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The Bachelor of Arts explores contemporary issues in culture and society. It promotes critical thinking, community engagement and creative practices and provides the scope to build strong intellectual capabilities and a broad knowledge of the liberal arts as well as a deepened understanding through the study of majors.
This degree enables students to pursue major specialisations in the disciplines of art and design, communication and cultural studies, contemporary music, governance and society, history, media studies, psychology, and writing, with the freedom to combine these majors with others offered by the University, such as sustainability or Indigenous studies.
Specialist streams (made up of a minimum of four units) are also available for students to pursue languages (currently Chinese) and community engaged learning. Students can also elect to undertake a professional placement to gain experience in the workplace and to establish professional contacts.
In addition to the command of their chosen disciplines, graduates develop cultural awareness, intellectual rigour, critical thinking and communication skills in a way that integrates creative practice and theory. This is ultimately of benefit to the graduate’s future workplace and lifelong learning, whether they choose to work in service to the public, in education, as a writer, or to build their own career in another field.
Majors are available both on campus and by distance education or a combination of both.
Students of the Bachelor of Arts may also exit the program early with an Associate Degree, following successful completion of 16 required units.
Depending on the choice of majors, graduates may find employment in community relations, journalism, cultural policy, management and administration, education, publishing, public service, multimedia design, creative and cultural industries, politics, social justice and human rights.
Professional placement provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace and to establish contacts. In the Bachelor of Arts, students can undertake learning opportunities in the community through a number of units as well as through assessment opportunities. A particular stream in community engaged learning enables students to work with a community partner on a project of mutual benefit. Students in the writing major may seek placement in the writing, publishing and media industries, while students undertaking history may seek placement in heritage and historical museums or associations. Students in the communication and cultural studies major may seek professional placement with a community organisation working in an area of their interest. The unit Community History Project enables students to do a collaborative project with community partners. Other opportunities for community-engaged learning exist within the degree depending on units chosen.
Art and Design includes units that focus on art and design for publication, graphic design, digital art and photography.
Communication and Cultural Studies enables students to connect their everyday life, personal, community and vocational interests to the broader issues and challenges of the 21st century. It equips students with a combination of critical and creative thinking skills and abilities. Cultural studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of culture, communication and society through textual analysis, cultural theory, media analysis and understanding how meaning is made through power, identity and place.
Contemporary Music students learn about contemporary music theory and styles, music technology and the internet, songwriting, sound theory and recording technique, and global perspectives in music.
History is a dialogue between the past and present. Historians explore the diversity of human experience to draw out patterns and ideas that help us understand the world today. This major focuses on the knowledge and critical skills of the discipline that can be applied to the study of the past in all its dimensions, including important professional skills such as communication, analysis, critical thinking, and interpretation. Students have the opportunity to undertake independent research projects relevant to their own interests.
Governance and Society brings together two key strands in the arts and humanities. The approach is multidisciplinary — drawing on politics and sociology to consider contemporary issues in society and provide insights into events that influence the world in which we live. Staff have expertise in each of the discipline areas and share a commitment to interpreting past and contemporary society by using a range of theoretical and methodological approaches.
Psychology brings together two key strands in the arts and humanities. The approach is multidisciplinary — drawing on politics Psychology includes a strong emphasis on demonstrating the links between theory, research and application. A problem-solving approach to teaching involves students generating solutions to real-world problems using their psychological knowledge. The major includes studies in fundamental areas of psychology including biological bases of behaviour, perception, learning, memory and cognition, and lifespan developmental psychology.
Media Studies enables students to learn to think critically and creatively about themselves, their workplace and their community in a national and global context. With a strong emphasis on digital media production and analysis for screen, print and online environments, Media Studies equips students with a range of practical skills appropriate to an increasingly technological world.
Writing enables students to pursue their passion for writing in a supportive, inter-disciplinary environment which promotes the type of creative learning needed by cutting-edge writers. Students acquire skills in writing genres including novels, short stories, writing for performance, feature and investigative journalism and essay writing as well as editing and publishing.
