Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
The requirements for the various courses are set out as simply as possible, but if there are remaining doubts as to their meaning, students should contact the school's administrative officers.
+ value truth, integrity, intellectual inquiry, aspire to the highest personal and professional standards and respect all cultures;
+ possess well-developed analytical and communication skills;
+ possess specialised knowledge of great value to them and society.
+ computer, word processing, data research and information gathering skills of a high level;
+ a general understanding of statistics;
+ skills of practical application of knowledge, including skills of description, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and familiarity with laboratory procedures;
+ sound knowledge of a number of disciplines and highly specialised knowledge of at least one subject area;
+ the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing;
+ interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, to consider the opinions of others and to be able to work in a team while accepting individual responsibility;
+ literacy in a range of media, including reading and understanding texts, audio-visual and computer-based materials;
+ the ability to assess the needs of various audiences and publics and to provide appropriate forms of presentation;
+ good skills of argument, including the ability to identify frameworks or structure of explanation; the evaluation of evidence; the ability to support a solidly grounded position based on evidence and not on mere opinion; to put a case logically, to assess it critically and when appropriate to be steadfast but courteous in a dispute; the ability to assess contrary arguments and to modify a position taken, when necessary.
+ possess intellectual curiosity combined with the ability to learn independently and to seek continuing intellectual development;
+ be responsive to current and future employment opportunities;
+ be aware of various approaches to knowledge in the humanities and social sciences and a critical understanding of competing views;
+ be willing to be engaged in and contribute to debates about social issues;
+ have political literacy including an understanding of the nature of power in society and in social groups and realistic expectations about what is achievable through the political process;
+ be empowered to make well-founded decisions confidently;
+ be aware of academic and professional standards and ethics;
+ be sensitive to all forms of life and be protective of the natural environment;
+ recognise and support the equality of the sexes;
+ appreciate and respect all cultures including Aboriginal cultures;
+ have the capacity to recognise and show their feelings and a capacity for friendship.
+ Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) - Two-year full-time course or equivalent part-time
+ Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education*
+ Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education*
+ Bachelor of Arts (Communication) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education*
+ Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education*
+ Fourth-year honours program - One-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education
+ Bachelor of Social Welfare - Three-year full-time course or equivalent part-time/distance education*
+ Graduate Certificate of Arts
+ Graduate Diploma of Arts
+ Graduate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare)
* These courses have recently been revised and are listed here subject to approval for the revised structures.
The Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) is a two-year full-time course open to Koorie people, designed to assist students to explore Koorie cultures, histories and traditions. The course provides knowledge and skills to enhance employment prospects and to develop a greater awareness of lifestyle alternatives. The course seeks to contribute towards the maintenance of Koorie culture and to enable students to become actively and constructively involved in the process of self-determination.
The Bachelor of Social Welfare is designed to prepare graduates for work in a wide variety of welfare situations, both urban and rural. The course teaches a broad range of skills and develops appropriate values and attitudes in working with individuals, families, groups and communities in crisis or development. Theoretical perspectives and skills are integrated in practice through the course's field placements.
The Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) degree is designed to give students opportunities to study and appreciate the culture, history, literature, languages, politics and institutions of societies. The construction of major and minor sequences enables students to complete specialised studies of various disciplines and interdisciplinary programs.
The Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) provides students with opportunities to develop an understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues as they apply to the study of journalism, to understand the role of communication in modern society, and to develop practical skills and experience in the field.
The Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree covers an inter-disciplinary area which responds to a need for graduates who are knowledgeable about mass communications and who can apply that knowledge in a range of vocational and academic areas. The degree is aimed at satisfying the community and professional needs for graduates who not only have undertaken a major in communications theory in combination with studies in humanities, but who will have detailed knowledge of an area of specialisation which will direct their future career paths.
The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) degree gives students opportunities to develop an understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline, and to appreciate the role it plays within society as a whole. The construction of major and minor sequences enables students to undertake specialised studies in humanities disciplines.
The fourth-year honours program will enable students to qualify for entry to postgraduate courses, and will also assist students needing a fourth year of study to equip them for future employment.
A range of double degree programs combining studies in arts with disciplines such as social welfare, business and computing are also available. These are listed separately in this handbook.
+ Doctor of Philosophy;
+ Master of Arts by research.
Further information on these programs may be obtained by consulting the Arts graduate handbook for 1996.
The Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences) is recognised by the Victorian Public Service, the Commonwealth Public Service Board and the Directorate of School Education. The psychology major at Monash University Gippsland campus is accredited with the Australian Psychological Society. Application has been made for this accreditation to apply to the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities).
The aim of the distance education program is to provide students with the necessary resources to complete a major part of their coursework off-campus. This involves the provision of (a) course material especially designed for independent study; (b) opportunities for effective lecturer-student and student-student interaction; (c) access to any necessary facilities, eg library, computers, audiovisual material and so forth.
Monash Distance Education Centre's admissions policy is sufficiently flexible to accommodate applicants with a variety of academic and work experience backgrounds. In general, courses are open to applicants who have passed the Victorian Certificate of Education including English, or who hold comparable academic qualifications.
Applications are also invited from mature-age people (twenty-three years and over) who, although they may not hold the required academic qualifications, can demonstrate that they might reasonably be expected to successfully complete the course they are applying for. This would include evidence of academic studies, work or vocational training after leaving school, together with a personal statement/resume and employer references attesting to the applicant's general maturity and motivation (ie references must accompany applications made on the basis of mature-age entry). Mature-age applicants are required to undertake the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) if they do not possess tertiary entrance requirements.
A number of on-campus weekend and vacation schools are organised for distance education students to supplement and enrich the basic coursework they do off-campus. The Bulletin provides students with details of their weekend school timetable. The Bulletin also keeps distance education students up-to-date with university matters.
It is important to note that for some courses there are mandatory attendance requirements, and for some subjects, eg psychology and social welfare, a certain amount of required practical work. Where this is so, the requirement is specified in the course description. If in doubt, contact student administration or the distance education centre for specific information.
Attendance at these schools is highly recommended and distance education students are encouraged to make as much use of them as their circumstances allow. They add a valuable dimension to the study experience by providing opportunities for interaction with lecturers and fellow students, and provide access to study facilities such as the library and the computer rooms.
Cafeteria facilities are available and child care services and social functions are provided by the student union. There may be limited on-campus accommodation available to distance education students during weekend and vacation schools.
If you decide to apply for enrolment in 1996, the sooner you act the better. Quotas operate on courses and some individual subjects. Instructions included with application forms tell you quite clearly the steps to follow to complete an application.
New applicants for distance education should lodge applications, complete with evidence of entry qualifications, with student administration by 22 September 1995. It will only be possible to consider late applications if quota places remain.
The 1996 Monash Distance Education booklet gives details of courses and subjects available by distance education. To obtain a free copy write to Student Administration, Monash University Gippsland campus, Switchback Road, Churchill 3842, or telephone Student Administration on (051) 226 287 or (03) 9902 6287, or the Distance Education Centre on (051) 226 274 or (03) 9902 6274.
Details of enrolment times and places accompany the offer letter mailed from VTAC to students who apply through the VTAC system. Such students are required to attend the university to enrol and should note that the VTAC card must be presented at the time of enrolment. Payment of fees and selection of a payment option under the higher education contribution scheme is also required at the time of enrolment.
Direct entry students normally enrol by mail, although they may attend the Gippsland campus to complete the necessary procedures.
Students who wish to undertake study within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences select their study program either on application (for distance education/direct entry places) or at the time of enrolment (for on-campus places). The subjects studied at first-year level should reflect at least in part, the majors and/or minors intended by the student. Course advisers are available to assist students, but not to select a student's course. Students are expected to have familiarised themselves with relevant course information provided in university publications.
All applicants who have been offered a place in a course, and who do not wish to take up that offer, may apply for a deferment of admission in writing. Deferral will normally be granted for twelve months unless the student expresses an intention to take another tertiary place elsewhere. When students are contacted later in the year about their intentions for the following year, they will be asked to confirm that they did not undertake another tertiary course in the period of deferment.
All continuing students - internal, distance education and part-time - are forwarded application forms and course information to enable them to re-enrol by mail. The head of school may consider students' previous end-of-year assessment results when approving re-enrolment applications, and students will be advised of any necessary adjustments to their study program.
For later year students, information on study options is available from the relevant course adviser. Any proposed changes to the selection of subjects must be lodged in writing with student administration, and must be formally approved by the head of school (or nominee).
