College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Welcome to the College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

We deliver leading education and research investigating the development, motivations and consequences of human behaviour across the lifespan.

Our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees address urgent social needs in education, psychology, social work, and society and culture. Graduates can work across multiple industries and areas, with skills to empower individuals and create more socially engaged communities.

We partner with industry, community and government bodies to improve policy, directly engage with community, and integrate the work of our graduates and our researchers into real-world impact.

Our College is home to a vibrant community of leading academics, researchers, clinicians and industry partners. You’ll benefit from our close connections whether you’re studying, researching or partnering with us.

The College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences is a driver for change, using analysis, communication and advocacy to meet the needs of our modern, connected and evolving world.

Hands on degrees

Our degrees seamlessly merge theory with practice. Engage in student-centred learning under the guidance of industry-leading educators.

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Industry and community aligned research and capabilities

We respond to the challenges confronting communities and research partners. Our research focuses on delivering real-world outcomes in areas of critical social need.

Discover our research

Discover the college

We investigate the art and science of people. As Adelaide University’s home of human psychosocial development, discover how we can help you embark on your future career or further build your existing capabilities, drive policy and research innovations, or get involved as an industry partner or through community engagement.

Our study areas 1
Our research 2
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Our people 4

Your path to a rewarding career in human behaviour begins with the College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences.

Our schools

We are home to four schools:

Education

Educating the next generation with pedagogy for a digital, intersectional culturally sensitive age.

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Psychology

Exploring the science of what makes people tick and helping individuals overcome challenges related to mental health.

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Social Work and Social Care

Empowering individuals and communities to build resilience, overcome challenges and build more interconnected communities.

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Society and Culture

Interrogating and driving change in the cultural texture of our communities and world through analysis, methodology and creation.

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Supported and practical learning

Our degrees combine industry-informed curriculum with hands-on learning in labs, classrooms and real-world placements. Our degrees are available across multiple campuses, including our metro and regional campuses in Mount Gambier and Whyalla, to ensure we have informed and valuable workforces across the country.

You can also discover psychology and criminology programs in our 100% online study mode, giving you the ultimate flexibility to study anywhere, anytime.

Throughout your learning, you’ll engage with expert staff including practitioners, researchers and academics nationally and internationally renowned in their fields.

Real-world applications

Our degrees include professional and field placement opportunities. Get a taste for your future career by engaging with research projects and internship opportunities in community and industry settings while you’re still studying.

As part of the College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences, you can also benefit from cross-disciplinary collaboration. Connect with experts within and adjacent to your field, collaborate with students from other disciplines, and benefit from global opportunities like study exchanges.

Our research is interdisciplinary, impactful, and informed.

Our scope

Our research extends into several of Adelaide University’s Signature Research Themes – it improves societal health, addresses educational and social disadvantage, amplifies our creative industries, and embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges into all areas of our work.

Our research structures

We are home to institutes, centres and concentrations focusing on key issues of our time.

Our passionate researchers interrogate topics ranging from social inclusion and child protection, as well as innovations in education technologies and approaches, through to urban design and gender studies.

Our research institutes, centres and concentrations include:

Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre

Social Relationships and Communities Research Group

Australian Centre for Child Protection

Centre for Research in Education and Social Inclusion

Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender

Higher Education Research Network

Australian Centre for Housing Research

Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning

We are also home to the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE), Australia's only dedicated centre focused on education and schooling within the Islamic tradition. As a world-leading institution, CITE drives innovative change in the Islamic education sector through cutting-edge research, transformative teaching, and active engagement. CITE's overarching vision is for Islamic educational thought to play a pivotal role in addressing contemporary challenges in schooling, aiming to serve as a global hub by actively bridging the gap between research and practice to shape the future of education.

OneHealth @ Adelaide University

OneHealth is a collaborative initiative advancing education, research and practical solutions at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health. By uniting experts from multiple disciplines, OneHealth aims to address complex health challenges, promote sustainable practices and improve outcomes for communities, ecosystems and societies worldwide.

Start your research journey

From specialised graduate certificates through to personalised PhD programs, our College is your starting point to generate and deliver unique contributions to an interdisciplinary field. Explore a designated program or lead the charge in an area of your choice.

We work within the community, for the community. Discover our local and international partnerships, wide-reaching alumni network, and how you or your business can get involved with our College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences.

Our scope

We work with organisations of all sizes to drive precise outcomes. By working collaboratively with private and public industry, dedicated not-for-profits and policymakers, our work drives better decision-making and improved delivery across key areas in education, mental health, and social and human services.

Regional areas

Our College focuses on improving access and keeping services available within the community. Many of our degrees are available across multiple campuses, including our Mount Gambier and Whyalla campuses.

Community engagement

We ensure everyday people can access our discoveries and outputs. We engage with local communities by offering student-led psychology services, get people involved in research studies, and more.

Let’s build something together

By collaborating with business, industry and government, we ensure our education and research has real-world outcomes. We partner with leading government organisations and private and public sectors to deliver the best learning outcomes for our students, and collaborative opportunities for our researchers.

Alumni

Our Adelaide University community connects beyond the campus. Our alumni from both foundational institutions enjoy enduring connections and opportunities to engage with our College, have access to a wide range of alumni benefits, and are a vital part of our Adelaide University community.