Monash University

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Undergraduate Handbook 2014 - Faculty of Arts

Arts - Undergraduate studies

Faculty information

Disciplines and areas of study

Course information

Course-related policies and rules

 

Introduction - Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts at Monash University is one of the largest, most diverse and dynamic arts faculties in Australia. We deliver arts programs across six campuses: Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland, Malaysia and South Africa. Our courses are increasingly available via off-campus learning over the internet. We also offer intensive units at our Monash Prato Centre in Italy that students can take as part of their degree.

Our offerings include a broad range of humanities, languages and social sciences, from history to human rights, Japanese to journalism, and philosophy to politics. Courses offered range from undergraduate diplomas and degrees, through to postgraduate coursework and research degrees. Monash Arts is justly proud of the research capacity of its staff. Our lecturers are working at the cutting edge of scholarship in their fields, and they carry their expertise and their enthusiasm into their teaching.

The Faculty of Arts is composed of eight schools as well as a number of centres, including:

  • Applied Media and Social Sciences
  • English, Communications and Performance Studies
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Journalism, Australian and Indigenous Studies
  • Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
  • Philosophical, Historical and International Studies
  • Political and Social Inquiry
  • Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music
  • National Centre for Australian Studies (NCAS)
  • Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation (ACJC)
  • Monash European and EU Centre
  • Monash Indigenous Centre (MIC).

Visit the faculty website for more information about arts at Monash.

 

Essential information for arts undergraduate students - Faculty of Arts

Where to get help and advice in the faculty

The faculty has administrative offices on the Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton and Gippsland campuses, as well as contact staff on the Sunway and South Africa campuses. Students are encouraged to visit or contact these offices if they require assistance with any matter relating to their studies with the faculty. Contact details and location information for all campuses is available on the faculty website.

Information on course structure, unit choices and an online progression check request facility are available in the Course and unit information section of the Arts faculty website. Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice regarding any problems they experience with studies or workload. The faculty has experienced course progression advisers who can assist students with all administrative inquiries or direct them to the correct service for academic difficulties. At most times during the year, students who wish to speak with a faculty course adviser will need to make an appointment; students should come to these interviews as prepared as possible. Refer to the faculty website for details on how to make an appointment with a faculty course adviser, or follow the link in your my.monash portal. Students should observe the relevant course requirements listed in this handbook to avoid getting into course-related difficulties, which might result in a delay in completing their course.

Arts Academic Language and Learning Unit

The faculty provides services and resources to those who want to improve their academic learning skills, including the quality of their academic English and approaches to study, at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, through the Arts Academic Language and Learning Unit (AALLU). Assistance is offered in such areas as oral communication and presentation, reading, study and exam preparation, effective listening and note-taking in lectures and seminars, analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking, and academic essay, report and thesis writing.

Contact: Caulfield +61 3 9903 1196; Clayton +61 3 9905 5069; or visit the AALLU website.

Peers Ambassadors Leaders (PAL) Program

Having a mentor/buddy as you start your university journey can be a big help. The Arts Peers Ambassadors Leaders (PAL) program matches you with a senior Arts student who will help you find your feet as you begin your studies. Your mentor can answer questions, give you study tips, and introduce you to new people.
The PAL program is open to domestic and international undergraduate Arts students at Caulfield and Clayton campuses.

Contact: arts-transition@monash.edu or visit the faculty's Student support website.

First in the Family Program

Being the first in your family to attend university is something to be truly proud of. The Arts First in the Family program is for Arts students who are the first of their generation to attend university, and is designed to provide support, help you make new friends and make a smooth transition into university life.

Contact: arts-transition@monash.edu or visit the faculty's Student support website.

University support services

The university offers a wide variety of support services for students. For a comprehensive list of these services visit the Student life and support services website.

 

Disciplines - Faculty of Arts

Unit codes

At Monash, unit codes are made up of a three-letter prefix followed by four numbers. The three-letter prefix identifies the faculty, and the first of these four numbers refers to the year level of the unit, i.e. ATS1010 is a first-year-level Arts unit, and ATS2010 is a second-year-level Arts unit.

In 2011 all undergraduate Arts units moved to the ATS generic prefix coding. Prior to this, Arts units had individual prefix codes to identify individual Arts disciplines. For further information and a translation table consult the faculty's Unit code conversion utility.

Occasional reference is made to desirable or prerequisite studies in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) - those students who did not study the VCE should seek advice about unit choice for students with qualifications other than the VCE.

Units from other faculties recognised as arts units

Psychology

In addition to their Arts discipline major and minor and other Arts requirements, students undertaking some Arts courses can study another major in a non-Arts discipline. If students wish to undertake the 60-point APAC accredited major in psychology in addition to counting 48 points towards a non-Arts major, they will be permitted to count the additional 12 points as the further 12 points in Arts units.

