Social science

What would you like to study?

Why study social science at RMIT?

Learn from experts with strong links to industry

Help to combat social and economic inequalities

Explore the world through study tours and exchange

Discover social science

Make an impact

Engage with the challenges of a rapidly changing world, and prepare for a career in local and international organisations, businesses and government agencies.

Be the voice of the marginalised or a part of finding solutions that address global problems. Lead debate on social issues, or be the crucial link between people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

You’ll learn from passionate and engaged academics and teachers who actively work towards a fairer world for all.

RMIT’s social science undergraduate, postgraduate and short courses cater for those at all career levels, from pre-service all the way up to career professionals.

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Want to join the disability workforce or extend your current role? This introductory short course is for new entrants into the disability sector and a pathway to further qualifications.

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Career outcomes

A rewarding career

Social science spans multiple fields, and gives you the opportunity to work with youths, provide psychological services, act as a translator, and so much more. A career in social science can be immensely rewarding.

Care for what's next

Skilled health and social care professionals are needed to meet the growing demand for jobs in Australia, which is projected to grow by 19% by 2022. Bring your vision for the future to life with a certificate, diploma or degree in community services from RMIT.

Rebecca's work placement led to a rewarding job as a social worker

Rebecca Paterson wanted to give unheard people a voice; her work placement led to a job counselling and advocating for asylum seekers and refugees.

International internships and professional networks help students shape the world

Pieter went on to work in an NGO in Cambodia while Alice went on to workthe Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in China.

Master of Social Work

Rebecca Paterson studied a Master of Social Work at RMIT.

Transcript

This video depicts scenes and shots of Rebecca Paterson walking through the streets of inner Melbourne, working in a small office, strolling through RMIT’s Melbourne campus with a friend, leading a group discussion while on placement, consulting with clients, and speaking to camera. Ambient electronic music plays throughout.

Duration: 1 minute 34 seconds

Rebecca Paterson [Master of Social Work]: Justice to me means people who are unable to speak for themselves are allowed or given a voice, and that things get changed.

I feel like as social workers, one of the better things that we can do is to remind people that we’re actually all the same, and that everyone has “stuff”, but there’s a quality in humanity that needs to be voiced.

RMIT was much more preferable for me in terms of what kind of placements were available. What I really liked was that teachers had experience in the field that wasn’t too long ago and so they still understood what it meant to be a social worker as well as an academic.

Placements are seen as a critical part of the program. I worked with women and we were dealing with their trauma that they’d experienced from their past refugee experiences.

From doing the course I’ve been able to get great skills at being able to interact well with a variety of different clients.

I wasn’t particularly skilled at advocating (speaking on the behalf of other people) prior to coming into social work. But now I feel much more confident, I’ve had heaps more experience in being able to do that, and that’s something that’s been really valuable.

I’ve actually gained employment from my previous placement opportunity. We do counselling and advocacy for people seeking asylum and refugees.

I feel really excited about being able to see change in peoples’ lives, and journey with them together, that’s what I’m excited about.

[Closing title]

RMIT University

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International studies

Two international studies graduates, Alice and Pieter, share how RMIT's international internships and strong professional networks prepared them to shape the world and succeed in their careers.

Transcript

Find out how RMIT’s international internships and strong professional networks prepare you for a career in international studies.

Upbeat music plays throughout

Duration: 2:35 mins

[Opening title]
RMIT Presents

Pieter Bossink (RMIT International Studies graduate): I guess International Studies to me, means a course of study where one better understands how global events are triggered and how they impact the community.

Alice Slevison (RMIT International Studies Graduate): You become a global citizen with a strong understanding of different cultures and languages so that you can work anywhere in the world. It's all about carving out your own niche during your time at RMIT, and pursuing your interests.

Pieter: What attracted me most to the degree was the international internship component. It gave me the opportunity to get international experience in a field that I was deeply passionate about.

