Course summary
The Bachelor of Arts with Honours program is a separate fourth year of study that is undertaken following the successful completion of an undergraduate Arts, Contemporary Music, Digital Media and Communications, Visual Arts or Art and Design degree.
In addition to the skills and knowledge that graduates have developed in their undergraduate degree, the Honours degree signifies a demonstrable ability to conduct research in your academic discipline. It is highly regarded in providing advanced intellectual education in research, analysis and writing. For creative researchers, it also demonstrates the ability to produce a significant creative work. As well as a completion point for tertiary study, Honours also represents the starting point for entry into postgraduate and academic research.
Prior to lodging an application, interested applicants must contact the University to discuss their eligibility and to find a suitable honours supervisor for their proposed honours topic. For more information refer to the School of Arts and Social Sciences Honours information.
Domestic snapshot
| Duration | Location | Session |
|---|---|---|
1F/2P | Lismore | 1 |
| Online | 1 |
International snapshot
| Duration | Location | Session |
|---|---|---|
1F/2P | Lismore | 1 |
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Demonstrate cognitive and technical skills in humanities research. Demonstrate skills in reviewing, analysing, and synthesising humanities knowledge. Demonstrate initiative and judgement in scholarship. |
| Creativity | Exercise independence in identifying and formulating solutions to complex problems in the humanities. |
| Ethical practice | Practice ethical enquiry and communication. |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of humanities knowledge with advanced understanding in at least one area. Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of the principles, methods, and concepts in the humanities and the ability to apply them when researching a problem or question. |
| Lifelong learning | Exercise autonomy in one's learning and responsibility in one's practice as a scholar and researcher. Identify and reflect critically upon the knowledge and skills developed in the student's own study of the humanities. |
| Communication and social skills | Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of a component of humanities knowledge and the capacity to disseminate research findings in diverse contexts. Create a humanities thesis/research project that demonstrates research and design skills, critical thinking, and judgement in developing new understanding. |
| Cultural competence | Practice inclusive enquiry and communication. |
A key aim of the Honours degree is to provide graduates with research training and a range of lifelong learning skills. These skills have vocational relevance that varies depending on the professional field a graduate wishes to enter.
Adding Honours to an undergraduate degree is a useful qualification for:
- Graduates to gain an edge for employment in vocational positions as Honours demonstrates their ability to successfully design and complete a significant research project;
- Creative writers to demonstrate their ability to produce a significant, high quality creative product;
- Gaining entry into graduate programs such as the Public Service graduate program, for which Honours is often a requirement; and
- Honours is the best pathway for those wishing to undertake a PhD, which is generally required for an academic or research-oriented career.