Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

Honours is a prestigious program comprising a fourth year of specialised coursework and research which follows the completion of the normal requirements of the Bachelor of Arts pass degree. Students choose a topic and undertake research working with a supervisor who provides individual guidance and academic counselling. Honours has also traditionally prepared the way for academic or higher research career choices.

Upon completion of the Honours program, students will have extended their undergraduate knowledge and built upon their skills in the areas of specialised research, critical analysis, and industry application and engagement.

Students must have:

• completed a degree, with a major (48 points or the equivalent) in the intended honours dicipline
• obtained at least a distinction average (70 per cent) in the honours discipline(s) to the value of 24 points at second and third year level, of which at least 18 points must be at third year level.

Please refer to the various school/disciplines for any special requirements.

Students qualified to enter an honours program must normally do so within five years of the date on which they completed their undergraduate studies.

This course consists of 48 points of study, including a thesis.

Areas of study

• communication
• writing
• international studies
• psychology

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).

Contact the honours coordinator from the relevant school for discipline specific requirements.

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 school honours coordinators of both disciplines. Combined honours normally take the form of a joint dissertation (50 per cent in each discipline) alongside coursework chosen from the two component disciplines.

Students must complete the following 12-point core units:

• COM400H(A) Dissertation part 1
• COM400H(B) Dissertation part 2
• COM4010(H) Research issues and methodology
• COM4020(H) Industry practice applied or COM4030(H) Contemporary media and communications theory

Honours in psychology

Students complete the psychology honours program currently run through the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine (all units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated):

• PSY4100 Psychology honours research project (24 points - full-year)
• PSY4210 Statistics and research design for professional
• PSY4220 Ethical and professional issues in psychology
• PSY4270 Psychological assessment

Plus one elective unit from the following:

• PSY4230 Contemporary issues in psychobiology
• PSY4240 Contemporary issues in cross-cultural and Indigenous psychology
• PSY4250 Contemporary issues psycholinguistics
• PSY4260:Contemporary issues developmental psychology
• PSY4280:Contemporary issues theoretical psychology

The honours degree of Bachelor of Arts