1999 Arts Handbook - The School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Introduction
Structure and organisation of the school
School objectives

Introduction

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences formalised its links with the Faculty of Arts in 1993 as a part of the 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.

Structure and organisation of the school

The term 'School of Humanities and Social Sciences,' like 'Faculty of Arts,' is used most frequently to include all students enrolled in its courses and all staff, both academic and general, employed to assist in the delivery of these academic programs. The school is located on the Gippsland campus, which is in the township of Churchill, approximately 168 kilometres east of the Clayton campus.
The school is housed in four wings of the campus: the 2W, 1E, 1S and 7N buildings. The school office is room 2W283, and staff there can direct inquiries to the appropriate areas within the school if necessary.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences employs approximately sixty staff, including full-time, part-time and sessional staff. In 1998 about 1270 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs taught by the school, with a further seventy-eight undertaking graduate study. Of these, around 370 are enrolled on-campus, with in excess of 900 students studying part-time by distance education from a variety of locations within Australia and overseas.
Within the school there are six sections: Mass Communications/Writing, Journalism, History-Politics, Indonesian, Sociology and Social Research, and Social Welfare. Each section has a head of section who is responsible for administrative and academic issues relating to the one or more disciplines taught by section staff.
In addition to the sections, the school has two centres: the Centre for Gippsland Studies and the Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies. The Centre for Gippsland Studies has a large archive of information on Gippsland, maintained by the executive officer, which is accessible to anyone researching issues related to Gippsland. The Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies, headed by a director, serves to promote increased participation in tertiary education by members of the Koorie community through its Diploma of Koorie Studies and also has involvement in research in areas related to Koorie studies and the Koorie community generally.
The main business of running the school is the responsibility of the school board, which meets at least seven times throughout the year and reports to the faculty board where necessary. The school board comprises most academic and general staff within the school, a representative of another school and two student representatives.
Students wishing to bring matters to the attention of the school board should feel free to discuss them with the student representatives, who may be contacted via the student union.
The organisation of teaching and research in particular disciplines rests with the relevant head of section, whereas the school board is concerned with issues affecting more than one section, including new developments within the school. The school board has certain committees which have the power to act on behalf of the school board on particular issues as specified in their terms of reference. These committees include:
1 the Undergraduate Committee, which advises the board on all matters relating to undergraduate students as they arise (including questions of student workload and matters concerned with assessment), acts for the board in cases involving use of discretionary powers conferred on the school by the degree regulations, and considers proposals for the introduction of new subjects and variations to existing courses and subjects;
2 the Honours Committee, which advises the board on all matters relating to the fourth-year honours program, including the admission of students, the consideration of proposals for the introduction of new subjects, and the awarding of the honours degree;
3 the Postgraduate Committee, which advises the school on all matters relating to the admission of candidates for higher degrees and graduate courses, and the awarding of higher degrees and graduate awards;
4 the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee, which acts as a subcommittee of the Undergraduate Committee to consider cases of students who become liable to be excluded for unsatisfactory progress;
5 the Research Committee which advises the board on all matters relating to the conduct of research within the school, including policies, grants, and ethics.

School 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.