- Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.
However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.
Bachelor of Arts | 2020
Regional Campuses
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts at UOW's Regional Campuses (BA702, BB702, BE702, SH702 or MV702) will equip you for today’s rapidly changing world. You will develop skills and capacities necessary to understand how the world has come to be the way it is today. The disciplines housed in the Bachelor of Arts degree share a common interest in addressing the fundamental questions of human social life. What do we need to know to make a better future, and what are the best ways of finding out? You will see and appreciate the world afresh, developing the analytical and communicative abilities to enrich life and your community. Share in the rich and global dialogue on contemporary human cultures.
Students must select one major, and a second major or a minor, from English Literatures, History, Sociology and the interdisciplinary areas of Indigenous Studies and Community, Culture and Environment.
Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements
Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in at least one discipline of Humanities, Languages or Social Sciences; | ||||||
| 2 | Have the cognitive skills to review critically analyse and consolidate information and synthesise knowledge; | ||||||
| 3 | Apply disciplinary and inter-disciplinary knowledge and skills to complex issues about society, culture and the planet; | ||||||
| 4 | Be able to communicate effectively and clearly to a range of audiences using a range of modes and media, including digital technologies. | ||||||
Course Structure
To qualify for award of this degree, a candidate must satisfactorily complete a total of at least 144 credit points, comprised of the following:
- At least one major study available in the Bachelor of Arts, outlined below (48 credit points);
- LHA 101 - Introduction to Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (6 credit points). This subject is undertaken in the first session and is designed to provide students with the academic skills necessary to succeed at University. LHA 101 assists students to understand the structure of their degree, plan their study pathway, and plan for post-university careers. It introduces students to key concepts including critical thinking, digital literacy, academic integrity, effective communication and degree and career planning;
- A second major study (48 credit points) OR, a minor study (minimum of 24 credit points) from within Humanities, and The Arts outlined below;
- Elective subjects offered to bring the total credit points to at least 144.
Note:
- At least 24 credit points of subjects completed at 300-level within the major must be at a pass mark or higher;
- No more than 60 credit points can be taken in 100-level subjects.
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (BA702, BB702, BE702, SH702 or MV702) can select from the 5 majors and minors offered at their campus. Alternatively, students who wish to undertake other majors or minors may wish to consider undertaking these at the Wollongong campus.
Majors and Minors
Students construct their Bachelor of Arts degree by selecting majors and minors. The degree offers majors in the disciplinary areas familiar from study at school, like History and English Literatures. Other disciplinary areas that might not be as familiar include Sociology, Indigenous Studies and Community, Culture and Environment. The study of a discipline gives students skills a set of conceptual frameworks and a body of knowledge interpreted using those frameworks. For example, within the study of 'history', students learn how to research and write history, as well as how to read what historians have thought about the past.
The Bachelor of Arts also offers interdisciplinary studies. These are built around either a place (for example Australian Studies) or a theme (for example Indigenous Studies and Environmental Humanities). These areas reach across disciplines to illustrate different ways an issue can be explored.
Students undertaking the Bachelor of Arts (BA702, BB702, BE702, SH702 or MV702) will choose either two majors, or a major and a minor. The five available majors and minors are:
These majors and minors offer comprehensive exposure to each discipline area, however subjects offered will vary from those available at the Wollongong Campus.
Majors require 48 credit points and at least a pass in 24 credit points at 300 level. Students taking two majors are permitted to cross count a maximum of one subject in both majors.
Minors consist of a minimum of 24 credit points of which at least 12 credit points will be at 200 level or higher. Minors appear on the transcript (i.e. the academic record), but do not appear on the testamur.
Students may not undertake a Major and Minor Study in the same discipline (for example, students cannot take both a major and a minor in History).
You can declare and/or change most minors via SOLS. Some minors will require Faculty approval. If you cannot select your choice on SOLS, students can complete an application to declare or change their Minor.
Community, Culture and Environment
A community is a social group whose members live in a specific location, share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. Communities have many cultural groups that share behaviours, beliefs, values and symbols that they accept and pass on from one generation to the next.
Communities and different cultures survive in many environments which provide conditions for development and growth as well as danger and damage. When you study communities, different cultures and their environments, you explore the diverse issues that affect these different groups of people and their surroundings.