For further information, see the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences section of this handbook, or contact ug.psych@monash.edu; telephone +61 3 9905 3965.

Visual Culture

Visual culture is offered by the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture with a number of units being taught by the Faculty of Arts.

Students may complete single units, a major or minor in visual culture towards the core Arts component of their Bachelor of Arts degree or associated double degrees. Honours is also available. Refer to the 'Areas of study' section in this Handbook for information on the units required for a major, minor or honours in visual culture.

For further information, see the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture section of this Handbook; email theory@artdes.monash.edu.au; telephone +61 3 9903 1857; visit Department of Theory of Art and Design website.

Units available to Arts students from other faculties as non-Arts units

In addition to their Arts discipline major and minor and other Arts requirements, students undertaking some Arts courses can study another major in a non-Arts discipline. The faculties offering disciplines and units that are of interest to Arts students include Art and Design, Business and Economics, Information Technology, Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences and Science. Students should refer to individual faculty sections in this handbook to obtain detailed information on the choices available and consult with the faculty that owns particular units regarding unit prerequisites or quotas.

The Faculty of Arts offers double-degree programs with most other faculties of the university. These degrees are of particular interest to students who wish to pursue disciplines from different faculties.

Faculties requiring permission

Faculty of Art and Design

Students wishing to undertake units from the Faculty of Art and Design must obtain written approval before enrolling in units. Students are encouraged to consider a specialisation in the area of Theory of Art and Design by choosing units with a TAD code.

For contact details, see the Faculty of Art and Design entry in this Handbook, or visit the faculty's website.

Faculties not requiring permission

Arts students can take units from the following faculties without requesting any special permission from the teaching faculty (note that students must still meet any stated prerequisites or corequisites). Students wishing to take units from faculties other than these must obtain written permission before enrolling.

Faculty of Business and Economics

Arts students can take units from the Faculty of Business and Economics from the discipline areas of accounting, business law and taxation, econometrics and business statistics, economics, finance, management and marketing. Students wishing to take econometrics or accounting and finance units must have achieved the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) ATAR (or equivalent) score necessary to gain admission to a Business and Economics degree, as well as be able to satisfy the stated mathematics prerequisites for the relevant units.

For contact details, see the Faculty of Business and Economics entry in this Handbook or visit the faculty's website.

Faculty of Information Technology

Arts students can take first-year information technology units without requesting special permission from the Faculty of Information Technology. However, the Faculty of Information Technology advises that all students seek course advice from the faculty as to the suitability of certain units of study. For some computer science units, it is highly recommended that students have studied VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent) at Year 12 level.

For contact details, see the Faculty of Information and Technology entry in this Handbook or visit the faculty's website.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science offers a wide range of units in disciplines of interest to Arts students. Disciplines offered by the Faculty of Science that may be taken without special permission include astronomy, atmospheric science, biological sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics and statistics, and physics.

For contact details, see the Faculty of Science entry in this Handbook or visit the faculty's website.

 

Definition of major and minor - Faculty of Arts

While course regulations specify the basic structure of any major or minor in the Faculty of Arts, different schools and centres may have specific requirements for their own discipline. Students need to be familiar with the major and minor requirements below and in addition check individual discipline requirements in the Arts areas of study section of the Handbook.

Major

A major is three years of study in a single discipline, totalling 48 points. The major consists of:

(a.) no more than 12 points at  first-year-level

(b.) no less than 12 points of second-year-level studies  

(c.) no less than18 points of third-year-level studies.

Each major has specific gateway, cornerstone and capstone units that must be completed.

Minor

A minor is units in a single discipline totalling 24 points, including no more than 12 points at first-year level.

Normally students complete two first-year gateway units (12 points), followed by at least 12 points (normally two 6 point units) of study at second-year level.

NOTE: It is possible to study all units towards the minor at an advanced level. Where schools only offer a minor in this form, this will be indicated under the relevant area of study in the Handbook.

 

Courses offered in 2013 - Faculty of Arts

NOTE: The course details provided in the entries below are for those students who began their studies in 2014 - students who commenced their studies prior to this date should consult the archived Handbook edition for the year in which they started their course.

