There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts is a three-year program at pass level. A separate four-year program at Honours level (Program Code 4511) is also available for eligible applicants. A Bachelor of Arts program enriches your understanding of how human beings make, recognise, and debate about life's meaning and the values that … For more content click the Read More button below. Students can combine courses from Business, English and Media Studies, Indonesian Studies, Geography, History, and International and Political Studies, building expertise in one or more of these disciplines. Honours students who are RAN midshipmen or RAAF officer cadets continue with their programs at UNSW, Canberra and complete their degrees at the end of the fourth year. Army officer cadets transfer to the Royal Military College, Duntroon at the end of their third year. After completing a year of military training they are commissioned as lieutenants, and those who are continuing with Honours programs return to the Academy to complete their Honours degree. The objective of a Bachelor of Arts program is to stimulate students intellectually and to immerse them in the discipline of learning. The program will develop graduate attributes, such as strong written and oral communications skills, the capacity to research, criticise and reflect, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Articulate and explain fundamental disciplinary concepts and methodologies
  • Scholars
2.
Apply critical understanding and analysis to written, oral and audio-visual texts in the humanities and social sciences
  • Scholars
3.
Demonstrate high skill levels in written and oral presentation, analysis and argument.
  • Scholars
4.
Critically and creatively employ disciplinary knowledge to engage with complex problems relevant to real world contexts
  • Global Citizens
  • Scholars
5.
Engage effectively in scholarly debate so as to demonstrate initiative and self-direction, and to enable others to embrace innovation and change
  • Professionals
  • Scholars
6.
Communicate and debate complex ideas, lucidly and ethically, capably using a variety of different media
  • Professionals
  • Scholars
  • Global Citizens

Program Structure
144 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 144 UOC as a standalone program.

Arts Majors

Prescribed Electives

Students must take at least 12 UOC of the following courses.

Students who complete ZPEM1301 Mathematics 1A or ZPEM1303 Engineering Mathematics 1A will be exempt from ZPEM2312. If exempt, students are required to complete an upper level 2 or 3 free elective in lieu of this prescribed elective.

Free Electives

Students can take up to a maximum of 24 UOC of the following courses.

Minimum Arts Discipline UOC

Students must complete a minimum of 96 UOC of the following courses.

General Education Maturity Requirements

12 UOC of General Education is normally taken in the second or third year of study.

Level 2 Maturity Requirements

Students must have completed 36 UOC before taking any of the following courses.

Level 3 Maturity Requirements

Students must have completed 72 UOC before taking any of the following courses.

Admission Requirements

Special Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Award of Pass with Distinction

Additional Information

Program Rules Dictionary

  • “Major” consists of courses totalling no less than 48 UOC, with at least 36 UOC from Level 2 and 3 courses, with at least 18 UOC at Level 3.
  • “Level 1” means courses at an introductory level, normally taken at Stage 1.
  • “Level 2” means courses at an upper level, normally taken at Stage 2.
  • “Level 3” means courses at an upper level, normally taken at Stage 3.

Undergraduate courses are classified by Level e.g. Level 1 courses are usually undertaken in the first stage of a program, Level 2 in the second stage etc. In many cases the first digit of the four-digit numeric suffix of the course code indicates the level of the course e.g. ZPEM1101 is a Level 1 course whereas ZPEM3054 is a Level 3 course, usually undertaken in stage 3.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)