Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
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NOTE: Some tables present in Volume 3 not as yet present in online version (data was not supplied).
The Faculty of Arts offers the widest range of courses and areas of study of any faculty at the University of Melbourne.
The Faculty's courses are dynamic and frequently change in response to developments in research, disciplinary knowledge and as a result of student feedback.
As a student in the Faculty of Arts you can take studies in a huge range of traditional and non-traditional areas of study. You have a greater choice of what you study than in most other faculties.
Arts subjects are designed to develop you personally, as well as academically. Arts subjects can challenge, inspire and surprise you. Arts encourages you to hold original opinions on all sorts of issues and to think on your feet.
Studying in the Faculty of Arts will help you develop the skills necessary to organise and analyse information, communicate ideas and research and report facts; all skills valuable to graduates after completing their degree.
The Faculty aims to:
Employment opportunities for Arts graduates reflect the scope and volume of subjects and disciplines available for study. Studying Arts subjects can produce specific vocational skills or general skills depending on the subjects taken.
Arts courses produce flexible, literate and well- informed graduates with analytical and interpersonal skills who are socially aware and potential managers and leaders in many areas. You receive valuable training in research methods, creative thinking, critical evaluation of sources, the development of written and verbal communication skills and the ability to analyse and organise and present complex material effectively.
These are all 'marketable' skills and accomplishments which employers in a wide range of organisations recognise as desirable. Combined with personal interests and talents, these skills have the potential to lead to a satisfying career.
The University's Graduate Destination Survey shows that graduates often gain employment in professional areas which are closely related to the subjects they have studied. Examples include a graduate with an English and Language Studies major obtaining a position as a trainee editor with a publishing company, and a graduate with a Criminology major working as a youth worker.
Arts research skills are applicable in the work-place in many different contexts, from research for politicians or trade unions to market research. Many Arts graduates also enter the business, corporate and government sectors in graduate trainee schemes. Graduates are also well placed to upgrade and increase their skills by pursuing further study to gain a professional qualification, such as the Bachelor of Social Work, the Bachelor of Teaching (offered by the Faculty of Education), or through further research work leading to a higher degree. Arts graduates are able to transfer the skills they acquire across many sectors, and may become administrators in government, the diplomatic service, the arts, commerce and industry, archivists and historians, criminologists, psychologists, social workers, publishers, journalists, media and advertising professionals, curators in art galleries and museums, art conservationists, theatre directors, writers, poets, film directors and producers.
Often, when people think of the courses offered by the Faculty of Arts, they think only in terms of the Bachelor of Arts degree, however Arts offers many opportunities for further study. An Honours year or Postgraduate Diploma, leading on to a Master's degree or PhD can both add vocational skills to your undergraduate Arts degree, and increase your employment options. Arts graduates 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. These include, for example, Diplomas in Business Management, Graduate Diplomas in Applied Psychology, Audiology, Art Curatorial Studies, Criminology, Economics, Linguistics, Information Management, Librarianship and Adolescent and Child Psychology. The list of postgraduate courses you might wish to take after finishing your undergraduate Arts degree is long and varied and growing.
Some students may decide to do a second Bachelors degree in an equally wide range of subject areas - everything from Law to Engineering and Business. These students find the skills they developed while studying for their Arts degree useful in studying in these other, different subject areas.
The Arts degree is recognised by universities and institutions around the world. Many University of Melbourne Arts graduates head off overseas to complete further courses. The major destinations are the USA, Europe, and Asian countries, although once again, the choice is almost endless.
Your decision to explore our wide and rich curriculum is a good one. The Faculty of Arts is the oldest and largest in the University of Melbourne. Our outstanding reputation rests, however, on neither size nor tradition but the recognition, nationally and internationally, of the excellence and innovative character of our teaching and research programs and the very high quality of our staff and students.
You have much to contribute to, and to gain from, your experience in Arts. You will gain the ability to read critically, to think laterally, to analyse and conceptualise issues, and to argue and communicate effectively. The first challenge you will face is to decide what path to follow in your studies. Arts itself embraces over 1,000 discrete subjects from a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary branches of knowledge. In addition, you may elect subjects from other faculties and several foreign languages taught by other universities. Take your time, make your decisions with care. Talk with present and former students, academic staff and the Faculty Office advisers, and then make up your own mind. I especially encourage you to undertake some studies in areas and disciplines which would be new to you. We want you to gain the maximum benefit from your experience in Arts. Do not be afraid to seek advice or help from your lecturers, tutors and administrative staff.
I wish you well in your studies and challenge you to continue to achieve the high standards which have enabled you to join us as members of the Faculty of Arts.
The Bachelor of Arts course has as its objectives that graduates:
To complete an ordinary BA degree you have to complete 300 points of study, 100 at each year-level.
Each subject you complete is worth a certain number of points, normally 12.5 points at first-year level for one semester's work, and 16.7 points at second or third-year level for one semester's work.
Subjects over two semesters (year-long subjects or double semester subjects) are, of course, worth twice the points (ie 25 points at first-year level).
Languages, because of the extra work they involve, are worth more points at first-year level - 18.75 points per semester. This means that at first-year level, two semesters of language subjects is equivalent to three semesters of non-language subjects (ie 2 x 18.75 points = 3 x 12.5 points).