Undergraduate diplomas

  • 2201 Diploma in Languages
  • 2327 Diploma in Liberal Arts
  • 4099 Diploma of Higher Education Studies
  • 2552 Diploma of Tertiary Studies

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 3920 Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences)*
  • 4073 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program
  • 3914 Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice)
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 1708 Bachelor of Arts (Professional Communication)
  • 1712 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
  • 1719 Bachelor of Behavioural Science
  • 2476 Bachelor of Communication*
  • 1731 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism 
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 0821 Bachelor of Music
  • 1144 Bachelor of Performing Arts
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication
  • 4086 Bachelor of Social Science **

Double degrees

  • 3277 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4098 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-primary
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-secondary
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 1807 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Business and Commerce
  • 1806 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 4208 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Education-primary
  • 4089 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Visual and Media Arts
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 4097 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program and Bachelor of Commerce Scholars Program
  • 4403 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3537 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Science
  • 1798 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 1941 Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Bachelor of Communication *
  • 4075 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health)
  • 4076 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Disability
  • 0116 Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4616 Bachelor of Environmental Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4426 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Business
  • 4425 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 4069 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Science
  • 3281 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 1185 Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3717 Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education-primary
  • 2025 Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education-secondary
  • 1497 Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3774 Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Performing Arts
  • 2317 Bachelor of Performing Arts and Bachelor of Laws

Honours degrees

  • 0003 Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts
  • 3936 Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts *
  • 4090 Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences
  • 0082 Honours degree of Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws
  • 3775 Honours degree of Bachelor of Communication
  • 3751 Honours degree of Bachelor of Communication*
  • 0822 Honours degree of Bachelor of Music
  • 4078 Honours degree of Bachelor of Journalism
  • 2766 Honours degree of Bachelor of Performing Arts
  • 4087 Honours degree of Bachelor of Social Science **

* At Sunway.

** At South Africa.

Courses with no further intake

Enrolled students should refer to the handbook for the year in which they commenced the following courses. Archived handbooks are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/archive.html:

  • 2435 Diploma in Arts (Hebrew)
  • 2428 Diploma in Arts (Anthropology)
  • 2429 Diploma in Arts (Archaeology and Ancient History)
  • 2430 Diploma in Arts (Asian Studies)
  • 3055 Diploma in Arts (Australian Indigenous Studies)
  • 3784 Diploma in Arts (Behavioural Studies)
  • 2431 Diploma in Arts (Chinese Studies)
  • 3786 Diploma in Arts (Classical Studies)
  • 2432 Diploma in Arts (Communications) [Caulfield, Clayton]
  • 2450 Diploma in Arts (Communications) [Gippsland]
  • 2433 Diploma in Arts (Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies)
  • 3780 Diploma in Arts (Criminology)
  • 2437 Diploma in Arts (Drama and Theatre Studies)
  • 2439 Diploma in Arts (English as an International Language)
  • 2438 Diploma in Arts (English)
  • 4014 Diploma in Arts (Film and Television Studies)
  • 2459 Diploma in Arts (Gender Studies)
  • 2442 Diploma in Arts (Geography and Environmental Science)
  • 2443 Diploma in Arts (History)
  • 2444 Diploma in Arts (History-Politics)
  • 4045 Diploma in Arts (Human Rights Theory)
  • 2445 Diploma in Arts (Indonesian Studies)
  • 3785 Diploma in Arts (International Studies)
  • 2446 Diploma in Arts (Japanese Studies)
  • 2447 Diploma in Arts (Jewish Civilisation)
  • 2449 Diploma in Arts (Linguistics)
  • 2451 Diploma in Arts (Music)
  • 2452 Diploma in Arts (Philosophy)
  • 2454 Diploma in Arts (Politics)
  • 2455 Diploma in Arts (Religion and Theology)
  • 2457 Diploma in Arts (Sociology)
  • 4046 Diploma in Arts (Sustainability, Environment and Society)
  • 2458 Diploma in Arts (Visual Culture)
  • 2460 Diploma in Arts (Writing)
  • 3928 Diploma in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin)
  • 3903 Diploma in European Studies
  • 2366 Diploma in Languages (Chinese)
  • 2367 Diploma in Languages (French)
  • 2368 Diploma in Languages (German)
  • 2370 Diploma in Languages (Indonesian)
  • 2371 Diploma in Languages (Italian)
  • 2372 Diploma in Languages (Japanese)
  • 2373 Diploma in Languages (Korean)
  • 2376 Diploma in Languages (Spanish)
  • 2378 Diploma in Languages (Ukrainian)
  • 1880 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education
  • 3793 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) - at Caulfield
  • 1804 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)/Bachelor of Education
  • 3099 Bachelor of Cognitive Science
  • 1942 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Tourism
  • 1802 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 3911 Bachelor of Arts (Professional Communication) and Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems
  • 2130 Bachelor of Arts (Professional Communication) and Bachelor of Science
  • 3909 Bachelor of Professional Communication and Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems
  • 0204 The honours degree of Bachelor of Letters
  • 3060 The honours degree of Bachelor of Social and Community Welfare

 

18 September 2017 20 April 2024