Bachelor of Arts

The final intake of students into the Bachelor of Art/ Bachelor of Laws program took place in 2007. From 2008 no further intake of First year students into this degree program will occur. Students interested in undertaking an Arts degree as well as a degree in Laws should undertake a Bachelor of Arts and then apply for Melbourne University's Juris Doctor.

This Bachelor of Arts stream runs in conjunction with the Bachelor of Laws.

The Bachelor of Arts has as its objectives that graduates:

• can demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of selected fields of studies in the humanities, languages and social and behavioural sciences;
• can access and appreciate national and international debates in their areas of study;
• can demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values;
• can apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within a changing social context;
• can act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force;
• can communicate effectively and, in the case of those students undertaking a language major, are able to read, write and speak another language with fluency and appreciate its cultural context;
• qualify for employment in a wide range of occupations;
• have a continuing committment to learning;
• are proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as the computer and other IT systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.

A combined degree involves completing fewer subjects or points than is both degrees were completed separately.
To complete the combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws degrees you must complete subjects from both degrees to a minimum of 500 points or five full time years of study. Each degree component requires the completion of both an minimum and maximum number of points from each faculty within the total of 500 points. No subject can be counted towards both degrees.
You cannot be awarded one component of your combined degree upon completion of the minimumj requirements for that component. In other words, you must complete all the requirements for both components before you are eligiable to graduate from either. If you discontinue either component of your combined course, you must complete the full requirements of the remaining degree (ie. the full amount of points required for the remaining single degree, for example 300 points for the BA).
You are expected to be familiar with the course requirements of both of the components of your degree. For more detailed information about the specific course requirements for each combined art degree please refer to the 2007 undergraduate handbook or contact the Arts Student Support Centre.
The Basic Rules:
Students must complete 200 points towards the arts component of these degrees, comprising:
• no more than 50 points of first-year arts (usually four subjects);
• 75 points of second-year arts (usually six subjects);
• 75 points of third-year arts (usually six subjects).

As well as the completion of 200 points of BA study, four further basic rules apply;
• breadth of study requirements: No more than 150 points may taken in any one area of study. This consists of a maximum of 25 points at first year level and 125 points at second/third year level.
• subject year level entry requirements:
• arts-approved subject requirements: the arts component of a combined degree is aubject to the arts approved subject requirement. this means that most students in combined degrees are not able to complete the number of points required for an arts major in areas of study from outside the Faculty of Arts.
• language study restrictions: The study of languages is encouraged in BA combined degrees, and language learning can be one outcome of the arts component. which allows for extended study of one language. As the BA also seeks to provide a broad base of learning in the humanities and social sciences, therefore a second language is not permitted for credit within the arts component of BA combined degrees. Combined degree arts students who enrol themselves through the SIS in a second language (excluding Ancient languages) may not recieve credit for the additional language study.
All students are responsible for planning a course that satisfies course requirements.

See the handbook of the year you commenced your BA/Law for the requirements of the major - https://psc.unimelb.edu.au/

American studies
Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
Anthropology
Art History
Asian Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
Australian Indigenous Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
Australian Studies
Cinema Studies
Classical studies and Archaeology
Creative Writing
Criminology
Cultural Studies
Development Studies (some non-art approved subjects included)
English Literary Studies
English as a Second Language
English Language Studies
Environmental Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
European Studies
Gender Studies
Geography
Hebrew and Jewish Studies
History
History and Philosophy of Science
International Studies
Islamic Studies
Linguisitics and Applied Linguistics
Philosophy
Planning and Design
Political Science
Psychology
Social Theory
Socio-legal Studies
Sociology
Theatre Studies

There will be no further entry into this course from 2007.

The Bachelor of Arts requires a standard level of ability across all disciplines. It will be assumed students are able to access and attend classes on a regular basis, are capable of learning in a University environment and will be able to take responsibility for their own learning. Any ability beyond this threshold will be robustly supported through the curriculum. There are no pre-requisites for first year subjects, and any intensive use of IT or technologies will be adequately supported. Certain subjects have more specific requirements and demands, such as fieldwork or travelling, which are clearly outlined in the Handbook's subject description.
However, the University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. The Faculty Disability Contact Officer works with students, the University Disability Liaison Unit and teaching staff to assist students with their special requirements, with a particular focus on accommodations for in-class and examination assessment tasks. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability.

Arts offers many opportunities for further study. An honours year or postgraduate diploma, leading on to a masters degree or PhD, can add vocational and/or research skills to your undergraduate arts degree and increase your employment options. Arts graduates also use postgraduate study to explore in greater depth and detail subjects they found interesting during their undergraduate study or to study a completely new field of knowledge.
Graduate study of a vocational nature might include diplomas or masters in Applied Linguistics, Management, Art Conservation and Curatorial Studies, Arts Management, Criminology, Economics, Linguistics, Information Management, Landscape Architecture, and Science Communication. The list of postgraduate courses you might wish to consider after finishing your undergraduate arts degree is varied and growing.
The Bachelor of Arts is recognised by universities and institutions around the world. Many University of Melbourne graduates travel overseas to complete further study.

For the graduate attributes of Arts students, see http://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/2008/105-AA