Faculty of Arts : Guide to courses 1. Arts: the critical faculty

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Table of Contents

1. Arts: the critical faculty
    1.1. Faculty objectives
    1.2. Skills profile
    1.3. Time commitment to study
    1.4. Tutorial attendance requirement
    1.5. Students' responsibilities to contribute to their own learning
    1.6. Careers for arts graduates
    1.7. Arts schools, centres and programs

1. Arts: the critical faculty

Arts at the University of Melbourne offers an exciting and rewarding study experience. Students are part of a vibrant academic community at one of the most established and diverse faculties in Australia. The Faculty remains at the forefront of teaching, practice and research in languages, creative arts, humanities and social sciences. It aims to attract the most talented students and staff to inspire original research across a wide range of contemporary and traditional disciplines.

Arts embraces a variety of challenging and innovative study programs that draw on more than 900 subjects in over 40 areas of study. This diversity reflects the continuing strengths of traditional fields of study as well as the dynamism of emergent areas of critical inquiry. Students are encouraged to tailor their academic interests and professional aspirations with a variety of course options. They will develop expertise in research, critical analysis and communications. These skills are indispensable in preparing students for further research and employment in an internationally competitive environment.

Students will benefit from highly developed systems for the delivery of multimedia teaching and learning. These new digital technologies have been incorporated into traditional methods of teaching to equip students with the skills required to navigate an increasingly technology-oriented world. An arts degree offers a unique combination of skills, readily transferable from one career to the next; for example, highly developed analytic and critical thinking skills. In combination with the flexible outlook and global approach encouraged by the Faculty, these skills enable arts graduates to take advantage of every career opportunity.

The Faculty of Arts is committed to providing an attractive learning, research and working environment in a stimulating collegiate atmosphere for students and staff.

1.1. Faculty objectives

The Faculty aims to:

• add to the capacities of an educated society by providing education, including honours and postgraduate programs, in languages, the social sciences, the humanities, and in the skills, practices, theories and histories of the creative arts;

• provide professional education in such fields as anthropology, arts management, Australian indigenous studies, cultural material conservation and art curatorship, cinema management, criminology, digital media, environmental studies, development studies, geography, media and communications, public history and heritage, public policy and planning, publishing and communications, social work, linguistics and applied linguistics, as well as provide accelerated pathways to professional qualifications in urban planning and landscape architecture;

• use the critical and scholarly disciplines of the languages, the humanities, and the social and behavioural sciences to understand, critique and expand knowledge of the world and of human society and creativity in all its forms; and to disseminate the results of such scholarship and research both nationally and internationally;

• contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the community through public lectures, exhibitions, the preservation of cultural materials, conferences and continuing education programs.

1.2. Skills profile

Arts students are encouraged to pursue their academic interests and professional aspirations by taking a variety of subjects in a range of different areas of study. All arts subjects provide students with transferable generic skills that prepare them for further study and the workplace.

As a result of attendance at scheduled classes, participation in planned activities and discussion groups, and timely completion of essays and assignments, arts graduates should acquire transferable generic skills in the following areas:

• research

  through competent use of the library, electronic databases, and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

• critical thinking and analysis

  through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• thinking in theoretical terms

  through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

• thinking creatively

  through essay writing, creative writing, tutorial discussions and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis;

• understanding of social, ethical and cultural context

  through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

• communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically

  through essay writing and tutorial and seminar discussion;

• written communication

  through essay preparation and assignment writing;

• public speaking

  through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

• attention to detail

  through essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

• time management and planning

  through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

• teamwork

  through joint projects and group discussions.

1.3. Time commitment to study

Time management plays a key role in relation to successful university study. Students need to keep in mind that as well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorials and seminars a considerable addition time commitment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subject.

The Faculty recommends that full-time students do not undertake more than 10 hours of paid work per week. Students must make sure that they have sufficient time and resources to successfully complete their studies. On-going work commitments will not be grounds for extensions for the submission of work or for special consideration.

A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. Below are estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts.

Total time commitment to study a standard 12.5-point arts subject:

• first year level

  (undergraduate degrees, concurrent diplomas, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas)

• 36 contact hours per semester;

• 30 hours of class preparation and reading per semester;

• 30 hours of assessment-related tasks per semester;

• • 96 hours total time commitment per semester

  • 8 hours total time commitment per week

• second and third year level

  (undergraduate degrees, concurrent diplomas, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas)

• 30 contact hours per semester;

• 36 hours of class preparation and reading per semester;

• 36 hours of assessment-related tasks per semester;

• • 102 hours total time commitment per semester

  • 8.5 hours total time commitment per week

• fourth year and postgraduate level

  (honours programs, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, coursework masters)

• 24 contact hours per semester;

• 36 hours of class preparation and reading per semester;

• 60 hours of assessment-related tasks per semester;

• • 120 hours total time commitment per semester

  • 10 hours total time commitment per week

Total time commitment to study a language acquisition subject:

• first, second and third year level

  (undergraduate degrees, concurrent diplomas, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas)

• 36-48 contact hours per semester;

• 36-48 hours of class preparation and reading per semester;

• 36-48 hours of assessment-related tasks per semester;

• • 108-144 hours total time commitment per semester

  • 9-12 hours total time commitment per week

• fourth year and postgraduate level

  (honours programs, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, coursework masters)

• 24 contact hours per semester;

• 48-60 hours of class preparation and reading per semester;

• 48-60 hours of assessment-related tasks per semester;

• • 120-144 hours total time commitment per semester

  • 10-12 hours total time commitment per week

1.4. Tutorial attendance requirement

For the Faculty of Arts, 75% attendance at tutorials and other forms of small-group teaching is the standard minimum requirement. At the start of teaching, subject coordinators will publicise this expectation, reminding students that failure to attend classes is often related to failure in the subject as a whole.