A pass division II may be awarded by the board of examiners and may be counted towards the degree, but is not accepted as a prerequisite for a later year subject in the same discipline. A pass division II may only be awarded in first-year subjects, and students are not permitted more than one division II pass.
Examination timetables will be sent six weeks before the scheduled examination period to each student undertaking a subject which has an examination. Timetables should be checked carefully and any clashes reported to student administration immediately.
Students will receive a list of approved examination centres with their timetable, and must inform student administration immediately of the centre at which they wish to sit for the examination, and the subjects for which an examination is required.
A student will need to demonstrate an abnormal difficulty in attending an approved centre before a request to sit at an alternative centre will be considered.
Examination arrangements are quite complex and any student who fails to supply the requested examination details within the specified time may not be permitted to attend for examination.
If performance in an examination is adversely affected by causes beyond a student's control, an application to the Student Administration Office for special consideration must be made within forty-eight hours after the last examination scheduled for the candidate for the semester concerned.
Any student who is unable to sit an examination on the date specified must provide supporting documentation to the subject adviser. The subject adviser has discretionary powers in coordinating an alternative time if this is deemed to be appropriate.
On-campus students are expected to attend specified lectures and tutorials, participate in discussions and to submit written work for assessment. Participation in classes is considered to be an important component of each subject, and often requires work additional to attendance at formal lectures and tutorials.
Distance education students are provided with extensive printed materials for each subject, and are required to utilise these fully by maintaining weekly reading schedules. Weekend school classes are offered in many subjects, and provide an opportunity for additional contact and instruction. In some subjects, attendance at some weekend schools is compulsory. Students are also expected to submit written work which will then be assessed.
Assessment may be based on a student's performance in classwork, assignments throughout the semester, a formal end-of-semester examination or any combination of all three. The board of examiners and the school board will review the progress of all students enrolled in humanities and social science courses at least once during the course of each semester.
Subsequently, students may be required to discuss their progress and/or continuation with staff of the school, or to make an appropriate written submission if necessary.
Because of demand for places students should note that continued enrolment depends on satisfactory completion of a normal coursework load. Applications for re-enrolment must be received by the due date each year.
Any variations to the regulations must be approved by the head of school (or the head's nominee).
The school administrative officers provide administrative support to the school board, provide information on policy and planning matters, and are available to give advice to students. The administrative officer (Arts) and the administrative officer (Publications and Information) provide advice to students in the Bachelor of Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences), the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), Bachelor of Arts (Communication) the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities), Graduate Diploma of Arts and Graduate Certificate of Arts on the planning of their courses or changes to their courses, while similar advice is provided to students in the Bachelor of Social Welfare and the Graduate Diploma of Arts (Social Welfare) by the administrative officer (Social Welfare). Students in the Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) should contact the administrative officer (Koorie Studies) with any course-related queries. The administrative officer (management support) may be contacted for information about the fourth-year honours program.
Any students wishing to see the head of school or any of the administrative officers is normally able to do so at fairly short notice. Inquiries should be made at the school office.
Academic grievances are those related to aspects of their course, assessment or other matters which are the responsibility of academic staff.
Administrative grievances are those related to re-enrolment, information or advice provided by academic or administrative staff of the school or central student administration (Gippsland campus).
(2) Students with concerns about administrative decisions may appeal to the chairperson of the Undergraduate Committee (if they are undergraduates), the Postgraduate Committee (if they are graduates), or the Honours Committee. Such submissions should be made in writing.
(3) If the student is not satisfied with the proposed method of resolution, the student may appeal in writing to the head of school.
The school is housed in two wings of the campus: the 2W and 1E buildings. The school office is room 2W283, and staff there can direct inquiries to the appropriate areas within the school if necessary.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences employs approximately sixty staff, including full-time, part-time and sessional staff. In 1995 about 1125 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs taught by the school, with a further 100 undertaking graduate study. Of these, around 400 are enrolled on-campus, with in excess of 700 students studying part-time by distance education from a variety of locations within Australia and overseas.
Within the school there are six sections: English/Mass Communications/Journalism/Writing (subject to approval), History-Politics, Indonesian, Social Research, Sociology and Social Welfare. Each section has a head of section who is responsible for administrative and academic issues relating to the one or more disciplines taught by section staff.
