1999 Arts Handbook - Specialised BA degrees

Specialised BA degrees

In addition to the general BA, the faculty has introduced a number of specialised BA degrees. These are designed to give students the opportunity to pursue a more focused and planned program of study around an identified subject or field of academic interest. The specialised degrees are: Administrative Studies (See Gippsland section), Asian Studies (Clayton), Communication (See Gippsland section), European Studies (Clayton), Journalism (See Gippsland section), International Communication (Peninsula), Languages (Clayton), Police Studies (Caufield), Policy Studies (Caulfield), Social Science (Clayton), Psychology and Humanities (See Gippsland section)
The specialised degrees have a similar structure to the general BA but require students to take one or two major sequences chosen from a list of suitable disciplines that are central to the chosen area of study. Students may enrol into the specialised degrees from first year. Alternatively, Students may also enrol initially in the general BA and enter the program at the start of second year, or even third year. To meet the prerequisites for transferring into the specialised degree programs at the end of first year, students need to have completed at least two first-year sequences in disciplines that are designated as appropriate for the particular specialised degree that they wish to take. These then form the basis for the double major that is the distinctive feature of the specialised degrees. Each of the specialised degrees has a list of designated disciplines from which students may select their major sequences and additional minor sequences. In addition to the subjects that students must take to meet the requirements for the specialised degrees there are some 'free' units which can be chosen from among the range of subjects available to BA students. Any specialised degree students seeking to transfer into the general BA should lodge a course transfer application form at the undergraduate office by December.
These specialised degrees are offered at both pass and honours levels. In most cases, it is recommended that students wishing to continue into fourth year enrol in the honours program in one or both of the disciplines in which they have done their major sequence. Special honours seminars may also be provided for students who have followed the specialised degree program, where numbers permit.