Bachelor of Arts - University of New South Wales

TEL: 0207 193 7932   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Program code: 3400
Faculty: Arts & Social Sciences
Min.years: 3 years
UOC (per year/total): 48/144
Semester 2 entry: Yes (No for those starting a language from beginner level)
Est. first year tuition: A$19,200 (Subjects taken from other faculties will be charged at the appropriate unit of credit rate)
Est.fee to complete: A$63,480
Assumed knowledge: None

What is ‘Arts’?

The Bachelor of Arts program is a fl exible program that will enable you to develop an informed understanding of human experience, human
culture and human society—setting contemporary Australian society and culture in an historical and comparative context, for example, but also studying the experiences and world-views of other times, other places and other cultures. Your learning will be both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, and you will develop the skills of critical, creative and imaginative thinking. The basic requirement is that you select at least one and usually two approved plans of study. Beyond that, there is a wide variety of choice about the topics you study.

Program Description 

The Bachelor of Arts program is the most flexible of the degree programs offered by the Faculty. The basic degree requirements are simple: an approved major sequence from List A and a minimum level of study in other areas. Apart from that, you will have a great deal of freedom to 'focus' your degree, by choosing related courses to contribute to a particular specialisation, or to choose a wider range of courses that reflect diverse interests.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

An Arts degree is a pathway through a wealth of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences. Its objective is to stimulate students intellectually; to immerse them in worlds of learning; and to graduate them as citizens with strong written and oral communications skills, the capacity to research, criticise and reflect, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Major Subject Areas

Some of the areas you can study are listed below.

Australian Studies offers interdisciplinary courses on Australian topics – issues of nationalism, race, gender and class as seen through the study of history, politics, literature, theatre and film. It includes specialist materials on Aboriginal society and culture.

Chinese Studies for students at all levels of proficiency, from absolute beginners to native speakers. Courses in Chinese cultural and social studies, literature, business communication and translating/ interpreting.

Development Studies Central issues and themes include the history and political economy of development, the causes of poverty and inequality
and the debate about globalisation.

Education incorporates a wide range of disciplines including psychology, philosophy, sociology and curriculum studies and the practice of teaching in particular subject areas. An Education major can be undertaken in the BA program.

English covers the critical reading of literary texts in their aesthetic and cultural context, and with the analysis of the interrelationship between language, texts and culture - with a focus on literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, children’s and Australian literature, creative writing, and post-colonial studies.

Environmental Studies Understand how concern about the environment has developed in importance, how the relationship between people and the environment is evolving and how decisions about controversial environmental issues are made.

European Studies A range of thematic courses on issues and topics such as gender and race, fascism and anti-Semitism, the experience of the big city, communism, post-communism and European integration and courses on Modern France, Italy and Spain.

Film covers the historical, theoretical, critical and creative dimensions of the study of cinema. It deals with the social impact of the medium and the aesthetics of fi lm as well as introducing a range of fi lm styles and different fi lm cultures.

French is offered to students of all levels of profi ciency, from absolute beginners to native speakers. Students have a wide variety of opportunities for using the language skills and knowledge acquired in their French courses.

German Studies Emphasis is placed on integrating the study of the historical development of German society with language and literature teaching.

Greek Courses include Greek for complete beginners, history and culture courses in English. Topics such as Greek cinema, literature and politics
can be studied by all.

History allows us to understand our world and societies through records of the past. History also develops our research, writing and argumentative
skills. The School of History specialises in Australian, European, Asian and United States history and also offers World History, Ancient History and topically focused studies.

History & Philosophy of Science Apply the skills of the humanities and social sciences to develop an understanding of the scientifi c enterprise and technological change, and to examine the profound influences these have had on the modern world.

Indonesian Studies Courses in Indonesian language for students with no prior knowledge of the language and for those with Year 12 or equivalent Indonesian and native speakers.

Japanese Studies Courses offered develop the skills of graduates who will actively engage in professional inter-cultural communication in both the global and domestic arenas, as well as fostering an awareness and understanding of Japanese culture and society.

Jewish Studies brings together various perspectives and approaches from history, political science, sociology, religion, literature and law to explore the subject of the Jews - their religion, culture and language and their interrelations with the wider society.

Korean Studies develops a balance of effective communicative skills in Korean and knowledge and understanding about Korea. Courses are offered for students with no prior knowledge, for those with HSC Korean and for those with a Korean language background.

Linguistics covers a wide range of areas in theoretical, descriptive and applied linguistics. Important areas of application include language teaching and learning, and professional contexts (such as business communications and media criticism).

Media, Culture and Technology is a new major that helps you to understand the social, cultural and psychological impact of media and communication technologies from telephones, cinema and television to computer games and the World Wide Web.

Music Possible as a major within the Bachelor of Arts.

Philosophy Courses designed to form clear, flexible, and imaginative thought, through the presentation of a wide range of contemporary philosophical writings and through the study of key texts.

Policy Studies For those who wish to major in policy studies without completing the full Bachelor of Social Science. It would be suitable for students seeking employment in policy work which does not involve a substantial research component.

Political Economy This study introduces students to the competing approaches to understanding the operation of the modern market economy. Unlike traditional economics programs, which are mathematically orientated, Political Economy takes an historical perspective and focuses on the application of principles of the ‘real’ world.

Politics and International Relations includes political philosophy, political theory, political sociology, political economy, public policy, international politics, politics of development, environmental politics, politics of law and the politics of art and literature.

Sociology & Anthropology Enhance your understanding of the world and your participation in it. It is a good preparation for working in any field
where observation, critical analysis and evaluation, and the presentation of written and spoken communication are important.

Spanish and Latin American Studies Language programs offered cater to students of all levels of profi ciency. Courses in Spanish and Latin American history are available after a student has completed his or her fi rst year in the Faculty.

Theatre and Performance Studies offers historical and comparative perspectives on many different styles of theatre and performance. There are
opportunities to take part in practical performance work.

Women’s and Gender Studies enables students to construct an interdisciplinary major focusing on a study of feminism and related questions of gender, sex and sexuality.

Additional Major Sequences

(First major in these areas not possible)
Art History and Theory, Computing, Economics, Geography, International Business, Human Resource Management/Industrial Relations,
Psychology

Career Opportunities

The Arts degree offers generalist skills which are increasingly recognised by employers as crucial at a time in which career flexibility and continuing self-education and re-education are becoming more and more vital. Our graduates show that they find employment in such fields as: federal and state public services, (for example in Departments of Foreign Affairs, Lands, Social Security, Education, Housing, Corrective Services, and Aboriginal Affairs); local government services, the armed forces; banking, finance and insurance; trade union management; major retail companies; the media and journalism; university administration; major industrial companies; and teaching at secondary and tertiary level.

Combined Programs

Bachelor of Architecture/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Art Theory/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts (Media & Comms)/Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Advanced Science/Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Economics/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Engineering (various programs)/Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Music/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts/Bachelor of Arts