Subject co-ordinators may choose to specify a minimum attendance requirement as a hurdle requirement. This may be greater than the standard requirement of 75%. If a minimum attendance hurdle is required, it will be published in the subject description in this Handbook, in subject readers, and it will be board-posted with other assessment details. A class roll will be taken.

1.5. Students' responsibilities to contribute to their own learning

At the commencement of each semester students are made aware, through subject readers, School and program notice boards, Webraft/Blackboard and other means, of their responsibilities to contribute to their own learning. All students must:

• familiarise themselves with guidelines for assessment;

• be aware of the requirements and due dates for each of the components of assessment, including examination times;

• ensure that the they take into account the total time commitment to study each subject of their enrolment (Time commitment to study);

• make sure that their studies are not impeded by part-time work or other outside commitments;

• regularly consult subject noticeboards or wherever subject information is regularly posted;

• seek assistance if they experience difficulties with any aspect of their studies.

It is also each student's responsibility to plan a course that satisfies course requirements by ensuring timely enrolment in the correct number of subjects at the appropriate year level. See Planning your BA course.

1.6. Careers for arts graduates

Melbourne Arts alumni secure employment outcomes well above the national average for humanities and social sciences graduates. They are highly sought after by both public and private industry, entering the employment market as flexible, highly literate and well informed individuals with outstanding teamwork and communication skills.

Subject choice plays a key role in determining career outcomes. The University's Graduate Destination Survey shows that Arts graduates often gain employment in professional areas closely linked to the subjects they have studied. With that in mind, the Bachelor of Arts degree may be directed towards specific careers in government, education, communications, business and not-for-profit industries. More specialist degrees such as creative arts, media and communications and social work provide specific skills for particular employment sectors. Graduates with an interest in Arts industries may choose careers in art curatorship, theatre management, film distribution and cultural events promotion. Those with an interest in community development might focus on careers managing community programs both locally and internationally. Detailed graduate profiles can be found at http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/about/careers.

As well as its degree programs, the Faculty of Arts provides opportunities for students to secure strong career outcomes through diplomas, internships, skill-based subjects, student exchange opportunities and career development programs. Melbourne Arts graduates are equipped to adapt to career changes, acquiring skills that prepare them for work in various workplace situations. During their studies, Arts students develop expertise in specific disciplines and generalist skills in independent research, problem solving and written and verbal communication. They develop skills in critical thinking and apply those skills to the analysis, organization and presentation of complex subject material. They learn to think creatively and work both independently and in group situations. These are all highly marketable skills, which can be put to use in many different career situations.

Arts graduates are also well placed to upgrade and increase their skills by pursuing further study in graduate coursework programs, through further research work leading to a Masters of Arts or PhD, or by completing a coursework Masters with a strong vocational focus and/or a workplace internship.

For more details about further study options, see Options for further study or visit the Arts section of the University's on-line Postgraduate Studies Catalogue at http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/futurestudents/programs.

1.7. Arts schools, centres and programs

• Asia Institute (AI)

  • Asian Studies

  • Asian Languages:

    Arabic

    Chinese

    Indonesian

    Japanese

  • Islamic Studies

• School of Social and Environmental Inquiry:

  • Anthropology

  • Ashworth Program in Social Theory

  • Australian Indigenous Studies

  • Development Studies

  • Environmental Studies

  • Geography

  • History and Philosophy of Science

• School of Culture and Communication:

  • Art History

  • Cinema Studies

  • Creative Writing

  • Cultural Studies

  • English Literary Studies

  • Media and Communications

  • Publishing and Communications

  • Theatre Studies

  School of Historical Studies:

  • The Australian Centre

  • Centre for Classics and Archaeology

  • Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation

  • Gender Studies

  • History

• School of Languages and Linguistics:

  • Centre for Jewish History and Culture

  • French

  • German

  • Hebrew

  • Italian

  • Language Testing Research Centre

  • Lingusitics and Applied Linguistics

  • Russian

  • Spanish

  • Swedish

• School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology:

  • Centre for Public Policy

  • Contemporary Europe Research Centre (CERC)

  • Criminology

  • International Studies

  • Political Science

  • Socio-legal Studies

  • Sociology

• School of Philosophy

  • Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE)

  • Philosophy

• School of Social Work

• Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre (AUSTEHC)

• Centre for the Study of Health and Society (CSHS)

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