Faculty of Arts : Guide to courses

16. Bachelor of Letters (BLitt)

Table of Contents

 16. Bachelor of Letters (BLitt)

The Bachelor of Letters program is designed for students who, having completed an undergraduate degree in Arts or in an approved course, wish to undertake further study at undergraduate level in the humanities, social sciences, or the language and culture of other peoples. The BLitt course requirements for Bachelor of Arts graduates differ from those of graduates from other degrees.

 16.1. BLitt course objectives

The aims of the degree are to enable graduates:

• to pursue a new area of interest or to extend their knowledge in undergraduate subject areas to pass or Honours level;

• to undertake study in order to pursue a new career path, which may include a higher degree.

 16.2. Eligibility

The prerequisite for entry into the BLitt is an Australian Bachelor's degree or its approved equivalent. Entrance will be based on academic merit and students will need to have consistently good results.

Applicants who last studied at a tertiary level more than 10 years ago are not eligible for immediate entry to the BLitt. For advice about how to update your academic qualifications contact the Faculty of Arts Office.

 16.3. Areas of study

BLitt students can choose from the following areas of study:

• Anthropology

• Applied Linguistics

• Archaeology

• Arts History

• Australian Studies

• Cinema Studies

• Classical Studies

• Criminology

• Cultural Studies

• English

• Environmental Studies

• Geography

• History

• History and Philosophy of Science

• Jewish Studies

• Languages (Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Latin, Ancient Greek, French, German, Swedish, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic and Russian)

• Linguistics

• Philosophy

• Planning and Design

• Political Science

• Sociology

• Women's Studies

 16.4. Course structure

 16.4.1. For BA graduates

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 eight years to complete the degree. The course may be structured in one of two ways:

• Subjects totalling 100 points at second year and subjects totalling 100 points at third year, a course total of 200 points. This usually consists of eight semester subjects at each year.

• Subjects totalling 25 points (or 37.5 points for language subjects) at first year, 75 points at second year and 100 points at third year. A course total of 200 points (or 212.5 points if a first year language is taken).

If you wish to undertake studies in a subject area that you did not attempt in your previous degree you may decide to commence with a first year subject (the second structure outlined above). This option will usually require a minimum of three years of study.

 16.4.2. For other approved graduates

Students who have no previous studies in Arts disciplines may be required to take a minimum of 50 points at first year, 75 points at second year and 100 points at third year, depending on how closely their previous study relates to an Arts degree. This option will usually require a minimum of three years of study.

 16.5. Majors

When planning a BLitt course you may undertake a range of different subjects and therefore complete a general BLitt degree, or choose to complete up to two Majors in the areas of study listed above. A BLitt Major has the same requirements as a BA Major (see What is a Major?).

You may undertake a Major based on prerequisite studies undertaken less than 10 years prior to your enrolment in the BLitt; however, you should seek advice from departments first.

 16.6. BLitt language study overseas

Bachelor of Letters students may be permitted to undertake up to 37.5 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. For further information contact the administrative officer (Bachelor of Letters), telephone (03) 9344 4002.

 16.7. Other course requirements

BLitt students should refer to the section on the BA for information on leave of absence, workload, study progress etc. (see Further requirements for the BA). Course requirements other than those outlined above are the same as for the BA.

 16.8. Applications

Applications should be made directly to the Faculty of Arts by 31 October of the year preceding the year in which entry is sought. Forms are available from the Faculty of Arts Office from September each year.

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