Subjects at first-year level prepare you for study at second and third-year level.
Most subjects at second or third-year level build on the study you have completed in first-year. In practical terms this means that to enrol into particular subjects at second or third-year level, you must complete particular subjects at first-year level. While most second and third-year level subjects need as a prerequisite study in the same 'area of study' at first-year level, some subjects simply require you to complete 50 points of first-year level subjects in any area of study.
An 'area of study' is a grouping of subjects belonging to a particular discipline or theme. Within the Arts degree you can choose from subjects more than 50 different and distinct areas of study offered by the Departments of the Faculty of Arts and some by other Faculties of the University. Each area of study has a separate entry in this Handbook.
A 'major', or specialisation, in an area of study is normally five semester subjects at second or third-year level (83.3 points) in that particular area of study. Some areas of study have compulsory subjects that you must do in order to complete that major. For example, in most language majors you are required to complete an advance level language subject. You should check the requirements of a major in each area of study entry in this handbook to ensure that you are aware what is required.
You don't have to do a major in an Arts degree, but you can complete one or two if you plan your study carefully. When you finish your studies, the formal transcript of your course will include acknowledgment of the majors you have completed.
NOTE: Table on p2 Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
NOTE: Table on p2, Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
The Arts degree can be taken together as a combined degree with nine other degrees. In general, in a combined degree you would do fewer subjects or points than are required if you were to complete both degrees separately.
In 1996, the following combined courses are available:
To complete a BA degree in combination with one of the above courses you have to complete subjects of both degrees worth a minimum of 500 points of study or five full-time years study (seven years full-time study for Arts/Medicine).
Of these, (except for Arts/Law, please see over and Arts/Social Work, see page 9) you must complete 216 points towards your Arts component. As in the BA degree, you complete Arts subjects worth a certain amount of points at each year level:
4 subjects at 1st-year level by 12.5 points = 50 points 4 subjects at 2nd-year level by 16.7 points = 66 points 6 subjects at 3rd-year level by 16.7 points = 100 points Total = 216 points
Each combined degree has minimum requirements to be met in order to complete the other course and the combined degree. You should refer to the other faculty's entry in the Handbook for more information. Similarly, examples of combined degree courses may be found in the other Faculty's entry in the Handbook.
An information sheet on the general structure and requirements of each of the various combined degree courses is available from the Faculty of Arts Office.
You can still specialise in one or two areas of study by completing the specified five subjects at second or third-year level, including any compulsory subject, in that particular area of study. If you wish to do two majors in Arts, you should choose your first-year subjects carefully, and make sure you have complete the required prerequisite subjects.
To complete a combined BA/LLB degree you have to do a minimum of 500 points of study. Of these, you must complete a minimum of 300 points towards the Law component of the combined degree and 200 points towards your Arts component.
You can still specialise in an area of study by doing five subjects at second or third-year level, including any compulsory subjects, in that particular area of study.
NOTE: Table on p3, Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
NOTE: Table on p3, Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Letters students do not require special permission from the Faculty of Arts to study on a part-time basis. The University of Melbourne considers any student enrolled in less than 75 points in a calendar year to be a part-time student. The minimum enrolment allowable for Arts students is one subject in each semester, and the Faculty requires that students take at least one subject in each semester.
Students who receive an Austudy benefit should note that the Department of Education, Employment & Training defines students as part-time where they are enrolled in a weighting of less than 0.375 (37.5 points) in each semester. Students who are studying on a part-time basis according to this definition are normally not eligible to receive Austudy benefits. If you have any questions about your eligibility for Austudy, you should speak with an adviser at the Student Advisory Service.
The Bachelor of Arts degree must be completed within ten years from the date of commencement of study. At the rate of one subject per semester, you will complete a BA degree in ten years. This ten year limit applies to combined course students as well.
All areas of study in which you can major are listed on page 4. A separate entry exists in the subject listing section of the Handbook for each title here. Some subjects (for example Chemistry and Communication Skills) are only available at first-year or at second-year; these are also listed on page 4.
At second and third-year level 13 new areas of study are available (see lists page 4). In addition, most languages can be taken at beginners' level at second or third-year level. You should look through the Handbook to see what additional choices you have at second and third-year level, and check that you have completed the appropriate prerequisites for the subjects that interest you. Some subjects do not have any prerequisite. Finally, other individual subjects available at second and third- year level may be taken to fulfil overall degree requirements.
At first-year level, making a wide choice of subjects will mean you have a wider range of options at second-year level, when you begin to choose your majors. The majority of students try four different areas of study in first year from those available. You cannot, however, do more than four semester subjects (50 points) in one area of study in first year, and no more than 10 semester subjects (167 points) in one area of study over second and third years.
It is strongly recommended that students undertake a language other than English; however, students will not normally be allowed to take more than two languages during their degree.
Students will be permitted to take no more than two beginners languages other than English within the BA structure. (It should be noted that the concurrent Diploma of Languages provides further opportunities for language study). Applications to take more than two beginners languages with the BA structure would need to meet criteria of a coherent academic program and must be approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Study) in consultation with the School of Languages and/or the appropriate department.
