the changing nature of security in a post-9/11 world. Topics covered include cybersecurity and the role of technology in contemporary warfare, as well as the major institutions and players in international politics, and strategies for countering violent extremism and radicalisation.

You’ll graduate with an understanding of the complex issues that inform and influence security, terrorism, and human rights, with the skills to contribute to the strategic and operational protection of national security.

This course is not available to international students.

Recommended Study Pattern

Course Units

Learning and Communicating Online (COM10003)

Australian Politics (POL10001)

International Politics (POL10002)

Australian Foreign Policy (POL20008)

Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics (POL20009)

International Relations and Security Studies (POL20010)

Conflict Resolution (POL20011)

Critical Perspectives on Terrorism (Capstone Unit) (POL30009)

Cybersecurity (POL30015)

Countering Violent Extremism (POL30016)

Introduction to Research Methods (PSY10005)

Sociological Foundations (SOC10004)

Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences (INS10001)

Professional Placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. International students who successful gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying. Students who undertake a 12 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

• Four [4] core units of study in Security and Counter Terrorism (50 credit points);
• Eight [8] units of study in the Security and Counter Terrorism major (100 credit points);
• Four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points); and
• Ten [10] units of study (125 credit points) comprising of a second major or co-major, and/or advanced minor, and/or minor/s, and/or electives. (A maximum of 100 credit points may be taken from non-Social Science/Arts studies).

Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 325 credit points comprising:

• Four [4] core units of study in Security and Counter Terrorism (50 credit points);
• Eight [8] units of study in the Security and Counter Terrorism major (100 credit points);
• Two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points); and
• Ten [10] units of study (125 credit points) comprising of a second major or co-major, and/or advanced minor, and/or minor/s, and/or electives. (A maximum of 100 credit points may be taken from non-Social Science/Arts studies).

Award Requirements

To qualify for a Bachelor of Social Science (Security and Counter Terrorism), a student must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

• Four [4] core units of study in Security and Counter Terrorism (50 credit points);
• Eight [8] units of study in the Security and Counter Terrorism major (100 credit points);
• Twelve [12] units of study (150 credit points) comprising of a second major or co-major, and/or advanced minor, and/or minor/s, and/or electives. (A maximum of 100 credit points may be taken from non-Social Science/Arts studies).

Students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement.

A unit of study can only be counted once. Where there are overlaps between majors and/or minors, students in the first instance choose another unit from the list of units available in the major/minor.