Course code: 0002 + Gippsland campus + HECS fees applicable + Attendance optional
The broad teaching and learning objectives of the Monash BA degree ask of students that they satisfy the requirements of study within the very wide range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and communications offered by the faculty, and of some disciplines offered by other faculties. Students are enjoined to grasp the very special opportunity provided by the BA to open their horizons of understanding and imagination to the many new materials, ideas and values with which they will be confronted.
All applicants should satisfy Monash University's minimum entry requirements as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this guide.
All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial work load of at least 24 points a year by off-campus learning. Off-campus learning students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.
There are no compulsory attendance requirements in the degree structure, and it is possible to complete the entire course without attending the campus. Despite this, any students intending to include psychology should note that compulsory attendance at some weekend schools is required for these units.
The course of study is normally six years part-time by
off-campus learning. In order to meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
degree, a student must complete:
(a) an arts major (48 points)
(b) an arts minor (24 points)
(c) another first-year arts sequence (12 points)
(d) another 12 points of arts at first, second or third-year
level
(c) a minimum of eight and a maximum of 10 first-year-level units,
including three arts sequences from the Faculty of Arts
(d) a minimum of 36 points at third-year-level including those completed
in the major
(e) a total of 144 points (24 units).
A first-level sequence is a pair of first-level units that
usually form the first part of a major or minor.
A major is three years of study in a single discipline, comprising 48
points or more. It comprises 12 points at first-year level and either 12 points
at second-year level and 24 points at third-year level or 18 points at
second-year level and 18 points at third-year level.
A minor is units in a single discipline, totalling 24 points, including no
more than 12 points at first-year level.
An example of a course plan for the Bachelor of Arts is shown below. There is considerable flexibility in the study program to allow each student to design his or her own study program, subject to completion of prerequisites and in consultation with a student services officer.
| First semester | Second semester | |
Year 1 |
Arts
sequence |
Arts
sequence |
Year 2 |
Arts
sequence |
Arts
sequence |
Year 3 |
Arts
major |
Arts
major |
Year 4 |
Arts
major |
Arts
major |
Year 5 |
Arts
major |
Arts
elective |
Year 6 |
Arts
elective |
Elective |
| ||
The School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences offers a unit strongly designed to assist students in developing skills for university study. DFS1611 (Understanding university learning) may be taken as a level-one elective at any stage in the course, but it is recommended that students complete this unit in their first year of study. This unit has a foundation core that deals with the basic practice of university scholarship. The core comprises theoretical and practical knowledge in the following areas: reading, writing, oral presentation, critical thinking, learning processes for classroom and resource-base teaching and the use of libraries and other information systems. Students are required to complete the core and to select four options for further study from the following: advanced use of libraries and information systems, specialised essay and report writing and use of computer-based technologies, especially word processing.
The following humanities and social sciences majors/minors are available for inclusion in the Bachelor of Arts:
Australian Indigenous studies is an interdisciplinary major offering a range of units that are designed to introduce students to the historical, social and political aspects of Australian Indigenous society. The major will provide an understanding of the relationships between Indigenous Australians and the dominant society and develop in students a sound knowledge of and the sensitivity to work within Aboriginal communities.
Australian studies is an interdisciplinary minor available within the arts degree. The minor enables students to develop a broad understanding of Australian cultures, lifestyles and societies. Students wishing to undertake the minor must complete 24 points (four units) from the following, noting that prerequisites may apply.
A major in behavioural studies provides an alternative psychology sequence. The units offered contribute to a developing knowledge of psychology as a humanistic discipline.
Communications is an interdisciplinary major offering a range of units designed to equip students with specialised but flexible skills in describing and analysing the organisation, processes, diverse uses and effects of `traditional' and `new' communications technologies (print, electronic, film and digital) as these are integral components of modern societies. The emphasis is on how media are a part of the way the social relations between individuals and between groups are organised and pursued, rather than on media as picturing these relations and related issues. The major will provide an understanding of the practical operation of mass communication media as well as their social and cultural dimensions, considering the audiences, producers and policy-makers involved. Students will be equipped with skills in utilising language, image and media delivery systems to communicate effectively.
and one of:
* Compulsory units for major.
This is a minor sequence of interdisciplinary units introducing students to community issues in postmodern contexts. These units aim to expose students to current debates about the meaning, nature and outlook of communities. Students wishing to undertake the minor must complete 24 points (four units) from the following, noting that prerequisites may apply.
* Compulsory for minor.
The history-politics sequence is designed to build up a significant body of historical and political knowledge about the processes that are shaping the modern world, including globalisation, regionalism and international relations. Major areas of national and regional study include Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. The history-politics major packages a range of units that will give students a high level of academic competence in the study of continuity and change in human society and a deeper understanding of the nature of the past and the modern world.
* Compulsory for major.
Students may also have AIS2806/AIS3806 (Archaeology of Indigenous Australia) credited towards the history-politics major.
