Monash University: University Handbooks: Undergraduate Handbook 2002: Units indexed by faculty
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Bachelor of Arts (Honours)


General information

Course code: 0003

Entry requirements

The honours degree requires a fourth year of study, to be taken following completion of the normal requirements of the pass degree. The minimum requirement for admission of candidates to fourth-year honours is the completion of an undergraduate degree with a major sequence in the honours discipline or interdisciplinary program. Students need average grades of at least 70 per cent in units to the value of not less than 18 points at third-year level, and an additional six points at a grade of 70 per cent or higher at either second or third-year level.
Berwick students are considered to be eligible for entry to the honours year, provided they have completed the normal requirements of the degree for which they are enrolled Students must have completed at least 48 credit points in the relevant arts discipline, comprising a 36-credit-point Berwick arts sequence plus an additional 12 credit points (in that discipline) at second or third-year level. In addition, students must achieve an average of 70 per cent or higher in units in the honours discipline to the value of 6 credit points at second-year level and 18 credit points at third-year level.
Students qualified to enter an honours program must do so within five years of the date on which they completed their undergraduate studies. Students who have completed a three-year degree at a higher education institution other than Monash University must provide a certified copy of their academic transcript and supporting documentation regarding content of their course. To be acceptable for entry, the school must approve the course content.

Course structure

A student must complete 48 points to qualify for the single Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Honours studies may be taken as single honours (a single discipline over one year of full-time study), double honours (two disciplines over two years of full-time study) or combined honours (two disciplines over one year of full-time study). It is possible, with the permission of the faculty, to undertake honours studies on a part-time basis.

Combined honours

Combined honours may be undertaken, provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines. Application to undertake combined honours must be made with the support of the heads of both disciplines. The overall distribution of points within a combined honours degree should as far as possible be equally divided between disciplines. The thesis component of a combined honours program should be divided as the two disciplines see fit. The thesis component may be taken solely in one discipline and be equally supervised, examined and weighted in terms of points between both disciplines, or any balance of these. Coursework should be equally divided between disciplines where possible.

Advanced standing (credit) policy

Credit will be awarded for previously completed units at level 4 or equivalent that have not been used to take out any other degree or award. All credit decisions are at the discretion of the Chair of the Faculty of Arts Honours Committee, who liaises with the honours coordinator in the relevant school(s). For applicants who have completed level 4 units in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, the maximum credit will be 75 per cent. For all other applicants, the maximum credit will be 50 per cent (24 points), not including the research component.

Honours disciplines

The honours disciplines are: anthropology; archaeology, Australian Indigenous studies; Chinese; comparative literature and cultural studies; comparative cultures; drama and theatre studies; English; environmental science; French; geography; German; history; Indonesian; Italian; Japanese; Korean; linguistics; music; philosophy; politics; religion and theology; Slavic studies; sociology; Spanish; visual culture and women's studies.
Discipline offerings will vary across campuses. Please check with the relevant Arts faculty office.
Interdisciplinary honours programs, which are programs where the course of study involves units from various disciplines, may also be undertaken. Students wishing to undertake an interdisciplinary course in honours should consult with the honours coordinator of the relevant school/ s. The final decision on the offering of honours disciplines will be dependent on student demand and academic staff availability.

Honours disciplines available at Gippsland campus

The following disciplines are available at honours level: history, journalism, mass communications, politics and sociology. Students may study full-time or part-time in either on-campus or off campus distributed learning mode.
Combined honours may be taken from two disciplines within the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the Honours Committee. Students undertaking combined honours will complete one coursework unit from each discipline and a single or joint discipline dissertation.

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