Many first-year subjects, and some second and third-year subjects, are offered as linked semester subjects. Normally a student will enrol in both the first semester and second semester parts of such subjects. Some students may choose to take only one semester of the subject, but special permission will normally be required to take the second semester subject of linked subjects without completing the first semester subject.
Certain subjects are limited by quota, for example summer beginners' language subjects. Selection into quota subjects is made according to academic merit. Some subjects (eg Music Performance) have special entry requirements. The Faculty Office can advise you on what you need to do to gain entry to these subjects and on how to gain a place in a quota subject.
Obviously, if your are doing an Arts degree, some of your subjects must be Arts subjects!
Of the 300 points (or the 200 points for Arts/Law students, 266 points for Arts/Social Work students and 216 points for other combined course students) you must do to complete your degree requirements, you must complete a minimum number of subjects in the approved departments of the Faculty of Arts:
Subjects and areas of study that are not from Arts Departments are listed in italics below.
This means that students in combined courses will not normally be able to do majors outside the Faculty.
Despite the above, Arts students are able to study, and in many cases complete a major, in selected subjects and areas of study from other Faculties (listed in italics). Details of subjects that have been approved for Arts students can be found in the Arts section of the Handbook. Please note, however, that some subjects are only available at first-year level and that you cannot do further study in that area of study.
NOTE: Table on p4, Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
Please refer to the areas of study listed in the Arts Faculty Index.
This is a library skills unit which all first year students should take. It is a one-hour program offered by the Baillieu Library and is not credited towards the Bachelor of Arts course. Further information will be given to students when they enrol.
The Faculty of Arts has special arrangements with several institutions that offer languages that are not taught at the University of Melbourne. La Trobe University offers Spanish to Arts students, Monash University offers Thai and Hindi, Victoria University of Technology offers Vietnamese, and Swinburne University of Technology offers Korean. These subjects are listed in the subject entries.
If you would like to study a subject that is not offered at the University of Melbourne (complementary study) you will need to receive the approval of the Faculty of Arts as well as permission from the other university. This needs to be arranged at the beginning of the year in which you enrol in your subjects. You should start by collecting an 'Application for Enrolment in Complementary Studies' form, which is available from the Faculty of Arts office. There are instructions on the back of this form, and if you need some help, you can make an appointment at the Faculty of Arts office to speak with the student adviser responsible for Complementary Studies.
Many Arts students take the opportunity to study a language overseas during their degree. Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Danish, Italian, French, Dutch and Gaelic language subjects have been taken in the past at overseas tertiary institutions.
If the foreign language studies which you wish to take are not part of a formal exchange agreement (see below) you will need to negotiate a credit agreement with the relevant language department and the Faculty of Arts before you take these studies. You will need full details of the course (information on the assessment, course content and contact hours), a letter from the language department approving the course as equivalent to language studies in this Faculty, and a letter from the Faculty which outlines the arrangements for award of credit on successful completion of the course.
Interested students can make an appointment with the student adviser for international and exchange students at the Faculty of Arts office.
You may be interested in participating in one of many exchange programs with overseas universities organised by the University's International Office. The University of Melbourne has exchange agreements with institutions in the USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, Sweden and many other countries. Exchanges can be arranged for both BA and combined course students, for one or two semesters, and you are able to apply in both the second or third-year level of your course. You must act early as applications are normally due two semesters before you intend to go on exchange.
You will normally receive credit (up to 100 points of second and/or third-year credit) for the study you do on exchange. This means that in most cases you can still complete your degree in the normal time.
In some cases it is also possible to receive credit for studies taken at a university overseas with which the University does not have a formal exchange agreement.
In order to receive credit for study you take overseas you must negotiate a credit agreement with the faculty Office before commencing your studies at the host university. You will need full details of the subjects you will take overseas (assessment, subject content and contact hours), and details of the university at which you wish to study.
If you are interested in applying for an exchange program, you should make an appointment at the Faculty of Arts office to speak with the student adviser for overseas and exchange students. You can also get some information and application forms from the International Office which is located at ground level at the eastern end of the Raymond Priestley Building.
The normal student workload is a maximum of 100 points per year, or 50 points in a semester. Students who attempt more than this workload more often than not drop out from subjects and reduce their enrolment back to 100 points, or actually fail one or more subjects. However, at first-year level, if you do a language, you will be able to undertake one additional semester subject (12.5 points). If you have a good academic record and good reasons to overload your enrolment, you may to apply at the Faculty Office for permission.
Apart from the additional subject mentioned above, you would not normally do more than the points required at each year level. Again if you have a good academic record and good reasons to over-enrol, you can apply to the Faculty of Arts Office for permission to take extra subjects.
Many students would like to do something at some stage during their degree that does not fit the normal pattern, for instance, do subjects at another University, do subjects not normally offered to Arts students, do additional subjects as well as the normal requirements, or even do subjects without the normal prerequisite study. In all cases you should see one of the course advisers in the Faculty of Arts Office, who may be able to help you to do what you want.
All students who have good academic or course progress reasons for being granted an exemption from these course guidelines are welcome to apply to do so.
The Faculty of Arts supports students whose marks are consistently excellent by allowing them more flexibility in planning and organising their courses. First-year students with a very high VCE score, or later-year students with an average of H2A or above are often able to: over-enrol, overload, gain exemptions, undertake additional or unusual study programs, such as research essay subjects, subjects from other faculties, overseas programs, summer courses or more advanced subjects.
