Table of Contents

5. Combined arts degrees
    5.1. Combined arts degree structure
        5.1.1. The arts component of the arts/engineering, arts/geomatic engineering, arts/laws and arts/medicine degrees
        5.1.2. The arts component of the arts/commerce, arts/music, arts/science and arts/theology degrees
        5.1.3. The arts component of the arts/social work degree
        5.1.4. The arts component of the arts/teaching degree
    5.2. Combined arts degree requirements
        5.2.1. The arts-approved subject requirement for combined arts degrees
        5.2.2. Language study in combined arts degree
    5.3. Completing a major in a combined arts degree
    5.4. Completing an interdepartmental major in a combined arts degree
    5.5. Example of an arts component of a combined degree


5. Combined arts degrees

The Bachelor of Arts can be taken together with other degrees as a combined degree. There are 10 combined arts degree options:

For information on combined Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) and combined Bachelor of Creative Arts degrees see The Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications)/Bachelor of Commerce degree and Combined Creative Arts degrees.

5.1. Combined arts degree structure

A combined degree involves completing fewer subjects or points than are required if both degrees were completed separately.

To complete the combined arts degrees listed above you must complete subjects from both degrees to a minimum of 500 points or five full-time years of study (four full-time years of study for arts/teaching; six full-time years of study for arts/social work; seven full-time years of study for arts/medicine).

Each degree component will require the completion of a minimum/maximum number of points from each faculty within the total of 500 points (see the following sections for details). No subject can count towards both degrees.

You cannot be awarded one component of your combined degree upon completion of the minimum requirements for that component. In other words, you must complete all the requirements for both components before you are eligible 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 single degree, eg. 300 points for the BA).

5.1.1. The arts component of the arts/engineering, arts/geomatic engineering, arts/laws and arts/medicine degrees

Students must complete 200 points towards the arts component of these degrees, comprising:

No more than 150 points may taken in any one area of study: a maximum of 25 points at first year level and 125 points at second/third year level.

5.1.2. The arts component of the arts/commerce, arts/music, arts/science and arts/theology degrees

Students must complete 225 points towards the arts component of these degrees, comprising:

No more than 162.5 points may taken in any one area of study: a maximum of 25 points at first year level and 137.5 points at second/third year level.

5.1.3. The arts component of the arts/social work degree

See Social work combined degrees for the details regarding the BA/BSW degree.

5.1.4. The arts component of the arts/teaching degree

Students must complete 250 points towards the arts component of this degree, comprising:

No more than 187.5 points may taken in any one area of study: a maximum of 50 points at first year level and 137.5 points at second/third year level.

See Undergraduate for further details regarding the BA/BTeaching degree.

5.2. Combined arts degree requirements

For more detailed information on each combined arts degree, consult the relevant entries in this Handbook (see page references above). You are also expected to be familiar with the course requirements of both the components of your degrees.

The BA course requirements regarding part-time study, credit, leave of absence, overloading etc. outlined on Further requirements for the BA apply to combined degree students, as does much of the general information on Planning your BA course.

Useful examples of combined degree course structures may also be found in other faculties' entries. Further information on the general structure and requirements of each combined arts degree is also available at the Faculty of Arts Office.

5.2.1. The arts-approved subject requirement for combined arts degrees

The arts component of a combined degree is subject to the Faculty's Arts-approved subject requirement. The arts-approved subject requirement means that students in most combined degrees are usually not able to complete the number of points required for a major in areas of study from outside the Faculty of Arts.

In the arts/science degree, where up to 37.5 additional points must be completed on top of the minimum arts and science requirements, subjects other than arts or science subjects are not available.

In the arts/commerce degree, where up to 75 additional points must be completed on top of the minimum arts and commerce requirements, non-arts subjects are available provided that the subjects are available within the regular (300-point) BA degree.

Students in combined arts degrees other than arts/commerce are not permitted to enrol in subjects that are not arts-approved, see Arts-approved subjects.

Students who are currently enrolled in BA combined degrees who wish to complete subjects for which they will not receive credit in their course should enrol in such subjects through CAP. For further details see Community Access Program (CAP).

5.2.2. Language study in combined arts degree

The study of languages is encouraged in BA combined degrees (and the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences), 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 humanities and social sciences, a second language is not permitted for credit within the arts component of BA combined degrees and the BASc.1 The concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages provides further opportunities for additional language study.

Combined degree students who enrol themselves through SIS in a second language (excluding Ancient languages) may not receive credit for the additional language study. Such students may find themselves liable for additional course/subject fees as they will be required to make up credit points by completing additional non-language study.

All students are responsible for planning a course that satisfies course requirements. See What are my responsibilities as a student?.

5.3. Completing a major in a combined arts degree

All combined course students are permitted to complete a major in areas of study that offer arts-approved subjects. In the case of majors where non-arts subjects are available, combined degree students may count up to twonon-arts subjects towards the arts major.

With careful planning from first year some combined courses (arts/commerce, arts/music, arts/science and arts/theology) can accommodate the completion of two arts majors within the combined degree.

Students in the arts/engineering, arts/geomatic engineering, arts/law, arts/social work, arts/teaching and arts/medicine will not be able to complete two majors without over-enrolling their arts course, see Taking extra subjects (over-enrolling).

If you wish to complete a major in a combined degree, you should choose your first-year subjects carefully, and make sure that you have completed any prerequisite first year subjects for the major. Once you have completed the maximum 50 points of first-year level arts subjects you will not be permitted to enrol in more arts subjects at that level.

5.4. Completing an interdepartmental major in a combined arts degree

A student may not count subjects usually available within the combining degree, towards their arts degree (for example mathematics or computer science subjects will always count towards science in the arts/science degree, and economics subjects will always count towards commerce in the arts/commerce degree). However, for the purpose of completing a major in a BA Interdepartmental Program (where non-arts subjects are available), combined degree students may count up to two IDP non-arts subjects towards the arts major.

5.5. Example of an arts component of a combined degree

The subjects in the following example total the 225 points of arts study required for arts/commerce, arts/music, arts/science and arts/theology degrees.

Table 8: The arts component of a combined degree with majors in Philosophy and Cultural Studies

First year:

four subjects

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

English 12.5 points

 
   

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

English 12.5 points

 
   

Second year:

six subjects

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 
 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 
 

Third year:

eight subjects

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Philosophy 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 

Cultural Studies 12.5 points

 

Please note that for the BA/BE, BA/BGeomEng, BA/LLB and BA/MBBS, the example above with two majors would require the completion of two extra subjects beyond the 200 points required for the arts component of these combined degrees. See Taking extra subjects (over-enrolling).


1. Students who wish to enrol in Ancient Greek and/or Latin are exempt from this restriction.

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