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Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts – Bendigo (RBA)

The Bachelor of Arts is an undergraduate course designed to meet the needs of students in a rapidly changing and uncertain environment. As occupations change, disappear, or are absorbed into new multi-skilled ones, it is vital that the education students receive now promotes responsiveness and creativity, and develops skills that can be easily transferred into a range of new activities and occupations at a later stage when and if needed. Fostering multi-skilling and flexibility is the goal of the Bachelor of Arts at Bendigo.

The Bachelor of Arts at Bendigo offers students a wide choice of units. Hence students (subject to regulations and timetabling) are able to tailor their studies to their own specific needs.

The Bachelor of Arts recognises the following departmental disciplines and area studies as accredited majors:

• History
• Literature, film and art
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Sociology and politics
• Women’s studies

Subject to regulations, quotas and timetable, a limited number of units from other Schools and Departments may be taken, including:

• Accounting
• Applied statistics
• Art and visual culture
• AUSLAN
• Biology
• Business law
• Computing
• Economics
• Environmental science
• Human resource management
• Information technology
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Multimedia
• Photojournalism
• Psychology
• Public health

Admission requirements

Students should satisfy the normal university entrance requirements, including a study score of at least 20 in Units 3 and 4 of English.

Degree requirements

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 360 credit points, with at least 120 credit points at third-year level and include in their course either a single major or a double major as follows.

Single major

A major consists of 130 credit points, including at least 60 credit points at third-year level, in a discipline (or area of study) offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, noting that majors in some disciplines must include specific units or combinations of units.

First year

Second year

Third year

Double major

A double major consists of 130 credit points in each of two different disciplines. This consists of 30 credit points at first-year level, 40 credit points at second-year level and 60 credit points at third-year level in each discipline.

First year

Second year

Third year

Course regulations

A full-time study load for each year level is 120 credit points (60 credit points in each semester). Students require permission from the faculty to overload by taking more than 60 credit points in any teaching period. Permission is normally based on a student’s previous academic record.

First-year units

Students must take a minimum of 90 credit points at first-year level from units offered by the faculty. A minimum of 120 credit points and a maximum of 135 credit points of first-year units may normally be included in the degree.

Units from other La Trobe faculties and other universities

Students may take two semester units at each year level from other La Trobe faculties or other universities. Students may, with permission, study units from another tertiary institution in a discipline that is not available at La Trobe University. Applicants for cross-institutional study in a discipline that is available at La Trobe University require written approval from the head of that school or department. This should be submitted to the Faculty Enquiries Office.

Links to postgraduate study

The Bachelor of Arts can also provide a pathway to specialisation at postgraduate levels in a range of different programs: graduate diplomas, Master’s degrees by coursework and research, and PhD studies at Bendigo – and programs at other universities. For many careers, specialised skills developed at postgraduate levels are essential: librarianship, urban and regional planning, teaching, journalism, computing, management, recreation and leisure and counselling. A Graduate Diploma in Arts also exists for graduates wishing to pursue an undergraduate major not previously studied. All the disciplines and area studies of the Bachelor of Arts are available for study within a Graduate Diploma in Arts.

Honours

Students are strongly encouraged to consider a fourth year of study in Honours. Honours involves a specialisation, which if successfully completed, enables a pathway to higher degrees and opens up new career opportunities.

Units

The following list of disciplines and areas of study from, which students may construct their courses identifies units by year level. Normally, 30 credit points of first-year units in the relevant discipline are required as the prerequisite for second-year units, and 40 credit points of second-year units in the relevant discipline are required as the prerequisite for third-year units. Otherwise, students may seek approval to enrol in a unit from the unit coordinator. Units listed will be available dependent upon staff availability and/or student demand.

History

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second/third-year level (20 credit points)

Third-year level (20 credit points)

• Key: ¹ Not available in 2008.

Indonesian language

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second-year level (15 credit points)

Third-year level (15 credit points)

Fourth-year level (15 credit points)

Literature, film and art

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second/third-year level (20 credit points)

Third-year level (20 credit points)

• Key: ¹ Not available in 2008.

Philosophy and religious studies

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second/third-year level (20 credit points)

Third-year level (20 credit points)

• Key: ¹ Not available in 2008.

Sociology and Politics

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second/third-year level (20 credit points)

• Key: ¹ Not available in 2008.

Women’s studies

First-year level (15 credit points)

Second/third-year level (20 credit points)

Third-year level (20 credit points)

• Key: ¹ Not available in 2008.