Major overview
Study human behaviour and build a career helping others
Why do people think, feel and behave the way they do? The Human Behaviour major within our Bachelor of Applied Social Care explores the psychological factors that shape human behaviour, helping you better understand individuals, families and communities across diverse social and care settings.
Throughout your human behaviour major, you'll examine key concepts from psychology, including human development, cognition, personality, motivation, emotions, relationships and wellbeing. Drawing on contemporary psychological research, you'll explore how people respond to challenges, form connections and navigate different stages of life.
Designed for students interested in understanding human behaviour in real-world contexts, our major helps you apply psychological knowledge to support people across social support services, community organisations and human services settings. You'll develop strong communication, analytical and critical thinking skills while learning how research can inform effective and person-centred care practices.
As part of your Bachelor of Applied Social Care, you can combine the Human Behaviour major with Child and Family Studies, Foundations of Business Management, International Aid and Development or Sociology to build expertise aligned with your interests and career goals.
By the time you graduate, you'll have a deeper understanding of human behaviour and wellbeing, preparing you to contribute confidently across the growing care and community services sector.
3 reasons to study human behaviour at Murdoch University
- Explore psychology and human behaviour through a flexible major designed for careers in social care, community services and human services.
- Study at the university ranked #1 in Western Australia for full-time employment, median salary and student support in Humanities and Social Sciences (Good Universities Guide 2026).
- Learn at a university rated five stars for student support at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels (Good Universities Guide 2026).
What you’ll learn
- Understand key concepts across major areas of psychology and human behaviour.
- Analyse factors that influence wellbeing, relationships and human development.
- Apply psychological concepts to explain human thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
- Evaluate and interpret psychological research and evidence.
- Develop critical thinking skills to understand complex social and behavioural issues.
- Communicate psychological knowledge using appropriate professional conventions.
- Use psychological insights to support person-centred approaches in care and community settings.
Your future career in social care and human services
Understanding human behaviour is valuable across a wide range of people-focused professions. As part of our Bachelor of Applied Social Care, this major helps prepare you for a community care career supporting individuals, families and communities through human services, advocacy and social support services.
Potential roles include:
- Community support worker
- Family support officer
- Youth worker
- Wellbeing coordinator
- Community development officer
- Disability support coordinator
- Case management support officer
For more details about our Human Behaviour major, download our information pack.
Start dates
| Starting period | Location | Face to Face | Online | Mixed mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 1, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.
Major Structure
Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.
To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|
How to Apply
Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.
Undergraduate
Course
Bachelor of Applied Social Care
Study a Bachelor of Applied Social Care at Murdoch University and build the skills to support individuals, families and communities. Apply today.