Further information on the Faculty's high-achieving students policy is available from the Arts Faculty Office. All special programs of study must be approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies).
In all cases, if you would like to do something out of the ordinary that a course adviser cannot approve, you should write to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies), Mr Stuart Evans. Mr Evans is also the person you should write to if you wish to appeal against any decision made about your course by a course adviser.
Throughout your course, there are opportunities to change the subjects you have chosen to study in each semester. To change your enrolment in Arts subjects, you should make an appointment to see a course adviser at the Faculty of Arts Office before the appropriate deadline. For each subject, there are three important deadlines. As each deadline passes, your options to change your enrolment are limited and the penalty for doing so increases. Each deadline and its consequence is explained below.
AUSTUDY: If you are receiving Austudy benefits, you must inform Austudy of any change to your enrolment. To remain eligible for Austudy benefits, you should normally be enrolled in at least 37.5 points per semester. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Student Financial Aid.
You may withdraw from or add subjects to your enrolment without any penalty by the end of the second teaching week of semester for the below subjects. In 1996, the end of the second teaching week for each subject is:
After this time, you may not add any more subjects for the semester, and if you need to withdraw from a subject, it will appear on your university record with a 'WD' (withdrawn) grade.
If you withdraw from a subject by the HECS census date, you will receive a 'WD' grade, but you will not be charged HECS for the subject in that semester. In 1996, the HECS census dates are:
After this time you will be charged HECS for the subject in that semester.
Up until (and including) this date, you may withdraw from subjects. You will receive a 'WD' and be charged HECS, as noted above, but you will not receive a 'N' (fail) grade for the subjects cancelled. In 1996, the final withdrawal date for each subject is:
After this date, you cannot withdraw from subjects, and you will be committed to completing the assessment for each subject. If you do not satisfactorily complete the required assessment, you will receive a 'N' (fail) grade.
In exceptional circumstances, the University Council can suspend subjects and change the content of a subject. Subjects with an enrolment of less than five students may also be cancelled. Students should also note that should it be necessary to change subject details the changes will be notified by announcements placed on official noticeboards before the semester begins.
Many students find that they need to take a semester's or an entire year's break from study for all sorts of reasons. Taking such a break from you study is called taking leave of absence from your course. Normally, to be eligible for Leave of Absence you must have successfully completed at least 25 points (two first-year semester subjects).
You are able to take up to two semesters (twelve months) of Leave of Absence. In exceptional circumstances a further two semesters of Leave may be approved.
To apply, you should complete a Leave of Absence form available from the Faculty Office. You will need to briefly state your reasons for requesting a Leave of Absence, and indicate whether you require a semester of a full year's leave.
Comprehensive booklists for subjects are available from the departments at the beginning of the academic year. This Handbook lists only texts or references which students should have in their possession, however it is recommended that students do not purchase these texts until they have obtained advice from departmental staff.
The Faculty of Arts Office produces a timetable that, lists the times of lectures and many of the tutorial and seminar times. Tutorial times are often arranged for you during the first week of semester-you will be informed of arrangements during the first few lectures.
Sometimes because of unforeseen circumstances, changes can be made to the timetable and in rare cases subjects withdrawn. An up-to-date copy of the timetable and notices about any subjects cancelled can be found on the noticeboard outside the Faculty Office.
The Departmental Offices can advise you on the locations of lectures and tutorials.
During their time at university, many students have difficulty in one or more subjects due to variety of reasons. If you find yourself in trouble, it may be helpful to discuss your problem with a student adviser at the Arts Faculty Office. You should always feel free to ask for assistance with any problem that is affecting your study.
If a situation beyond your control is affecting your studies, you should apply for 'Special Consideration'. The reasons for applying for Special Consideration are infinite - if you are not sure whether you should apply, you can make an appointment with a course adviser to discuss your situation.
If you apply for Special Consideration the details of your situation will be regarded in strictest confidence. However, your lecturers will be informed of your situation so that they are able to take this into account when marking your assessment. You may be granted an extension for a piece of assessment, allowed to resit an exam, excused from a component of assessment or given other consideration as appropriate.
Application forms for Special Consideration are available from the Faculty of Arts Office. You should submit a form as soon as possible - at the latest, three days after the relevant piece of assessment was due.
If you fail one or more subjects in first semester, you may be asked to attend an interview with the Students at Risk committee or a student adviser. This committee is interested in helping students who are having difficulties in their course, and will discuss your situation with you to find a co-operative solution to the problems that might be affecting your studies.
If you fail a subject, at some later stage in your course you will need to either repeat the failed subject, or complete another subject of the same year level and credit points in order to complete your degree. However, you cannot enrol in a subject if you have attempted it twice before.
If you fail 50% or more of your course in a year, your situation will be examined by the Faculty of Arts Student Progress Committee.
The Student Progress Committee considers each student's case individually, and each student is given the chance to explain the reasons for their poor performance, in writing as well as in an interview with the Committee. The Committee is first and foremost concerned with understanding the problems you have faced during the year, and what you propose to do about these problem to ensure they do not recur.
The outcome of the Student Progress Committee's review will depend very much on the nature and degree of your 'unsatisfactory progress', the legitimacy of your problems, the submission that you make to the committee, and the extent to which you can demonstrate that you can overcome the problems that have affected your study.
