1999 Arts Handbook - Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)

General information
Objectives
Entry requirements
Course structure
Major and minor sequences
Requirements for the degree

Objectives

On completion of the course, students are expected to have developed:

an understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline and an appreciation of the role it plays within society as a whole;
a broad understanding of the main bodies of knowledge and intellectual traditions of the disciplines in the humanities and social sciences alongside the intensive study of psychology and the relevant methodology it requires;
a high order of self-motivated intellectual curiosity and the desire for continued learning;
soundly based knowledge and skills that will permit graduates to seek a broad range of employment situations where a knowledge of psychology will complement their learning in other disciplines.

Applicants should have completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (or equivalent) including the satisfactory completion of work requirements in units 3 and 4 of English. Comparable qualifications at secondary or tertiary level obtained in Victoria, interstate or overseas and TAFE qualifications may be deemed to be equivalent to the VCE. Applicants may also satisfy minimum entrance requirements by sitting a STAT test or completing two non-award subjects or two open learning (OLA) subjects. All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal work load of forty-eight points a year full-time or twenty-four to thirty-two points a year part-time or by distance education. Part-time and distance education students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.

Course structure

The various components leading to the awarding of the degree are defined in terms of disciplines, interdisciplinary programs, subjects and sequences. A discipline is a distinct area of study in which a major can be taken. An interdisciplinary program is a distinct area of study comprising subjects from more than one discipline. A subject is a prescribed amount of work extending over a semester at a certain-year level within a discipline or interdisciplinary program.
In most disciplines there is more than one subject at a given level. A student must spread first-year work over at least four disciplines, the compulsory psychology sequence and three disciplines offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The value of a subject is expressed in points and a normal year's work for a full-time student is forty-eight points.

Major and minor sequences

Students must complete a major sequence in psychology and an arts major sequence. Students should be aware that they may include subjects from other disciplines for credit towards the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities). Currently these subjects include GSC1301 (Social welfare issues), GSC1611 (Understanding university learning), GSC1601 (Basic statistics and computing for social sciences), GSC1602 (Introduction to methods of social research).

First-year sequence

A first-year sequence is a pair of first-level subjects which form the first part of a major or minor sequence.

Minor sequence

A minor sequence requires the completion of twenty-eight to thirty-two points of study and will normally comprise a first-level sequence followed by two second-level subjects, or two second-level subjects followed by two third-level subjects.

Major sequence

A major sequence requires the completion of a minimum of fifty-two points and a maximum of seventy-sixty points of study. Normally a major will include a first-level sequence (twelve points) and at least two subjects at second level (sixteen points) and three subjects at third level (twenty-four points).

Psychology sequence

The psychology sequence requires the completion of fifty-two points.

Prerequisites

All second and third-level subjects have prerequisites.

Requirements for the degree

A candidate for the degree must fulfil the following requirements to receive the award of the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities):
(a) complete at least 144 but not more than 162 points;
(b) complete at least ninety points within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences;
(c) complete a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten first-level subjects, including a first-level sequence in psychology and three first-level sequences chosen from arts disciplines;
(d) complete the prescribed psychology sequence (fifty-two points) and an arts major sequence (fifty-two points).
(e) undertake additional subjects to complete 144 points needed for the degree.

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)

General information

Objectives

Entry requirements