Additional majors — may also be selected from a wide range offered across the University including education, law and justice, organisational management, sustainability, Indigenous studies and more. See University-wide majors.
Streams — may also be selected including community engaged learning and languages (i.e. Chinese).
Please note that some majors, streams and units may not be available at each location.
To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts a total of 288 credit points (usually 24 units) must be completed.
This course offers an intermediate award (early exit point) at Associate Degree level — students can exit early with an Associate Degree, following successful completion of 16 required units.
Please note that some majors and units may not be available at each location. Unit availabilities are published for each study period and vary from year to year. Please contact the School for further information.
For course rules and a full list of units, please refer to the Specific Award Rules below.
| Locations | ||
| Distance Education | Session 1 Session 2 |
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| Lismore | Session 1 Session 2 |
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| Coffs Harbour | Session 1 Session 2 |
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| Gold Coast Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga |
Unavailable | |
| Course Duration | 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time May be completed in a shorter duration subject to unit availabilities. |
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| Fees and Charges | • Domestic fees • International fees • Additional fee information |
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| School | School of Arts and Social Sciences | |
| Admission, Enrolment and General Enquiries | scu.edu.au/enquiries | |
| Further Information | Domestic applicants: Ph: 1800 626 481 International applicants: Ph: +61 2 6620 3876; E: intoff@scu.edu.au |
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| Total Units: | Award Abbreviation: | 2013 ATAR equivalent/OP: |
| 24 | BA | 68/15 |
| UAC Course Code | QTAC Course Code | CRICOS Course Code |
| Coffs Harbour: 333151 Lismore: 333100 |
Coffs Harbour: 053151 Lismore: 053001 |
Coffs Harbour NSW: 016183A Lismore NSW: 016183A |
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Our distance education study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Classes provide opportunities for engaging students in learning and discussion and the course includes a number of field trips and on-campus events which are open to students studying either on-campus or by distance education.
MySCU is a student’s point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.
The web-based program Blackboard Collaborate delivers advanced on-line learning environments for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces and classrooms. They can share files, presentations, and applications. If the session is recorded, students can view it afterwards.
Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and books of readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.
The SCU library provides a wide range of services including librarian assistance, print and electronic resources, a document delivery service, catalogues, databases, ebooks, ereadings, and full-text journal literature.
The Academic Skills Development team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one support.
The assessment methods used in this course vary from unit to unit and connect with the types of learning outcomes for each unit and the course as a whole. Assessment tasks may include essays, reports, presentations, role plays, group work, reflective logbooks, creative production and experiential learning on campus or in the community.
SCU provides students with contemporary well equipped teaching spaces such as lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs of specific study disciplines. Modern audiovisual equipment is standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for individual study purposes.
Pre-requisite Year 12 subjects
There are no pre-requisite subjects required for this course.
On-campus Undergraduate applications
To apply to study an undergraduate degree at a SCU campus, apply online through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). For more information please visit either the UAC or QTAC websites: www.uac.edu.au or www.qtac.edu.au. A late fee applies for UAC and QTAC applications received after the 30th of September.
Direct Applications
The following applications to study can be made online, directly to SCU:
Online applications for the Bachelor of Arts involve four key steps:
Once registered you can exit and return to your application at any time.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Office website.
At Southern Cross University, your previous study or work experience may help you cut time off your degree.
We recommend that you apply for advance standing at the same time as you apply for admission into this course, because the amount and type of credit awarded will determine your study plan.
For more details and how to apply please visit the Advanced Standing website.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Associate Degree of Creative Writing
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Media
Bachelor of Social Science
Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws
Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
Applicants for Admission shall be in accordance with Rule 2 Section 1 and Rule 2 Section 2 of the Rules Relating to Awards.
4.1 Requirements for an AwardCandidates who completed an Associate Degree of Creative Writing may be granted advanced standing for up to sixteen (16) units towards the Bachelor of Arts.
~ Optional unit