In addition to the sections, the school has two centres: the Centre for Gippsland Studies and the Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies. The Centre for Gippsland Studies has a large archive of information on Gippsland, maintained by the executive officer, which is accessible to anyone researching issues related to Gippsland. The Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies, headed by a director, serves to promote increased participation in tertiary education by members of the Koorie community and also has involvement in research in areas related to Koorie studies and the Koorie community generally.
The main business of running the school is the responsibility of the school board, which meets at least seven times throughout the year and reports to the faculty board where necessary. The school board comprises most academic and general staff within the school, a representative of another school and two student representatives.
Students wishing to bring matters to the attention of the school board should feel free to discuss them with the student representatives, who may be contacted via the student union.
The organisation of teaching and research in particular disciplines rests with the relevant head of section, whereas the school board is concerned with issues affecting more than one section, including new developments within the school. The school board has certain committees which have the power to act on behalf of the school board on particular issues as specified in their terms of reference. These committees include:
(1) the Undergraduate Committee, which advises the board on all matters relating to undergraduate students as they arise (including questions of student workload and matters concerned with assessment), acts for the board in cases involving use of discretionary powers conferred on the school by the degree regulations, and considers proposals for the introduction of new subjects;
(2) the Honours Committee, which advises the board on all matters relating to the fourth-year honours program, including the admission of students, the consideration of proposals for the introduction of new subjects, and the awarding of the honours degree;
(3) the Postgraduate Committee, which advises the school on all matters relating to the admission of candidates for higher degrees and graduate courses, and the awarding of higher degrees and graduate awards;
(4) the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee, which acts as a subcommittee of the Undergraduate Committee to consider cases of students who become liable to be excluded for unsatisfactory progress;
(5) the Research Committee which advises the board on all matters relating to the conduct of research within the school, including policies, grants, and ethics.
Appropriate credits or exemptions may be available for other university courses. Students who undertake studies in other tertiary institutions are also eligible for enrolment in the Koorie studies course. Cross accreditation can be arranged with the approval of both institutions. Students are advised to plan their electives with the course adviser so as to correspond with any intended future program of study.
Students may sign up for tutorial classes on the relevant departmental noticeboards. Students usually have the opportunity to select classes which best suit their timetable, but those who enrol late may experience difficulties due to numbers in some classes.
Distance education students will be sent details of weekend school classes (where applicable) prior to the first weekend school each semester.
During its eight years of operation, the CGS has amassed an impressive collection specialising in Gippsland history, literature, Aborigines, environment and social sciences. The centre's database, Gippsdoc, which lists and annotates all items in the collection, has been published and now serves as a comprehensive bibliography on Gippsland. The collection has received state-wide recognition and attracts a diverse group of users.
The CGS has become a focus for research and analysis on Gippsland. It hosts an annual history conference, has an active publishing program and produces a quarterly newsletter, Gippsland Roundup. The director, Meredith Fletcher, is also editor of the Gippsland Heritage Journal, a regional journal for local, academic and family historians which has a wide circulation and promotes the work of the CGS. Meredith liaises regularly with historical societies, schools, public libraries and government departments within the region, and has close contacts with institutions such as the State Library of Victoria, the History Institute and Historic Places Section at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Australian Heritage Commission.
In recent years, the centre has been able to expand further into areas of consultancies and research. The CGS has also been able to facilitate staff research at the Gippsland campus by assisting with resources and applications for grant funding.
There are currently two subjects available for study by non-Koories via distance education and it is planned to make further subjects accessible as resources become available.
The centre aims to encourage improved participation rates in higher education for Koorie students and seeks to have a significant impact and influence on attitudes in the university and the wider community.
The centre works closely with relevant Koorie groups, organisations and institutions.
The normal procedure for enrolment and re-enrolment is for students to select, in accordance with the regulations, the subjects they wish to study in each year of their studies. It is not necessary to select subjects for the full duration of the course on admission.
Decisions made in choosing first-year subjects are important because they lay the foundations for the course as a whole. As a result, officers of the school are available to advise students on their choice of subjects at the time of enrolment. This advice, however, will be most helpful if students have already made themselves familiar with all the subjects and considered what their fields of interest are likely to be. Similarly, when re-enrolling in later years of the course, students should discuss their choice of subjects with the course advisers.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the subjects selected will meet the degree regulations.
Applicants for all social welfare courses should note the special requirements for entry listed under the degree below.
Applicants for the Diploma of Arts (Koorie Studies) should apply direct to Student Administration. Do not contact VTAC.