In some cases the Student Progress Committee will allow you to continue with your enrolment. If appropriate, the committee may enforce a number of restrictions on your enrolment, including limited your enrolment to part-time, and in some cases recommend to the University's Academic Board that you be suspended from your course.
If you are suspended from your course, you will not be re-admitted until you can demonstrate academic rehabilitation by successfully completing tertiary studies elsewhere.
Before the end of the academic year, continuing students are required to submit a course plan of their intended studies for the following year. If required, you should consult with departmental course advisers for assistance in planning your subject enrolment. Full details of the re- enrolment process will be sent to you in September.
Provided that you have had your course plan authorised by the Faculty and you have passed all your subjects, you should receive an authorised re-enrolment in December. If you receive an automatically authorised enrolment, you will not be required to attend the University during the re-enrolment period to complete your enrolment. Your re-enrolment is completed by following all the procedures (including paying your fees and submitting any other information required) set out in the information package that is sent to you. Students who do not receive re-enrolment information in December should contact the Faculty Office for further information. If you do not re-enrol by the required date, you will incur a late fee.
Courses will be terminated for all deferred course students, students whose leave of absence has expired, and students enrolled in the previous year if they have not re-enrolled or been granted an extension of leave of absence before first semester begins. These students must then apply to the Faculty for re-selection in order to resume their course in a later year.
Applications to resume studies after suspension or termination from your course will only be considered if they are received within five years from your last successful enrolment.
Each semester you will receive a statement of your enrolment from the Student Administration Office. You must check these statements and make sure that they are correct. These statements are used to calculate your Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) liability for the semester. If you fail to correct any error in this statement, it is likely that you will be charged more for your studies than you should.
If you have questions about HECS liability, and the payment of HECS, you should contact the fees office within Student Administration (1st floor, Raymond Priestley Building). Student Financial Aid, part of the Student Advisory Service (Ground Floor, Baldwin Spencer Building), can also provide information and advice about the different ways of paying HECS.
The first-year quota for entry into the BA degree course normally totals about 700 places. Selection is based on academic merit. Applicants must satisfy the general entrance requirements of the University and meet the Faculty of Arts entrance requirements (see Volume 6 of the Handbook). The last day for application to transfer from other faculties within the University of Melbourne into the BA course is 8 December 1995. Students seeking such a transfer should be aware that the competition is intense with a very high academic standard required to gain entry. The last day for application by previously enrolled students to resume BA studies is also 8 December 1995.
If you are certain that you do not want to begin your course this year, you can apply to defer for a maximum of one year. This means that you will not be a student during 1996, but will be offered a reserved place in 1997, when you will commence your course. Deferral is not available to students transferring from other degrees, who should re-apply for the following year.
New students who have been offered a place in the BA course will be asked to attend an introductory information session. At this session the enrolment process will be explained and you will be asked to make an appointment to see a course adviser in the next few days to plan your course and have your subjects authorised. Enrolment is confirmed on payment of fees and completion of other requirements at Student Administration.
Students who wish to apply for a quota subject will need to fill out a quota application form (available at enrolment) for such subjects. As it is not normally possible to enrol directly into quota-restricted subjects, it is wise to be ready to choose an alternative subject which you would be happy to study should your quota application be unsuccessful. There is only one enrolment period at the beginning of the year. Students must therefore enrol in both first and second semester subjects at the beginning of the year.
Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts degree will be awarded such credit as the Faculty considers appropriate at the time of their first enrolment in the degree. Credit will not normally be granted for any complete or incomplete undergraduate studies undertaken 10 or more years prior to admission to the degree. Credit will not be granted for former postgraduate study.
Currently enrolled students who wish to undertake additional studies for credit (ie overseas language studies, or Community Access subjects) must obtain approval for such an enrolment before it is undertaken, or may not be awarded credit.
No student is obliged to accept the credit that is awarded, but must notify the Faculty in writing of their intention to decline such credit within the year (full or part time) of credit being granted.
Credit is normally offered to graduates and diplomates in the form of unspecified credit. Students transferring from other faculties or institutions may be offered unspecified credit for subjects they have completed in their previous courses which are not available as subjects for the Arts course.
Students who have completed subjects which are considered to be equivalent to those available in the Faculty of Arts may be granted specified credit for those subjects. It may be necessary for the appropriate department to approve such credit. For more information on credit, you should refer to the Credit Application Form, available from the Faculty of Arts Office.
If you are not eligible for credit for a prerequisite subject but have completed work considered equivalent, you may be granted exemption from that subject. This means that you will be eligible to enrol for the second or third-year subject in that area of study; however, you will still be required to complete the normal degree requirements.
The Faculty offers credit up to a maximum of 100 points at first- year level and up to a maximum of 100 points at second and third- year level towards the BA pass degree. Up to 50 points unspecified credit at first-year level may be granted for completed first-year level studies, and up to 33.3 points unspecified credit at second-year may be granted for completed second-year studies. Credit beyond 50 points at first year and 33.3 points at second year will only be granted for equivalent Arts subjects not counted towards another degree qualification.