The Indonesian major includes both the study of a culture through its language and the development of more generalist skills used in the acquisition of a new language. First-level units aim to develop a tolerance for difference and an interest in alternative ways of expressing the world while providing a framework for carrying out basic communication tasks such as negotiating purchases, providing personal information, and setting appointments. The second-level sequence continues with communicative tasks but extends this study into more thematic work looking at aspects of modern and traditional life in Indonesia. At the third level, students are expected to contribute a critical awareness of a variety of issues while being sensitive to the diversity of Indonesian views. In addition to the core language program, there are two higher level units, `Media massa' and `Seni drama'. These are specialist units designed for more intensive use of the Indonesian language in a specific field. These units can act as bridging units between study within the language program and mainstream study at an Indonesian university. Students from Indonesia are also encouraged to enrol in these units.
Students at all levels are encouraged to be involved with the Indonesian community and with events centred on Southeast Asia. Opportunities are also available to integrate these experiences into assignments and activities during study. Study in Indonesia is available through accredited courses with scholarships for both language study and mainstream study programs at Indonesian universities. There are three main entry points for Indonesian language study: INM1115 (beginners) for those who have no previous knowledge of Indonesian: INM2215 (post-VCE) for those who have completed VCE Indonesian or its equivalent; INM3315 for those who are native speakers of Malay or Indonesian.
* Compulsory for major.
[dagger] Not offered by off-campus learning in 2004.
The journalism sequence will equip students with a range of journalism skills and knowledge appropriate for flexible application in a variety of employment settings. The skills and knowledge developed are those required by journalists (or those using journalism skills) for the future. The major sequence is available only within the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and a specialisation sequence is available in the Bachelor of Arts (Communication).
Psychology is concerned with a wide range of phenomena including remembering and forgetting, thinking, problem-solving, learning, the acquisition of skills, language, seeing and hearing, decision-making, verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and emotions. It is also concerned with the practical and ethical applications of psychology research to the profession. While the major focus is on people, animals are also studied because they are of interest in their own right. Monash undergraduate psychology embraces all of these topics at each of the campuses. Students wishing to complete an Australian Psychological Society (APS)-accredited major must undertake 10 units (60 points) comprising of two at first level, three at second level, four at third level and one elective at either second or third level. For students who do not require an accredited sequence in psychology, see `Behavioural studies' as an alternative.
* Compulsory units for major.
* Subject to approval
Public relations is about building and maintaining relationships for the mutual benefit of those involved in the relationship. Essentially, it is concerned with relationships between organisations and people who are somehow mutually involved with these organisations. This course will not only equip students with the techniques and tactics to work in an area that has become a major branch of organisational functioning, but also provide them with the analytical tools to reflect on the functions and roles of public relations in modern day organisations and the society as a whole.
Sociology is the study of people and the relationships they enter into as members of various social institutions. Students who undertake studies in sociology will be equipped with a broad range of skills including the ability to analyse and interpret data to enable policy development and the theoretical understanding of issues. Students will also learn to recognise and respond sensitively to a broad range of community and social issues.
Students completing a sociology major must include SCY1801, SCY1802, one research method unit SCY2815 or SCY2816, and two theory units SCY3815 and SCY3816
The writing major provides a sequence of units which will enable students to gain an understanding of a range of contemporary writing practices in the context of cultural and media studies, materialist and feminist frameworks, and analyses of literary and other media forms. Students will become familiar with different kinds of contemporary writing, especially prose forms (eg prose fiction, feature articles, film and TV scripts, reviewing, travel writing, autobiography, biography and the essay), and acquire detailed knowledge of a range of techniques associated with contemporary cultural production. At second and, more fully, at third level, students will be able to reflect critically upon their own practices while developing and applying skills and techniques through individual and collaborative projects. Students wishing to undertake a writing minor must complete 24 points, including WRT3421 (Writing 1: techniques).
* Compulsory for major.
Students may also complete studies in the following disciplines offered through the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences:
A number of options exist for studies from other faculties/schools on the Gippsland campus. Such programs should be discussed with a course adviser prior to enrolment.
Units listed below can be taken as an elective within the Gippsland campus courses or as a single (non-award) unit. For further information, contact the Faculty of Arts, Clayton campus, on (03) 9905 2107.
The following units are available:
Details about the philosophy units can be found on the Philosophy homepage on the web at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/phil.
Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for advanced standing to apply for credits and exemptions. The onus is on the student to provide course records and details of course content and duration (including extracts from relevant handbooks). Students in this category are advised to complete a course plan prior to commencement of study to ensure they will complete the major/s or minor they intend. Students may be granted up to a maximum of 96 points of credits/exemptions. As a general rule, credits will not be granted for studies completed more than 10 years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.
Further informationFor more detailed information, contact the student services officer, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 5122 6339 or (03) 9902 6339, or email humcass.info@arts.monash.edu.au. Completed applicationsCompleted applications are to be forwarded to the Admissions Officer, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria 3842 by 26 September 2003 to be considered for a first-round offer. |
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