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
| MLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Develop knowledge of how the concept of identity is understood in a range of disciplines | ||||||
| 2 | Critically evaluate a range of theories relevant to the study of Community, Culture and the Environment | ||||||
| 3 | Demonstrate understanding of how an interdisciplinary approach is able to enhance knowledge of and research into Community, Culture and the Environment | ||||||
Subjects Required for Major Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| AUST101 | Australian Studies: Cultures and Identities | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| INDS207 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 6 | |
| SOC 207 | Introduction to Social Theory | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| INDS302 | Indigenous Thinkers: Global Perspectives | 6 | |
| HIST351 | Australian History: Moments that Matter | 6 | |
| SOC 352 | Power, Resistance and Society | 6 | |
| Plus at least ONE of the following capstone subjects: | |||
| ENGL383 | English and Creative Writing Capstone: Ways of Reading and Writing | 6 | |
| HIST389 | Making History (Capstone) | 6 | |
| SOC 328 | Sociology Capstone | 6 | |
Plus ONE other subject from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Subjects Required for Minor Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | |||
| AUST101 | Australian Studies: Cultures and Identities | 6 | |
| Plus a minimum of THREE from the following: | |||
| INDS207 | Indigeneity in the Contemporary World | 6 | |
| SOC 207 | Introduction to Social Theory | 6 | |
| INDS302 | Indigenous Thinkers: Global Perspectives | 6 | |
| HIST351 | Australian History: Moments that Matter | 6 | |
| SOC 352 | Power, Resistance and Society | 6 | |
Click on subject codes above for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.
English Literatures
Studying English Literatures will get you thinking creatively about the English language. You will analyse theories, critique prose and verse, and take a more critical look at the signs and words surrounding us every day. It provides a platform for you to develop the skills that future employers are looking for including analytical thinking, exceptional written and oral communication skills, and the capacity to appreciate differences in cultural perspectives.
At UOW, English Literature is studied with regard to style, theme and form, and also in relation to questions of race, gender, sexuality, class and nation. This major introduces you to a broad range of texts, novels, poetry, essays, short stories, film, diaries and letters from medieval times to the modern, with a strong international focus.
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
| MLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acquire knowledge of literary texts from a range of periods and places, and an understanding of the importance of social, historical and geographical contexts | ||||||
| 2 | Understand and deploy changing theories, methods and concepts in literary studies | ||||||
| 3 | Read, understand and interpret complex literary texts | ||||||
| 4 | Locate, assess and use appropriate scholarly resources | ||||||
| 5 | Construct coherent arguments and communicate them effectively in oral and written form | ||||||
| 6 | Apply relevant skills and knowledge to recognize and reflect on the significance of literary texts in imagining and interpreting the social world. | ||||||
Subjects Required for Major Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| ENGL120 | Understanding Literature and Film | 6 | |
| ENGL131 | Australian Fiction and Film | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| ENGL271 | The Romantics | 6 | |
| ENGL274 | Victorians | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| ENGL361 | The Modernists | 6 | |
| ENGL383 | English and Creative Writing Capstone: Ways of Reading and Writing | 6 | |
Plus TWO 300 level electives chosen from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Students interested in Honours are strongly encouraged to complete ENGL385 Literature and Critical Thought.
Click on subject codes above for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.
Subjects Required for Minor Study
A minor in English Literatures will consist of at least 24 credit points from the Course Structure of the English Literatures major. At least two subjects must be at 200 level or higher.
History
Engage, explore and appreciate diverse pasts when you study History at UOW, and learn from the past to inform your future. History enriches your understanding of the world by offering knowledge and skills to comprehend the broad scope of human experiences - from our everyday lives, to global processes. You will learn to research information, critically evaluate debates, and express your arguments and beliefs clearly and effectively.
UOW's History degree focuses on themes that link Australian and international history, ancient and modern. You will discover what it is to be a Historian, through subjects that help you develop a sophisticated and critical appreciation of contemporary approaches to historical theories, methods, interpretation, arguments, and uses of evidence.
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
| MLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evaluate historical processes using examples from a variety of periods and places | ||||||
| 2 | Appraise present-day global affairs from an historical perspective | ||||||
| 3 | Utilise different types of evidence to demonstrate an understanding of historical change | ||||||
| 4 | Critically review how Historians produce different interpretations of the past. | ||||||
Subjects Required for Major Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| A minimum of ONE of the following: | |||
| HIST111 | Age of Revolutions | 6 | |
| AUST101 | Australian Studies: Cultures and Identities | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| HIST257 | The World After 1945 | 6 | |
| HIST281 | Hands-On History | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| HIST389 | Making History (Capstone) | 6 | |
Plus FOUR other subjects from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. THREE of these electives must be at 300 level. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Click on subject codes above for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.
Subjects Required for Minor Study
A minor in History will consist of at least 24 credit points in subjects from the schedule of the History major. At least two subjects must be at 200 level or higher.
Indigenous Studies Major
Indigenous Studies explores the controversies, complexities and contradictions that shape what it means to be Indigenous in Australia and the world today. Contemporary Indigenous Australia is a fascinating crossroad of history, culture, power and politics. It includes the study of practical issues, political issues as well as understanding where these issues overlap.