The credit granted will vary according to each student's circumstances: the Faculty's Credit Guidelines available from the Faculty of Arts Office can provide more information. No student transferring within the University or from another institution or undertaking the course as a graduate may qualify for the Bachelor of Arts pass degree without completing at least 100 points at second/third year in this Faculty.
Students who have completed subjects through the Community Access program to gain admission to the Bachelor of Arts degree may be eligible for credit, however where the subjects are used as the basis for admission (ie for applicants without the usual prerequisites), no credit will be granted.
Where the subjects are used because academic performance at year 12 or in subsequent tertiary study was insufficient, or to demonstrate academic rehabilitation after suspension or termination, credit will only be given where a grade of H2B or higher is achieved.
Where the subjects are used because previous studies were undertaken more than 10 years ago, credit will granted for all Arts subjects passed.
Students with approval to undertake Community Access subjects in addition to their degree may be granted credit for all Arts subjects passed.
Students who have undertaken accelerated University programs concurrently with their VCE may be granted up to a maximum of 50 points of first-year credit.
A student may appeal against an initial credit decision to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies), who will review and decide accordingly in consultation with the Dean if necessary.
The BA(Hons) degree is a more advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than for the pass degree. It involves one year of additional study at fourth- year level. You may specialise in one area of study (pure honours) or two (combined honours). Entry to the honours degree must be approved by the department(s) concerned and the Faculty.
In order to meet the requirements for the BA (Hons) degree, you must complete 100 points of study at fourth-year level. Pure honours normally consists of 66.6 points of coursework and a thesis of 33.3 points. Combined honours normally consists of 33.3 points of coursework in each of two disciplines and a thesis of 33.3 points in either discipline.
Honours students must plan their studies with their department(s) and formalise their enrolment with the Faculty. You are not normally permitted to make substantial changes to your course (eg changing from full-time to part-time) without written departmental support and Faculty approval.
Fourth-year studies are normally taken full-time. In exceptional circumstances (such as ill-health, work commitments etc), and with both departmental and faculty approval, you may be permitted to take fourth-year part-time over two years.
You will not normally be permitted to transfer to part-time studies after commencing fourth-year, nor will you be permitted to withdraw from fourth-year subjects after the first two weeks of each semester without departmental and faculty approval.
In all cases, your thesis must be completed within a twelve month period of enrolment. Withdrawal from the thesis will only be permitted in very exceptional circumstances.
Extensions of time for outstanding work during fourth-year studies (ie as a result of illness) may be granted up the last day of the relevant examination period by the relevant Head(s) of department or honours co-ordinator(s). For all other extensions, you will require the prior written approval of the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) as well as the written support of the department.
You are required to achieve an honours grade (ie H1, H2A, H2B, H3) for each component of assessment in fourth year, and an overall grade of at least H2B. Your overall grade will normally be based on the weighted average of your marks for each component of your fourth-year studies. If these requirements are not fulfilled, you will only be eligible for the BA pass degree. A pass or fail grade will disqualify you from taking out an Honours degree.
It is possible for students accepted into Honours to take leave of absence for 12 months before starting their fourth year.
Once you have commenced your fourth-year studies, leave of absence will only be approved with the support of the relevant department(s) in exceptional circumstances. The maximum leave that will be granted is two semesters (12 months). You must still complete your studies within two years.
Under certain circumstances you may be given credit for up to 50 points (33.3 points course-work and 16.7 points towards your thesis) for studies undertaken at another university. Grades for work completed at other tertiary institutions will be translated by the relevant department(s) and the Faculty for the calculation of your final examination (FE) result.
If you wish to study abroad or interstate, you must seek the prior approval of both the relevant department(s) and the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies). Approval will depend on the appropriate level, weighting and standard of subjects, and, for the thesis, the provision of suitable co-supervision arrangements.
In order to be eligible for admission to fourth-year honours you must have:
An appropriate standard is normally a grade of H2A or H2B on average over the five subjects taken towards your major(s); however, you should refer to the individual area of study entry for information on the minimum standard required. You would not be required to achieve an overall honours standing in all your second/third-year subjects. Students undertaking combined honours may, under certain circumstances and subject to departmental and faculty approval, count one subject towards both majors.
Students who do not meet the minimum threshold requirement for admission to honours will require the approval of the relevant honours co-ordinator or head of department and the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) before being admitted to honours.
Current BA students should contact the relevant department(s) for information on departmental requirements. Requirements and application procedures will vary from department to department.
You may commence your Honours year mid-year with departmental and faculty approval.
In most cases combined degree students can be admitted to an Honours program. Before you are admitted to fourth-year level studies you must complete sufficient points towards you other degree which would, if you were to discontinue the other degree, give you enough points to complete the requirements of the standard BA degree (ie 100 points at each year level).
University of Melbourne students who have completed the requirements for the pass degree not more than 5 years ago may apply to resume their course and complete an honours year, provided they meet departmental and faculty requirements.
It is not possible for students from other tertiary institutions to transfer into the honours year. Students with pass degrees wishing to undertake advanced study in the Faculty of Arts may apply for a place in the BLitt(Hons) program or in the appropriate postgraduate diploma program.
The Bachelor of Letters program is designed for students who, having completed an undergraduate degree in Arts or in an approved course of study, wish to undertake further study at undergraduate level in the humanities, social sciences, or the language and culture of other peoples. The course requirements for BA graduates differ from those of graduates from other degrees.
