Undergraduate - CourseHonours degree of Bachelor of Social Science

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), 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://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

• construct a topical argument pertaining to a concept relevant to the field of study and display the ability to logically analyse and synthesise knowledge
• critically debate the current understanding of theoretical concepts/frameworks, potentially leading to a new and greater understanding of said concepts/frameworks, theory and practice
• develop and communicate a new understanding of the world as a set of related problem focused systems by exercising critical thinking and judgement
• work and communicate with others as a member of a multi-disciplinary team when studying theoretical perspectives of the field of specialisation
• design and conduct an independent research project in the specialised area of study, demonstrating a broad understanding of a body of knowledge with evidence of advanced understanding in some areas
• develop and communicate to various audiences a clear and coherent case pertaining to a topic in the field of specialisation
• contribute to knowledge in the specialised area by gathering, consolidating, interpreting and reviewing relevant data and revealing relationships between various concepts
• independently apply theoretical knowledge of the specialised area to complex problems and suggest possible solutions.

Students must have:

• completed a degree, with a major (48 points or 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, 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.

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.

• Child and youth development
• Communications
• Criminology and criminal justice
• Geography and environmental science
• International studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Honours degree of Bachelor of Social Science