Alice: I had the opportunity to study a semester abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and complete an internship at the Australian Chamber of Commerce. I learnt about Chinese foreign policy and politics with students from across the globe, immersed myself in the culture, and learnt Mandarin which opened so many doors for me later on. The internship fast-tracked my career and provided me with professional networks that I still have to this day.

Pieter: Since graduating I've lived and worked in Nepal, Thailand, and Bangladesh, and I'm now in Cambodia working as an Operations Manager for Cardno International Development. I run a program that's designed to increase productivity and incomes for farmers and spread knowledge about new agricultural techniques.

Alice: I'm working as a policy officer in the China and non-tariff measures team at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, in Canberra. I negotiate market access for Australian agricultural goods to enter the Chinese market and assist the Minister by compiling ministerial briefs and providing advice on the Chinese market. I didn't succeed by just applying for jobs and getting them, they were always a result of having a strong professional network.

Pieter: I still remember one of our lecturers saying, “we're giving you the skills to do jobs that don't even exist yet”, and he was right. I've got mates from uni who are now senior Australian diplomats working in embassies throughout Asia and Europe, others work on Indigenous issues in Australia, there's a human rights lawyer and one guy owns a couple of bars in Phnom Penh.

Alice: Often in this industry you're looking so far into the future that you may not see the impact you're making each day, but I've realised change doesn't always happen on a global scale. It's happening right in front of you.

[Closing Credits] Shape the world with an international studies degree
Find out more: www.rmit.edu.au
[Visual] Australian Government, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources logo
Cardno logo
RMIT logo

[Screen title] CRICOS provider number: 00122A, RTO Code: 3046

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Industry connections

Hands-on learning

At RMIT, we prioritise industry-based and practical learning that allows you to graduate job-ready.

Many of our social science courses offer internships or placements, so you'll be able to apply your new knowledge with almost immediate effect. Students have secured placements with organisations including the United Nations, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, NGO, and various government departments including the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), CSIRO, and Parks Victoria.

Close industry links and Program Advisory Committee member organisations for social science include the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Salvation Army Crisis Services, Oxfam Australia, Centrelink, and more.

Facilities and locations

Study in the heart of Melbourne

The majority of our Social Science courses are held at our City campus. Located in the bustling and vibrant heart of Melbourne CBD, this campus offers your pick of local amenities and a wide range of student facilities. You’ll find the campus easily accessible by all forms of public transport, as well as by bicycle or foot.

In addition to these facilities, depending on your area of study, you may have access to the RMIT Health Services Clinic which facilitates supervised contact and learning with the public. You may also work with the Centre for Applied Social Research (CASR), which undertakes research and promotes public debate on key areas of social change and social policy.

I always wanted to be able to come home from what I was doing and feel good about what I’d done that day. It was incredible to see how valued the skills we learned in the course were. They’re so good, a lot of my classmates were getting job offers straight off the back of getting a Certificate III.

– Elizabeth Jones, Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)

Experience social science at RMIT

Meet Talisha – Master of Public Policy

After working as a volunteer, Talisha Ohanessian wanted to help address the structural problems and systems that can disadvantage people in need. That’s where her Master of Public Policy comes in.

“The Master of Public Policy seemed to build upon a real social policy or sociology foundation. This was really important to me, because I think understanding the systemic causes underlying an issue is imperative to effective policy, rather than a quick fix.”

Master of Public Policy

Meet Daniel – Youth Work and Youth Studies

An inspiring industry placement during Daniel's Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies led to his full-time employment.

"The highlight was the opportunity to complete a student placement. Through it, I was able to put my learning into practice.

I wanted to immerse myself in a university that would not only teach me how to be a good youth worker, but also how to adapt to changes within the field."

Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies

Languages can complement your degree

Learn a new language, or keep up the language you learned in school by studying the Diploma of Languages concurrently (with many RMIT courses), or as a language elective.

Language elective options