The aims of the degree are to enable graduates:
Students in the BLitt course can choose subjects from any area of study taught within the Faculty of Arts, as well as Psychology and Planning and Design. They are not permitted, however, to undertake subjects offered by departments outside the Faculty, for example Computer Science, Economics, Economic History, Mathematics, Music, Spanish and Statistics. Applicants who wish to study these subjects should apply directly to the faculties or institutions concerned.
Bachelor of Letters students may be permitted to undertake up to 33.3 points of second or third-year level language study overseas for credit towards their degree, provided it is based on former language studies in the Faculty. Please refer to the Faculty's guidelines for BA students for the terms and conditions of such study.
The BLitt is a two-year, full-time course. However, the majority of students choose to undertake the course on a part-time basis and are permitted to take up to seven years to complete the degree. The course may be structured in two ways:
If you want to undertake studies in a subject area that you did not attempt in your previous degree you may want to commence with a first-year subject (the second structure outlined above). This option will normally require a minimum of three years of study.
Students who have no previous studies in Arts subjects will normally be required take a minimum of 50 points at first-year level, 66.6 points at second-year level and 100 points at third-year level. This is normally a three year sequence, but can be completed part-time in up to seven years.
When planning a BLitt course you may undertake a range of different subjects and therefore complete a BLitt 'general' degree, or choose to complete up to two majors in areas of study offered by the Faculty of Arts. A major in a Bachelor of Letters is defined in the same way as for the Bachelor of Arts: five semester subjects (83.3 points) at second and third-year level in a particular area of study.
You may undertake a major based on prerequisite studies undertaken less than 10 years prior to your enrolment in the BLitt. It is recommended that students seek advice from departments on whether such a course of action would be appropriate. Exemptions for previous study of up to 33.3 points may be granted towards a major.
BLitt students should refer to the section on the BA for information regarding re-enrolment, work-load, change of enrolment, leave of absence, study progress and termination of course.
Applications should be made directly to the Faculty of Arts by 31 January of the year in which entry is sought. Forms are available from the Faculty Office.
The BLitt(Hons) degree is a more advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than for the pass degree. It involves study at fourth-year level consisting of subjects totalling 100 points. The honours year in the BLitt(Hons) course is equivalent to fourth-year level studies in the BA(Hons) course in either pure or combined honours.
BLitt pass students may proceed to a BLitt(Hons) degree provided that they have:
Entry to the honours degree must be approved by the department(s) concerned and the Faculty.
In order to be eligible for the BLitt(Hons) degree, students must have completed subjects totalling 200 points, including 100 points at second or third-year level and 100 points at fourth-year level.
Students who are not Arts graduates undertaking the BLitt would, in most circumstances and providing they meet departmental requirements, be able to proceed to an honours year after completing the 216 points specified in the BLitt entry.
BLitt(Hons) students should refer to the section on the BA(Hons) for information regarding workload, change of enrolment, leave of absence and overseas study
The BLitt(Hons) degree enables graduates to study for a formal qualification which may lead to an MA degree rather than having to undertake an MA (Preliminary) program which offers no officially recognised qualification. The Faculty also offers a number of one-year postgraduate diplomas which may qualify students for entry into the MA degree. For more information, please see the entry in Volume 2 of the Handbook.
The Faculty of Arts offers a concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages to students who have accepted an offer of a place or who are re-enrolling in an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. Entry to the diploma requires the approval of both the Faculty of Arts and the student's home Faculty. The aim of the Diploma is to facilitate language study in all undergraduate degree courses offered at the University. The diploma will only be awarded on the completion of the concurrent degree.
At the completion of the Diploma, students should:
The Diploma will normally add one year to the duration of the student's main degree course, and will consist of a three-year sequence of study in one language (six single-semester subjects, totalling a minimum of 100 points). Language subjects will be taken concurrently with an undergraduate degree in a sequence approved by the student's home faculty and the language department.
The Diploma will be available to students with no prior knowledge of a language as well as those who have completed several years of study of the language. In some cases, Intensive Summer beginners subjects may be undertaken as part of the Diploma. The language stream or level in which a student enrols will be determined by the department based on the student's VCE results, other language study record or a placement test.
Selection to the diploma is based upon academic merit. Applications must be received by:
Full details of the Diploma can be found in the Supplement to the University Handbook 1995. For further information and application forms, please telephone the Faculty of Arts Office on (03) 9344 5235.
The University of Melbourne and the Melbourne College of Divinity offer a combined course in Arts and Theology. Each institution operates independently of the other so students apply separately for admission to each institution. A committee of academics from the two institutions will approve admission to the course.
To meet the requirements for the BA/BTheol degree students must complete subjects totally 500 points, normally over five years of full-time study. A minimum number of subjects must be taken towards the Arts component, and a minimum number towards the Theology component of the combined degree:
Arts Faculty 216 points
Theology 270 points
Either 14 points
Total 500 points
Students should note that they are not permitted to take out one of the degrees on completion of the minimum requirements. If students discontinue either component of the combined course, they are then required to complete the full requirements of the degree they intend to take out. No subject can count towards both degrees.
