Undergraduate - Course4073 - Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences

The Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences offers a focused but flexible course of study where students choose to explore two or more areas of interest. Students can study traditional arts and social sciences disciplines such as history, sociology and English alongside more applied and vocational areas, to construct a degree that suits their individual goals and interests. Graduates will be able to demonstrate skills of analysis, critical thinking, high-level communication and the potential for life-long learning. The course has no compulsory units.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate skills in intellectual enquiry, analysis, critique and creative thinking in various humanities and social science disciplines
• demonstrate ability to perform advanced written and oral presentation, argument and analysis, and demonstrated information literacy
• demonstrate ability to engage with new technologies and communicate effectively in online environments
• demonstrate a critical understanding of the relevance to contemporary life of past and present debates and issues in the disciplines they have studied
• apply these studies in the changing circumstances of the work environments they are likely to inhabit and enact an ethically reflexive and intellectually informed position in relation to the social and cultural context in which they live
• demonstrate cross-cultural literacy and an understanding of the consequences and implications of globalisation

Students choose from a range of studies and complete at least one major, one minor and a first-year sequence. Elective units, or a second major, may be chosen from arts or an approved area taught by another faculty.

Available arts and social sciences disciplines

• Australian Indigenous studies
• Australian studies
• Communications
• Community studies
• Community welfare and counselling
• Criminal justice
• English
• History-politics
• Journalism
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Psychological studies
• Public relations
• Sociology
• Writing

Note: A minor only is available for Australian studies, community welfare and counselling, criminal justice, English and journalism. Philosophy and psychology are only available via off-campus learning.

For the specific requirements of arts and social sciences majors and minors and information on other arts units refer to the Areas of studyAreas of study (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/aos/index-byfaculty-arts.html) section in this Handbook.

Students must complete:

(a.) an arts and social sciences major in an available discipline (48 points)

(b.) an arts and social sciences minor in an available discipline (24 points)

(c.) a first-year arts/social sciences sequence (12 points)

(d.) another 12 points in arts and social sciences at first, second or third-year level

(e.) additional units to make up a total of 144 points.

No more than 10 units (60 points) are to be completed at a first-year level.

Students must complete a minimum of 36 points at third-year level (across the duration of the degree).

Of the total 144 points required, 96 points must be in the structure outlined in steps (a.) to (d.), and the remaining 48 points may be taken from disciplines in the Faculty of Arts or from disciplines outside the faculty. This means students can study a second major from the Arts faculty or a major (equivalent) from another faculty. A major from a faculty other than Arts usually requires the permission of that faculty.

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences