Bachelor of Arts

In the Bachelor of Arts you will learn about the diverse world in which we live, and how we might live in the future. You will be encouraged to think about cultural, linguistic and geographical difference and to ask how and why these variations have occurred over time. This will help you to think about how communication works and how people make themselves understood by others. The wide range of majors and minors available will allow you to explore new areas, further develop your strengths in arts, humanities and social sciences and pursue your interests and career objectives.

Studying the Bachelor of Arts will encourage you to take an innovative approach in tackling world issues and foster a global perspective. It will provide you with the research skills, advanced discipline knowledge and self reliance to acquire information, assess evidence and convey complex ideas in speech and writing in order to answer complicated questions. You will be challenged to think critically and creatively, to resist easy answers or simplistic solutions and to develop an ethical and intellectual framework within which to understand what it means to be human, and how this changes over time.

As a graduate you will be work ready, equipped with the core skills employers in all sectors are looking for: written and verbal communication skills; how to work in a team, listen, solve problems and make decisions; leadership and negotiation skills; ways to build rapport and confidence; critical thinking skills; and research skills. With vast opportunities to undertake study overseas, or via a study tour or internship program, the Monash Bachelor of Arts will prepare you for global employment opportunities in a wide range of occupations and settings. Graduates work all over the world in fields such as:

• journalism, publishing, editing, writing, electronic media, public relations and corporate communications
• marketing, advertising, business research and analysis
• management consulting, international trade, human resources, training and development, management and administration
• diplomacy, foreign affairs and politics
• urban research, environmental research and planning
• social and community services, counselling, social welfare, social research, policy and planning
• tourism, hospitality and entertainment
• performing arts, production, direction, management and administration, film, television and video
• museum and gallery administration, cultural arts management and event coordination
• translating and interpreting.

Alternatively you may like to continue on in your learning journey and complete honours or postgraduate study.

Double degrees

The Bachelor of Arts can be taken in combination with the following courses:

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business Specialist
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Commerce Specialist
• Bachelor of Education (Honours)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science

This will lead to the award of two degrees, the Bachelor of Arts and the degree awarded by the partner course. The requirements for the award of the Bachelor of Arts degree are the same whether the award is earned through a single or double degree course. Students should refer to the course entry for the partner course and the course mapcourse map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/) for the double degree for the requirements of the other degree.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

1. critically analyse, apply and communicate an advanced level of understanding of the content, methods of investigation and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of at least one area of study, and utilise the research skills gained from exposure to several areas of study
2. demonstrate the critical ability to analyse truth, claims and evidence, and utilise training and judgement to adapt skills and knowledge in different contexts
3. conduct and produce an independent research project in a written, visual or oral form, and in keeping with the methodological conventions of the disciplines
4. engage responsibly in scholarship or professional practice cooperatively with others, demonstrating a capacity to accommodate the world view of others and achieve agreed outcomes through the use of highly developed oral and written communication skills
5. devise time management practices to manage competing demands, engage in professional development and demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning
6. utilise the knowledge base and methodologies of the discipline(s) studied in order to find innovative solutions and provide authoritative advice, in a range of contexts and in a manner appropriate to the audience.

This is a comprehensive course, structured in three equal parts:

Part A. Arts specified study

This will expose you to several arts disciplines areas of study contributing breadth to your knowledge of the arts, humanities and social sciences. It will also give you the opportunity to learn about several areas of study before finalising your choice of major and minor.

Part B. Arts listed major

This will provide you with a focused program of study that will develop your practical and theoretical skills and knowledge in one Faculty of Arts listed major area of study. You will learn to critically analyse, apply and communicate an advanced level of understanding of the concepts and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of the area of study.

Part C. Free elective study

This will enable you to further develop your knowledge of your chosen major, or of arts, humanities and social sciences more broadly, through a second major or a minor. Alternatively you can select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol.

Students must complete units as specified in Parts A, B and C (144 points): a minimum of 96 points of arts listed study over Part A and Part B, and 48 points of free electives in Part C.

In choosing your units you must ensure that you complete no more than 10 level one units (60 points), and that you complete at least six units (36 points) at level 3 of which at least four (24 points) must be arts units. It is recommended that you keep your options open in your first year by taking a sequence of units in at least two different areas of study that offer majors within arts.

Students completing a double degree must complete no more than six level 1 Arts units (36 points) and at least 36 points at level 3 of which at least 24 points must be Arts units.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-a2000.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are six points unless otherwise specified.

Part A. Arts specified study (48 points)

Students complete eight units selected from those listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in the Bachelor of Arts including at least one arts listed minor (24 points) in an area of study different to your arts major from Part B. A minor requires four units with no more than 2 units (12 points) at level 1. You may replace the minor with a second arts major by using elective units available in in Part A or Part C.

It is recommended that you complete level two units in more than one area of arts to give you options for finalising your choice of major at level three.

Part B. Arts listed major (48 points)

Complete at least one arts listed major. A major requires eight units with no more than two units at level one (12 points) and at least three units (18 points) at level three. You may replace the major with an extended major by using the elective units available in Part A or Part C.

If you intend to undertake an honours year you should ensure you complete the specific units required as a pre-requisite for honours in your major area of study.

Minors, majors and extended majors

Refer also to the table of minors, majors and extended majors by campusminors, majors and extended majors by campus (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-ba-minor-major-extended-major.html) which also details if an area of study is available as a minor, major or extended major.

• Ancient cultures
• Anthropology
• Australia in the World
• Behavioural studies
• Bioethics
• Chinese studies
• Communications and media studies
• Criminology
• English as an international language
• Film and screen studies
• French studies
• German studies
• History
• Holocaust and genocide studies
• Human geography
• Human rights
• Indigenous cultures and histories
• Indonesian studies
• International relations
• International studies
• Islamic studies
• Italian studies
• Japanese studies
• Jewish studies
• Journalism
• Korean studies
• Linguistics
• Literary studies
• Music
• Performance
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religious studies
• Sociology
• Spanish and Latin American studies
• Theatre
• Ukrainian studies

Note: Psychology is taught by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Part C. Free elective study (48 points)

Elective units may be chosen from units available in the Bachelor of Arts course including to extend your major or to complete a second major or minor(s) from the course. Note that, at most, two level one units may be counted towards two majors or a major and a minor.

Elective units may also be taken from non-arts disciplines to broaden your knowledge or to complete a major or minor(s) from another course as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment in the units.

For students in double degree courses, some units required for the other degree are credited as electives towards the arts degree.

To be eligible to apply for entry into A3701 Bachelor of Arts (Honours), students must have completed a major within their chosen honours area of study and obtained a distinction grade average (70 percent) or above in 24 points of studies in relevant units at level two and three, of which 24 points must be at level three in the major in which they wish to undertake honours. For some majors, completion of specific units or their equivalent are required for admission to honours. The details are provided with the requirements for each major to which this applies.