Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
Apply Enquire

Social Science

Social Science is the scientific study of human society and social relationships. Social scientists use a variety of research methods to investigate human behaviour – from why people fall in love, to why they commit crimes.

Why ECU?

  • QILT logo

    ECU top in teaching quality

    For the fifth year in a row, ECU has received the top undergraduate teaching quality ranking of all 37 public universities in Australia.

    ECU was also the top-ranked public university in Australia for undergraduate skills development for the sixth year in a row.

    View QILT results.

  • The Good Universities Guide 2021

    Good Universities Guide

    In the 2021 Good Universities Guide, ECU graduates have given us a 5-star rating for teaching quality, skills development, student support, learning resources, learner engagement and overall student experience.

    The 5-star rating for undergraduate teaching quality has now been achieved for 14 straight years.

    Read more about the Good Universities Guide.

  • THE World University Rankings 2020 Top 100 Young

    THE Young University Rankings

    ECU has been ranked in the world's top 100 universities under 50 years old in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) Young Universities Rankings, THE World University Rankings.

Courses

Study world ready

You can study many of our undergraduate Psychology, Social Science, Youth Work and Counselling courses online, allowing you to balance work and/or family responsibilities with being a student.

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Download a guide

If you prefer paper over pixels, please download one of our guides.

Domestic Students

Study area guide Undergraduate course guide Postgraduate course guide

International Students

Create your own guide International student guide

Become World Ready

Experience Social Science at ECU.

Scholarship opportunities to reduce your expenses

Scholarships recognise those whose life journey may have been challenging, as well as students who've shown outstanding academic excellence and endeavour.

A scholarship can help you realise your ambitions by paying for fees, text books and living expenses.

Realise your dream with our scholarships

Specialised Social Science majors

We are the only university in Western Australia to offer specialised majors in Children and Family Studies and Human Services within a Social Science program.

This gives our Social Science graduates a broader range of career options.

Explore your options

ECU's Social Science degree provides you with the skills, knowledge and capacity to make a difference to people and communities.

Student stories

  • Alfred Koech

    Social Science graduate

    "Passionate about people? Study Social Science"

    Social Science is the scientific study of human society and social relationships. It's a broad discipline that can lead to a range of career directions.

    In this video Alfred Koech talks about his experiences as a Social Science student at ECU. Alfred came here from Kenya to study and to pursue his passion – working with people.

  • Joyce Nederpel

    Joyce Nederpel

    Bachelor of Social Science graduate

    "I wanted more from my job, to be more involved with children and families who are disadvantaged"

    I worked in childcare for many years and had worked my way up to management. I wanted more from my job, and wanted to be more involved with children and families who are disadvantaged. I attended the 2014 Open Day and spoke to Dr Anna Targowska who pointed me in the right direction in terms of the course I needed to do.

    As a student, I never had a bad experience with any lecturer; they were always happy to help, listen and challenge my thinking.

    And I didn't know how valuable the networking would be and how many opportunities it would open up. It was so much more than studying further to get a job.

    I went to Camp Kulin as camp counsellor, then did my second placement at Foundations Care which opened up a whole new world for me. This was the dream job, the job I have always wanted. It was incredible to learn from and watch my supervisor. I was extremely lucky! I was then offered a job and stayed on at Foundations Care as a case worker, starting my new journey.