For the Bachelor of Theology component, students will be required to complete a minimum of 240 Theology points (one semester unit equals 15 points) which would normally include:
One discipline in either Field B (Biblical Studies) or Field C (Christian Thought and History) must be taken to Level 3 (90 points).
Applications must be made for both components of the combined degree separately. Applicants must be admitted by both the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne, and by the Melbourne College of Divinity.
Whilst applications to the Bachelor of Arts must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, applications to the Bachelor of Theology should be made directly to the Dean of one of a chosen Associated Teaching Institution of the Melbourne College of Divinity:
Catholic Theological College
Bayview Avenue (PO Box 302)
CLAYTON Victoria 3168
United Faculty of Theology
Kernick House
Ormond College
PARKVILLE Victoria 3052
Evangelical Theological Association
c/o Whitely College
271 Royal Parade
PARKVILLE Victoria 3052
Yarra Theological Union
90 Albion Road (PO Box 79)
BOX HILL Victoria 3128
The Bachelor of Social Work degree prepares students for professional social work practice. Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers. The BSW degree course is normally taken over three years, with one year part-time and two years full-time. Part-time study is available to a limited number of students, as is an accelerated two-year program. There is no provision for external studies.
Throughout the course, you study the theory and practice of social work, its methods and the fields in which it is practised. In the final year of the course it is possible for you to concentrate on particular fields of service such as health, mental health services, ethnic services, services for Aborigines, the legal context of social work, women and welfare, public welfare and local government, social work with children, young people and families. The course includes at least 140 full-time days of field practice, with a minimum of 70 days in each of Field Education 2 and 3. Social welfare organisations contribute to the fieldwork education by accepting students as student workers in their agencies under the supervision of qualified fieldwork teachers.
Value Objectives
Knowledge Objectives
Theory - Students will develop an understanding of:
Practice - It is endeavoured to develop in students the ability to:
Subjects generally require written assignments such as essays, case studies and analyses of written and video case material. In the final year a major research project is included. You cannot commence final year subjects until you have completed all prior studies. Performance in fieldwork practicum is assessed on reports prepared by the fieldwork educator (supervisor) in consultation with the student and the field practicum supervisor (staff member) who visits several times throughout the practicum.
You should note that you require approval from the Head of the Department of Social Work to withdraw from subjects, or to take leave of absence. For the important dates for changes, please refer to the BA degree section. A maximum of two semesters (twelve months) leave of absence will be granted.
Students who fail 50% or more of their enrolment in a given year and/or fail Field Education subjects, or who fail additional prerequisite studies in their first year, will be required to appear before the Faculty's progress committee. (see the entry on failing subjects in the BA section for further information)
Credit is not normally given towards the Bachelor of Social Work degree for previous tertiary studies. Students transferring from other Social Work Degree programs may be granted credit or exemption for completed social work subjects not counted towards another degree qualification at the discretion of the Faculty at the time of admission to the course.
Prospective students need to be aware that the course is very demanding and there is little time available to undertake employment or other study commitments while they are enrolled as full-time students in the Bachelor of Social Work.
The following categories of applicants are eligible for selection to the BSW.
Applicants who have completed only one of (a) and (b) above may still be considered for selection, but will be required to undertake the relevant prerequisite subject concurrently with their first year of the three year program.
In the combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degree, students are able to pursue their own interests in their Arts degree while undertaking professional education in the social work field. The combined BA/BSW consists of five years of full-time study, with students taking the prescribed Social Work subjects and a range of subjects from other departments in the Faculty of Arts. The combined degree course shares the objectives of both the BA and the BSW. Students should refer to the section on the BA for information regarding the Arts component of the combined course, and the above Social Work entry for the Social Work requirements.
The normal progression through the combined degree is as follows:
Admission to the combined degree.
The order of the subjects in years four and five can be changed. The course includes at least 140 days of field work practice, as for the BSW.
NOTE: Table on p10 Volume 3 not as yet present in on-line Handbook (data not present in supplied source).
For entry to the combined course, current University of Melbourne students must have successfully completed at least one full-time year of their BA course including:
Applicants seeking to transfer into the BA/BSW from other University of Melbourne courses or from other institutions must satisfy the entry requirements for both the BA and BSW courses.
From 1996, the Faculty of Arts offers an Honours program in Social Work. Suitably qualified students may be invited at the completion of the second year of Social Work studies to apply to transfer into the Honours program.
Students who undertake the BSW(Honours) program will, in addition to the normal final year subjects, participate in a Research Issues Seminar, and complete a thesis of 12,000 words (33.3 points).
The Research Issues Seminar will be offered fortnightly during each ten week period when students are on campus as five two hour seminars each semester. The thesis will normally be completed over the summer semester at the end of the final year, though some students may be permitted to complete the thesis concurrently with their final year.
A student's final examination grade will be calculated over the weighted average mark of the thesis and the final year social work subjects, excluding Field Education 3. As in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), students will be required to obtain an honours grade in each component of assessment and an overall grade of at least H2B to be eligible for an Honours degree.
Selection into the Honours course will occur after all second year subjects are completed. Students must obtain a grade of H2A or above over the following subjects:
Interested students should contact the Department of Social Work or the Social Work student adviser in the Faculty of Arts Office for more information.
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Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 1 1995 Last modified: Oct 1 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: Faculty of Arts
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.