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Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts

Approved Abbreviation: DipArts/BA

Western Sydney University Course Code: 6005.3

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 096969D

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 or later.

For Commencement Year Term 2 2018 - 2019, please refer to 6005.2 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts

For Commencement Year Term 2 2017 to Term 1 2018, please refer to 6005.1 - Diploma in Arts/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.

The first year of this course is delivered by Western Sydney University The College, as an agent of Western Sydney University, via extended face-to-face hours in smaller learning environments. A Diploma in Arts exit point is also available at the end of the first year of the course.

For more information on Western Sydney University, The College, please refer to their web site.

Western Sydney University, The College

For course advice during your first year of study, please use the contact below under ‘Course Advice’. For course advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor of Arts

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

Inherent requirements

The Inherent requirements will be the same as for the current Bachelor course. Dedicated inherent requirements for Arts are currently under development. Once in place, these inherent requirements will also be applicable to this course.

Admission

For more information on applying please see link to The College admission pages below.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thecollege/how_to_apply

Domestic students are required to have

Completed an English unit in the NSW Higher School Certificate, Or

Competency in English at IELTS 6.0 equivalent (unless a native speaker) Or

Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or

Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English unit at C grade level or higher.

Met other entry requirements such as

An ATAR identified prior to the offer of a place, Or

Completed The College Foundation Studies course with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

International students must satisfy one of the following language requirements

IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each sub band Or

Completed the College EAP 4 course with a 50% pass Or

Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or

Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English unit at C grade level or higher for which advanced standing can be applied for.

Academic Entry Requirements vary according to country of origin. However, in general

Completion of Year 12 or its equivalent is the minimum entry requirement Or

Completed The College Foundation Studies course with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this course. As this will occur in the second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Arts.

This range of unit options will be offered to students so that they can apply and extend the skills and knowledges they have acquired through core and specialised study. Thus students can tailor their experiences to their personal and career goals and the range of options are sufficient to cater for the professional needs of a diverse cohort. Students may use their electives to take additional options from this list.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 270 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below. Students must also complete a minimum of 60 credit points at Level 3.

The early exit College Diploma consists of 110 credit points which includes three College Preparatory units.

Western Sydney University The College Units

Nirimba, Bankstown, Parramatta City (George Street) and Penrith Campus

Please note that all campuses may not have intakes each year.

Year 1

First Term of Study

700056

Academic English (WSTC Prep)

700211

Academic Skills for Arts (WSTC Prep)

700192

Texts and Communication (WSTC Prep)

700293

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society (WSTC)

Second Term of Study

700291

Foundations of Academic English (WSTC)

700299

When Worlds Collide: European Empires and the World, c.1600-1950 (WSTC)

700292

Diversity, Language and Culture (WSTC)

Third Term of Study

700288

Introduction to Literary Studies (WSTC)

700294

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship (WSTC)

700135

Everyday Life (WSTC)

Choose one of

700268

Introduction to International Relations (WSTC)

700137

Mathematical Patterns and Relationships (WSTC)

Equivalent Core Units

The Core unit listed below counts towards completion of this course for students who passed this unit in 2019 or earlier.

700134 - Global History (WSTC)

Students may exit at this point and graduate with the Diploma in Arts following a passing grade in all of the above units. Students who progress onto Year 2 may also be awarded the Diploma if they gain a passing grade in all of the above units.

Students must pass all College Preparatory units before progressing to the Year 2 units.
Students must pass at least 70 credit points of University level units in Year 1 before progressing to the Year 2 units.

In order to ensure that Bachelor of Arts students meet the course requirements, all students must seek advice from their Academic Course Advisor when transitioning to the second year of their course.

Western Sydney University Units

For course advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor of Arts

Bankstown, Parramatta (Victoria Road) and Penrith Campus

All students must enrol in and complete

20 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Core
80 credit points Arts Major
40 credit points Arts Sub-major
20 credit points of electives

Students must also complete a minimum of 60 credit points at Level 3.

Core Components

All students must complete

102739

Multiliteracies

And

One unit from the Bachelor of Arts Level 3 core units (the Engaged Learning pool units)

The Engaged Learning pool units

Choose one of

100961

Humanities Internship

Service Learning

Group Project

Study Tours

We Are The University: Students Co-creating Change

Arts Majors

All students must successfully complete one of the following Majors. Explanation of these Majors can be found under the listings below and are available dependent on the campus of offering.

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

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

Sub-majors

All students must successfully complete one of the following sub-majors in a different specialisation to their major. Explanation of these sub-majors can be found under the listings below and are available dependent on the campus of offering.

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 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

Note: Students may be able to complete two Majors rather than a Major and a sub-major by using their electives. Students need to seek academic course advise before deciding on two majors.

Recommended Full-time Sequence

Year 2

Autumn session

Major unit

Elective or sub-major unit

Choose one of

102739

Multiliteracies

Elective or sub-major unit

Spring session

Major unit

Elective or Sub-major unit

Choose one of

102739

Multiliteracies

Elective or sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

Major unit

Elective or sub-major unit

Choose one of

One Engaged Learning Pool unit (Level 3)

Elective or sub-major unit

Spring session

Major unit

Elective or sub-major unit

Choose one of

One Engaged Learning Pool unit (Level 3)

Elective or sub-major unit

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.

Sub-major Elective Spaces

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.

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

Search for sub-majors

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

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

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

MyStudentRecords (MySR)