Indigenous Studies at UOW is designed to equip you to think incisively about issues that impact on Indigenous individuals and communities on a local, national and global scale. This includes a focus on cultural, political, economic and social factors that have shaped, and continue to shape, the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is developed through the study of international Indigenous experiences and engagement with a range of Indigenous perspectives and organisations on a global scale.
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
| MLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify how Indigenous Studies has developed as a discipline and how it relates to other areas of study | ||||||
| 2 | Evaluate the ideologies and paradigms that continue to shape both popular and scholarly understandings of Indigenous peoples | ||||||
| 3 | Analyse, both critically and reflectively, Indigenous peoples understandings of themselves and the world | ||||||
| 4 | Evaluate the major social and political influences that have underpinned the history of colonisation and resistance. | ||||||
Subjects Required for Major Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| INDS150 | Introduction to Indigenous Australia | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| INDS207 | Indigeneity in the Contemporary World | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| INDS305 | Research and Indigenous Communities | 6 | |
| SOC 356 | Cultures of Dispossession | 6 | |
| HIST351 | Australian History: Moments that Matter | 6 | |
| INDS302 | Indigenous Thinkers: Global Perspectives (Capstone) | 6 | |
Plus TWO subjects from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Subjects Required for Minor Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A minimum of ONE of the following: | |||
| INDS150 | Introduction to Indigenous Australia | 6 | |
| INDS207 | Indigeneity in the Contemporary World | 6 | |
Plus TWO subjects from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. At lease ONE of these electives should be at 200 level or higher. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Click on subject codes above for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.
Sociology Major
Studying Sociology at UOW will prepare and enable you to understand, question and analyse human life and society, social processes, cultural and social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. You will develop an understanding of our diverse and rapidly changing world and identify the roots of and solutions to social problems. In an increasingly dynamic world, where divisions and inequalities are becoming more prevalent, this discipline provides invaluable analytical, research and intellectual skills and an in-depth understanding of our diverse societies and cultures.
The Sociology program at UOW organises specific study areas thematically, allowing you to find your own path through the curriculum, and consolidate in areas of interest over the course of the degree.
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
| MLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand and critically access core ideas in Sociology and related studies of society | ||||||
| 2 | Design and report on independent sociological research projects, using appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods | ||||||
| 3 | Critically assess and apply contemporary sociological theories to important current social issues. | ||||||
Subjects Required for Major Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| A minimum of ONE of the following: | |||
| SOC 103 | Introduction to Sociology | 6 | |
| SOC 104 | Investigating Society | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| SOC 207 | Introduction to Social Theory | 6 | |
| SOC 234 | Social Research Methods | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| SOC 352 | Power, Resistance and Society | 6 | |
| SOC 356 | Cultures of Dispossession | 6 | |
| SOC 328 | Sociology Capstone | 6 | |
Plus TWO subjects from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. ONE of these subjects must be at 300 level. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Subjects Required for Minor Study
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A minimum of ONE of the following: | |||
| SOC 103 | Introduction to Sociology | 6 | |
| SOC 104 | Investigating Society | 6 | |
| Plus | |||
| SOC 207 | Introduction to Social Theory | 6 | |
| SOC 234 | Social Research Methods | 6 | |
Plus ONE subject from the list of elective subjects available at your campus. These electives should be chosen in consultation with the Head of Students. | |||
Click on subject codes above for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.
Work Integrated Learning
Undertaking a work integrated learning experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.
The internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting.
Some Majors will have a specific internship subject available for students. Otherwise, students can consider CRLP200 'Career Ready Learning and Practice' (6cp). CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to give you that competitive edge by developing your professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. You will focus on your career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen your resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network.
INDS208 Working with Indigenous Communities is an elective subject available to all students. INDS208 fosters work skills, cultural competency and develops student awareness of Indigenous knowledges and community practices.
Subject Delivery
Subjects are taught using different methods of delivery. For some subjects, lectures are edu-streamed and available for download. In other lectures, video conferencing is used where the lecturer talks to students in real time. Other subjects rely on online delivery which includes posting the lectures on the subject's website.
The full range of electives may not be offered at any single campus. Students have the option of taking electives at alternate campuses or online where available. Information on availability of subjects can be found on the Subject Database.
Honours
Honours is a fourth year of study that provides training in independent research. Students who complete the single degree with the required academic standard are encouraged to proceed to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Please refer to the handbook page for further information about the degree and entry requirements.
Other Information
The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure the information contained in the Course Handbook is correct at the time of publication. However, courses may be amended without notice by the University in response to changing circumstances or for any other reason. Check with the University for updated information.
For further information email: askuow@uow.edu.au