The School of Humanities and Social Sciences formalised its links with the Faculty of Arts in 1993 as a part of the on-going amalgamation between Monash University and the former Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education. As a result of this process the school now operates under the umbrella of the Faculty of Arts, reporting to faculty board, but still maintaining autonomy over courses and student matters.
The requirements for the various courses are set out as simply as possible, but if there are remaining doubts as to their meaning, students should contact the school's administrative officers.
Objectives
General
Graduates of the school will:
* value truth, integrity, intellectual inquiry, aspire to the highest personal and professional standards and respect all cultures;
* possess well-developed analytical and communication skills;
* possess specialised knowledge of great value to them and society.
Skills and knowledge
Graduates of the school will have:
* computer, word processing, data research and information gathering skills of a high level;
* a general understanding of statistics;
* skills of practical application of knowledge, including skills of description, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and familiarity with laboratory procedures;
* sound knowledge of a number of disciplines and highly specialised knowledge of at least one subject area;
* the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing;
* interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, to consider the opinions of others and to be able to work in a team while accepting individual responsibility;
* literacy in a range of media, including reading and understanding texts, audio-visual and computer-based materials;
* the ability to assess the needs of various audiences and publics and to provide appropriate forms of presentation;
* good skills of argument, including the ability to identify frameworks or structure of explanation; the evaluation of evidence; the ability to support a solidly grounded position based on evidence and not on mere opinion; to put a case logically, to assess it critically and when appropriate to be steadfast but courteous in a dispute; the ability to assess contrary arguments and to modify a position taken, when necessary.
Qualities
Graduates of the school will:
* possess intellectual curiosity combined with the ability to learn independently and to seek continuing intellectual development;
* be responsive to current and future employment opportunities;
* be aware of various approaches to knowledge in the humanities and social sciences and a critical understanding of competing views;
* be willing to be engaged in and contribute to debates about social issues;
* have political literacy including an understanding of the nature of power in society and in social groups and realistic expectations about what is achievable through the political process;
* be empowered to make well-founded decisions confidently;
* be aware of academic and professional standards and ethics;
* be sensitive to all forms of life and be protective of the natural environment;
* recognise and support the equality of the sexes;
* appreciate and respect all cultures including Aboriginal cultures;
* have the capacity to recognise and show their feelings and a capacity for friendship.
The undergraduate programs
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers the following undergraduate awards:
* Associate Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) - Two-year full-time course or equivalent part-time
* Associate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare) - Two-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Communication) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Fourth-year honours program - One-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Bachelor of Social Welfare - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
* Graduate Certificate of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences)
* Graduate Diploma of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences)
* Graduate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare)
The Associate Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) is a two-year full-time course open to Koorie people, designed to assist students to explore Koorie cultures, histories and traditions. The course provides knowledge and skills to enhance employment prospects and to develop a greater awareness of lifestyle alternatives. The course seeks to contribute towards the maintenance of Koorie culture and to enable students to become actively and constructively involved in the process of self-determination.
The Associate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare) and the Bachelor of Social Welfare are designed to prepare diplomates/graduates for work in a wide variety of welfare situations, both urban and rural. The courses teach a broad range of skills and develop appropriate values and attitudes in working with individuals, families, groups and communities, in crisis or development. Theoretical perspectives and skills are integrated in practice through the courses' field placements.
The Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) degree is designed to give students opportunities to study and appreciate the culture, history, literature, languages, politics and institutions of societies. The construction of major and minor sequences enables students to complete specialised studies of various disciplines and interdisciplinary programs.
The Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Communication) provides students with opportunities to develop an understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues as they apply to the study of journalism, to understand the role of communication in modern society, and to develop practical skills and experience in the field.
The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) degree gives students opportunities to develop an understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline, and to appreciate the role it plays within society as a whole. The construction of major and minor sequences enables students to undertake specialised studies in humanities disciplines.
The fourth-year honours program will enable students to qualify for entry to postgraduate courses, and will also assist students needing a fourth year of study to equip them for future employment.
The graduate programs
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers research programs to graduate students, depending on their needs and previous qualifications. The programs include:
* Doctor of Philosophy
* Master of Arts by research
Further information on these programs may be obtained by consulting the Arts graduate handbook for 1995.
Advice to students
Students are expected to familiarise themselves with university policies and procedures, but should any difficulties arise, advice may be sought from the course advisers within the school. Students should note that the regulations govern the award of the degrees and diplomas rather than the less formal descriptions and diagrams contained in this handbook.
Professional accreditation
The Associate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare) and the Bachelor of Social Welfare are recognised by the Victorian Public Service, the Commonwealth Public Service Board, and the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers.
The Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) is recognised by the Victorian Public Service, the Commonwealth Public Service Board and the Directorate of School Education. The psychology major at Monash University Gippsland campus is accredited with the Australian Psychological Society. Application has been made for this accreditation to apply to the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities).
Part-time/distance education
In addition to its range of on-campus courses, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences also conducts an extensive distance education program via the Monash Distance Education Centre. Monash's commitment to distance education means that the same opportunities can be offered to students who cannot attend on-campus lecture programs because of work, family commitments or location.
The aim of the distance education program is to provide students with the necessary resources to complete a major part of their coursework off-campus. This involves the provision of (a) course material especially designed for independent study; (b) opportunities for effective lecturer-student and student-student interaction; (c) access to any necessary facilities, eg. library, computers, audiovisual material and so forth.
Monash Distance Education Centre's admissions policy is sufficiently flexible to accommodate applicants with a variety of academic and work experience backgrounds. In general, courses are open to applicants who have passed the Victorian Certificate of Education including English, or who hold comparable academic qualifications.
Applications are also invited from mature-age people (twenty-three years and over) who, although they may not hold the required academic qualifications, can demonstrate that they might reasonably be expected to successfully complete the course they are applying for. This would include evidence of academic studies, work or vocational training after leaving school, together with a personal statement/resume and employer references attesting to the applicant's general maturity and motivation (ie references must accompany applications made on the basis of mature-age entry). Mature-age applicants are required to undertake the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) if they do not possess tertiary entrance requirements.
A number of on-campus weekend and vacation schools are organised for distance education students to supplement and enrich the basic coursework they do off-campus. The Bulletin provides students with details of their weekend school timetable. The Bulletin also keeps distance education students up-to-date with university matters.
It is important to note that for some courses there are mandatory attendance requirements, and for some subjects, eg psychology and social welfare, a certain amount of required practical work. Where this is so, the requirement is specified in the course description. If in doubt, contact student administration or the distance education centre for specific information.
Attendance at these schools is highly recommended and distance education students are encouraged to make as much use of them as their circumstances allow. They add a valuable dimension to the study experience by providing opportunities for interaction with lecturers and fellow students, and provide access to study facilities such as the library and the computer rooms.
Cafeteria facilities are available and child care services and social functions are provided by the student union. There may be limited on-campus accommodation available to distance education students during weekend and vacation schools.
If you decide to apply for enrolment in 1995, the sooner you act the better. Quotas operate on courses and some individual subjects. Instructions included with application forms tell you quite clearly the steps to follow to complete an application.
New applicants for distance education should lodge applications, complete with evidence of entry qualifications, with student administration by 23 September 1994. It will only be possible to consider late applications if quota places remain.
The 1995 Monash Distance Education booklet gives details of courses and subjects available by distance education. To obtain a free copy write to Student Administration, Monash University Gippsland campus, Switchback Road, Churchill 3842, or telephone Student Administration on (051) 226 287 or (03) 902 6287, or the Distance Education Centre on (051) 226 274 or (03) 902 6274.
Computing in the school
A range of computer facilities is available on-campus which Humanities and Social Sciences students may access. Students requiring computing experience may choose to undertake the two social research subjects offered at second-year level which provide students with experience in using word-processing and statistical packages such as WordPerfect and Minitab.
Enrolment and re-enrolment
Students should be familiar with the general information booklet which contains extensive information relating to enrolment. Students should be particularly careful to read all information sent by the university.
Details of enrolment times and places accompany the offer letter mailed from VTAC to students who apply through the VTAC system. Such students are required to attend the university to enrol and should note that the VTAC card must be presented at the time of enrolment. Payment of fees and selection of a payment option under the higher education contribution scheme is also required at the time of enrolment.
Direct entry students normally enrol by mail, although they may attend the Gippsland campus to complete the necessary procedures.
Students who wish to undertake study within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences select their study program either on application (for distance education/direct entry places) or at the time of enrolment (for on-campus places). The subjects studied at first-year level should reflect at least in part, the majors and/or minors intended by the student. Course advisers are available to assist students, but not to select a student's course. Students are expected to have familiarised themselves with relevant course information provided in university publications.
All applicants who have been offered a place in a course, and who do not wish to take up that offer, may apply for a deferment of admission in writing. Deferral will normally be granted for twelve months unless the student expresses an intention to take another tertiary place elsewhere. When students are contacted later in the year about their intentions for the following year, they will be asked to confirm that they did not undertake another tertiary course in the period of deferment.
All continuing students - internal, distance education and part-time - are forwarded application forms and course information to enable them to re-enrol by mail. The head of school may consider students' previous end-of-year assessment results when approving re-enrolment applications, and students will be advised of any necessary adjustments to their study program.
For later year students, information on study options is available from the relevant course adviser. Any proposed changes to the selection of subjects must be lodged in writing with student administration, and must be formally approved by the head of school (or nominee).