Undergraduate - Course0003 - Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts

Honours is a prestigious program comprising a fourth year of coursework and research after the completion of a relevant undergraduate pass degree. Students choose a topic and undertake research working with a carefully selected supervisor who provides individual guidance and academic counselling.

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).

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (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:

• the ability to critically review the scholarly literature in their specialist area of study
• understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a relevant research project
• communication skills in both oral and written presentations to both a specialist and a non-specialist audience, including the ability to write and present original work in a potentially publishable way
• the potential to pursue higher studies and learning in their area of study
• insight into the breadth and diversity of their discipline and its place within the broader scope of the arts and social sciences.

Students must have:

• completed a degree, with a major (48 points or the equivalent) in the intended honours discipline
• 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.

Contact the relevant school for any additional or 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.

Students, in consultation with and under the direct supervision of a member/s of the academic staff:

(a.) carry out a program of research on an agreed topic approved by the faculty in the student's chosen discipline, including attending and/or presenting at seminars, undertaking any required coursework studies and other related activities as indicated by the faculty

(b.) submit for assessment a thesis of a specified length on the program of research which meets the requirements of the examiners. In certain disciplines in the faculty, creative work or performance or a written critical commentary may also form part of the thesis assessment.

• Ancient cultures
• Anthropology
• Art history and theory
• Asian studies
• Australian Indigenous studies
• Behavioural studies
• Chinese studies
• Communications
• Criminology
• English as an international language
• Film and screen studies
• French studies
• Gender studies
• Geography and environmental science
• German studies
• History
• Indigenous cultures and histories
• Indonesian studies
• International studies
• Italian studies
• Japanese studies
• Jewish civilisation
• Korean studies
• Linguistics
• Literary studies
• Music
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religion and theology
• Sociology
• Spanish and Latin American studies
• Theatre and performance
• Ukrainian studies

Refer to 'Areas of study' 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.

Honours in psychology

The psychology honours program is run by the School of Psychology and Psychiatry. Students must complete (all units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated):

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

plus one of the following elective units:

• PSY4110 Psychology in society
• PSY4120 Mental health and illness
• PSY4130 Developmental psychology and clinical neuroscience

The honours degree of Bachelor of Arts