Course

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Bachelor of Arts

Approved Abbreviation: BA

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1706.4

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 040992A

Students commencing in 2022 should use the link to the new handbook for details.

Bachelor of Arts

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2020 to 2021.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

Commencement Year 2020 to 2021 - 1706.4 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2017 to 2019 - 1706.3 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2016 - 1706.2 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2013 to 2015 - 1706.1 Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts offers students an opportunity to develop a depth of disciplinary expertise together with the breadth of vision afforded by cross-disciplinary approaches to the humanities. Study in the Bachelor of Arts is designed to develop communication and personal skills, creativity and a capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations and problem-solving skills, attributes increasingly demanded by employers. Bachelor of Arts graduates find employment in diverse areas including: communication and media industries; education; psychology and counselling; cultural, political and social policy analysis; writing and publishing. The Bachelor of Arts is a three-year degree designed to provide knowledge and generic skills that form the basis for lifelong learning.

Students wishing to be a primary school teacher should enrol in courses 1651 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) or 1708 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5 / Birth -12). Students wishing to be a secondary school teacher of English, History, Languages or Human Society and its Environment (which includes both history and social science units) should enrol in 1652 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary). For further information concerning the requirements for secondary teaching, students are advised to consult the Subject Content Requirements for Primary and Secondary Teaching NSW (Abridged) from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Students in this course also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their majors, sub majors or electives. They are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a course advisor.

Director of Academic Program - Dr Di Dickenson

Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Arts Psychology Key Program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). A Psychological Studies major/sub-major does not meet APAC requirements for an accredited sequence in Psychology.

Admission

Assumed knowledge: two units of HSC English.

Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.

Core Components

All students must enrol in and complete 60 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Core units consisting of four units at Level 1, one unit at Level 2 and one unit at Level 3.

Bachelor of Arts Core units

Level 1

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

102735

Foundations of Academic English

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

Level 2

102739

Multiliteracies

Level 3

Engaged Learning Pool units

Students must successfully complete 10 credit points from the list below

100961

Humanities Internship

Service Learning

Group Project

Study Tours

We Are The University: Students Co-creating Change

All students must complete

Either a First Specialisation or Key Program in Psychology
A Second Specialisation

First Specialisation

Students must successfully complete an 80 credit point major from the list below (see First Specialisations)

Second Specialisation and electives

Students must complete 100 credit points, by completing

Either

a 40 credit point Arts sub-major in a different specialisation to their major from the list of Second Specialisations below, and
60 credit points of elective units

Note: Students may choose 4 of the elective units in order to graduate with a Major.

a second 80 credit point Arts major in a different specialisation to their first major from the list of Second Specialisations below, and
20 credit points of elective units

Bachelor of Arts with a Key Program in Psychology

Students must successfully complete the 160 credit point accredited Key Program in Psychology which includes 40 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Level 1 core units, plus the remaining 20 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Level 2 and 3 core units as specified under the ‘Core Components’ heading listed above.

KT1000

Psychology

Second Specialisation and Electives

Students must also complete 60 credit points, by completing

a 40 credit point Arts sub-major in a different discipline area to their Key Program from the list of Second Specialisations below (see Second Specialisations) and
20 credit points of elective units

First Specialisation

Students not taking the accredited sequence in Psychology must complete at least one of the following Majors.

Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses.

Note: The following Majors and Sub-majors have inherent requirements; Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, and Japanese. Please note: the Indonesian major will no longer be available from 2021. Please see the link below to the Inherent Requirements page:

Inherent Requirements

Anthropology

Arabic

Chinese

Creative Writing

Criminology and Criminal Justice

M1052

Cultural and Social Analysis

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1131 Culture and Society.

Culture and Society

Economy and Markets

English

Geography and Urban Studies

M2513

Global Business

M1077

Heritage and Tourism

M1054

History and Political Thought

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1137 History and Political Thought.

M1137

History and Political Thought

M1041

Indigenous Australian Studies

M1093

Indonesian

Please note: the Indonesian major will no longer be available from 2021.

M2514

Innovation and Change

M1129

International English

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1132 International English.

M1132

International English

M1055

International Relations and Asian Studies

Islamic Studies

Japanese

Linguistics

Musicology

Music Performance

Organisations and Work

M1083

Peace and Development Studies

M1058

Philosophy

M1110

Psychological Studies

M1073

Sociology

Second Specialisations

All students must complete a second specialisation from the list below.

Note: Students completing the 160 credit point accredited Key Program in Psychology must not choose SM1115 Psychological Studies

Note: Not all Arts majors and sub-majors are available on all campuses

Arabic

Chinese

Creative Writing

Cultural and Social Analysis

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1131 Culture and Society.

M1131

Culture and Society

M1053

English

M1054

History and Political Thought

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1137 History and Political Thought.

M1137

History and Political Thought

M1041

Indigenous Australian Studies

M1093

Indonesian

Please note: the Indonesian major will no longer be available from 2021.

M1129

International English

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete M1132 International English.

M1132

International English

M1055

International Relations and Asian Studies

Islamic Studies

Japanese

Linguistics

Musicology

Music Performance

Philosophy

Psychological Studies

Arabic

Chinese

Creative Writing

Cultural and Social Analysis

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1138 Culture and Society.

SM1138

Culture and Society

SM1071

English

SM1072

History and Political Thought

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1145 History and Political Thought.

SM1145

History and Political Thought

SM1128

Immersion Language

SM1049

Indigenous Australian Studies

SM1112

Indonesian

Please note: the Indonesian sub-major will no longer be available from 2021.

SM1132

International English

Please note: Students commencing this course in 2021 should enrol in and complete SM1139 International English.

SM1139

International English

SM1073

International Relations and Asian Studies

Islamic Studies

Japanese

Linguistics

Musicology

Music Performance Studies

SM1076

Philosophy

SM1115

Psychological Studies

The following recommended sequence is for students commencing in Autumn semester. For students commencing in Spring semester, complete 102735 Foundations of Academic English in your first semester and discuss unit selection with an academic course advisor

Recommended Full-time sequence

Year 1

Recommended Sequence for students at Bankstown and Penrith campuses

Autumn session

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102735

Foundations of Academic English

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Spring session

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

One first Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Second Specialisation unit

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit or an elective

Recommended Sequence for students at Parramatta campus

Autumn session

102736

Diversity, Language and Culture

102735

Foundations of Academic English

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Second specialisation unit

Spring session

102738

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship

102737

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Second specialisation unit

For Years 2 and 3 the following sequence applies for all campuses

Year 2

Autumn session

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Second Specialisation unit

Elective or Second Specialisation unit

Spring session

102739

Multiliteracies

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Second Specialisation unit

Year 3

Autumn session

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Second Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Key Program Psychology unit

One Engaged Learning Pool unit (Level 3) or Elective or Second Specialisation unit

Spring session

First Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Second Specialisation unit or Key Program Psychology unit

Elective or Key Program Psychology unit

Engaged Learning Pool unit (Level 3) or Elective or Second Specialisation unit (see Note)

Note: If the Engaged Learning Pool unit (Level 3) has not been previously completed, students are required to complete this unit in their final semester of study.

Major and Sub-major elective spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved major (80 credit points) or sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for majors and sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers majors and sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Major

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Global Sustainability Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)