Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences

In the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences you will learn to develop general knowledge and specific intellectual skills relating to human thought and relations, such as the way we communicate, intercultural relations, or how the past has affected the present. Social science analyses and explains societies and the relationships of individuals within those societies. The 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 and Social Sciences 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 as well as the 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 an internship program, the Monash Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences 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 communication
• marketing, advertising, business research and analysis
• management consulting, international trade, human resources, training and development, management and administration
• diplomacy, foreign affairs and politics
• 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.

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

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. demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, theoretical perspectives and scholarly debates in a variety of arts and social sciences disciplines
2. demonstrate the skills of written and oral presentation, argument and analysis, including other practical skills as are appropriate to the discipline
3. apply discipline-specific knowledge as well as a combination of personal and cultural understandings that demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity, ethical awareness and aesthetic appreciation
4. recognise and understand the principles of ethical conduct and professionalism and be able to apply these to future careers
5. apply research techniques and research skills appropriate to the discipline to study problems and evaluate research findings
6. apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking to evaluate arguments, synthesise ideas and solve problems in their discipline
7. demonstrate the skills of verbal and written communication, as well as the ability to work independently and in teams, in order to effectively:
1. develop information management, study and research skills and attitudes to support lifelong learning
2. demonstrate the capacity to evaluate their own performance, work effectively in teams and individually, as well as the skills to plan and carry out set tasks and projects.

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

Part A. Arts and social sciences specified study

This will expose you to several arts and social sciences 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 a major and a minor. You will complete sequences in at least two arts and social sciences areas, one leading to a minor and one leading to the major in Part B.

Part B. Arts and Social Sciences listed major

This will provide you with a focused program of study that will develop your practical and theoretical skills and knowledge in one arts and social sciences 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 or your own choice of units. 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 and social sciences listed study over Part A and Part B, and 48 points of free electives in Part C.

Elective units can be at any level unless otherwise specified. In choosing your units you must ensure that you complete no more than 10 level 1 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 and social sciences.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-a2006.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 and social sciences specified study (48 points)

Students complete 8 units as follows:

a. An arts and social sciences listed minor (four units, 24 points) in addition to your arts and social sciences major from Part B. You may replace this minor with a second arts and social sciences major by using remaining elective units available in Part A(b) or Part C.

b. An additional four units selected from those listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences. It is recommended that you complete level 1 units in more than two areas of arts and social sciences to give you options for finalising your choice of major and minor.

Part B. Arts and social sciences listed major (48 points)

Complete at least one arts and social sciences listed major. A major requires eight units with no more than two units at level 1 (12 points) and at least three units (18 points) at level 3. You may replace the major with an extended major by using the elective units available in Part A or Part C.

Minors, majors and extended majors

Refer also to the table of minors, majors and extended majors by campus which also details if an area of study is available as a minor, major or extended major.

• Communication
• Gender studies
• Global studies
• Journalism studies
• Psychology
• Screen studies
• Writing

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

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.

Part C. Free elective study (48 points)

Elective units may be chosen from units available in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences course including to extend your major or to complete a second major or minor(s) from the course. Note that, at most, two 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 a double degree courses, some units required for the other degree are credited as free electives towards the arts and social sciences degree.

Honours

To be eligible to apply for entry into the 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 per cent) or above in 24 points of studies in relevant units at level 2 and 3, of which 24 points must be at level 3 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.