Bachelor of Arts (1706)

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

  • Approved Abbreviation: BA
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1706
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 040992A

This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year 2020 to 2021 - 1706.4 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2017 to 2019 - 1706.3 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2016 - 1706.2 Bachelor of Arts

Commencement Year 2013 to 2015 - 1706.1 Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts offers students an opportunity to develop a depth of disciplinary expertise together with the breadth of vision afforded by cross-disciplinary approaches to the humanities. Study in the Bachelor of Arts is designed to develop communication and personal skills, creativity and a capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations and problem-solving skills, attributes increasingly demanded by employers. Bachelor of Arts graduates find employment in diverse areas including: communication and media industries; education; psychology and counselling; cultural, political and social policy analysis; writing and publishing. The Bachelor of Arts is a three-year degree designed to provide knowledge and generic skills that form the basis for lifelong learning.

Students wishing to be a primary school teacher should enrol in programs 1651 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) or 1708 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5 / Birth -12) Students wishing to be a secondary school teacher of English, History, Languages or Human Society and its Environment (which includes both history and social science subjects) should enrol in 1652 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary). For further information concerning the requirements for secondary teaching, students are advised to consult the Subject Content Requirements for Primary and Secondary Teaching NSW (Abridged) from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Students in this program also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their majors, minors or flexible subjects. They are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a program advisor.

  • Director of Academic Program - Dr Di Dickenson

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

Program Advice

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Bankstown Campus Full Time Internal Diane Colman
Bankstown Campus Part Time Internal Diane Colman
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal Margaret Hanlon
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal Margaret Hanlon
Pernith Campus Full Time Internal Sarah Knox
Pernith Campus Part Time Internal Sarah Knox

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Arts T133 Psychology (Testamur Major) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).  A Psychological Studies major/minor does not meet APAC requirements for an accredited sequence in Psychology.

Admission

  • Assumed knowledge: two units of HSC English.
  • Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.

Core Components

All students must enrol in and complete 60 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Core subjects consisting of four subjects at Level 1, one subject at Level 2 and one subject at Level 3.

Bachelor of Arts Core Subjects

Subject Title Credit Points
Level 1
HUMN 1052Australian Politics and Active Citizenship10
HUMN 1053Diversity, Language and Culture10
LANG 1029Foundations of Academic English10
LANG 1030Thinking Critically About Texts and Society10
Level 2
INFO 2009Multiliteracies10
Level 3
Engaged Learning Pool Subjects:
Select one of the following:10
BEHV 3013
Humanities Internship
BEHV 3026
Service Learning
HUMN 3103
Group Project
HUMN 3106
Study Tours
HUMN 3108
We Are The University: Students Co-creating Change
Total Credit Points60

All students must complete

Either

  • A First Field of Study 

Or

  • A Testamur Major in Psychology

And

  • A second Field of Study

Students must also complete sufficient flexible subjects or additional minors if required to achieve 240 credit points of study

First Fields of Study

Students must successfully complete an 80 credit point major from the list below (see First Fields of Study)

Second Field of Study and Flexible subjects

Students must complete 100 credit points, by completing

Either

  • a 40 credit point Arts minor in a different field of study to their major from the list of Second Fields of Study below, and
  • 60 credit points of elective subjects

Note: Students may choose four of the elective subjects in order to graduate with a Major.

Or

  • a second 80 credit point Arts major in a different field of study to their first major from the list of Second Fields of Study below, and
  • 20 credit points of flexible subjects

Bachelor of Arts with a Testamur Major in Psychology

Students must successfully complete 60 credit points of Bachelor of Arts Core subjects as detailed above, including one subject from the Engaged Learning Pool.

And

  • The 140 credit point accredited Testamur Major in Psychology (T133)

Psychology, Testamur Major

And

  • 40 credit point Arts minor selected from the list of the second field of study below.

First Fields of Study

Students not taking the accredited Testamur major in Psychology must complete at least one of the following Majors.

Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses.

Note: The following Majors and Minors have inherent requirements; Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. Please see the link below to the Inherent Requirements page:

Inherent Requirements

Anthropology, Major (0002)
Arabic, Major (0003)
Chinese, Major (0004)
Creative Writing, Major (0005)
Criminology and Criminal Justice, Major (0006)
Culture and Society, Major (0264)
Economy and Markets, Major (0008)
English, Major (0009)
Geography and Urban Studies, Major (0010)
Global Business, Major (0011)
Heritage and Tourism, Major (0012)
History and Political Thought, Major (0013)
Indigenous Australian Studies, Major (0015)
Innovation and Change, Major (0017)
International English, Major
International Relations and Asian Studies, Major
Islamic Studies, Major
Japanese, Major
Linguistics, Major
Music Performance, Major
Musicology, Major
Organisations and Work, Major
Peace and Development Studies, Major
Philosophy, Major
Psychological Studies, Major
Sociology, Major

Second Fields of Study

All students must complete a second Field of Study from the list below.

Note: Students completing the 140 credit point accredited Testamur Major in Psychology (T133) must not choose 0029 Psychological Studies

Note: Not all Arts majors and minors are available on all campuses

Majors

Arabic, Major (0003)
Chinese, Major (0004)
Creative Writing, Major (0005)
Culture and Society, Major (0264)
English, Major (0009)
History and Political Thought, Major (0013)
Indigenous Australian Studies, Major (0015)
International English, Major
International Relations and Asian Studies, Major
Islamic Studies, Major
Japanese, Major
Linguistics, Major
Music Performance, Major
Musicology, Major
Philosophy, Major
Psychological Studies, Major

Minors 

Arabic, Minor (0003)
Chinese, Minor (0004)
Creative Writing, Minor (0005)
Culture and Society, Minor (0264)
English, Minor (0009)
Gender Studies, Minor (0295)
History and Political Thought, Minor (0013)
Immersion Language, Minor (0014)
Indigenous Australian Studies, Minor (0015)
Indonesian, Minor
International English, Minor
International Relations and Asian Studies, Minor
Islamic Studies, Minor
Japanese, Minor
Linguistics, Minor
Music Performance Studies, Minor
Musicology, Minor
Philosophy, Minor
Psychological Studies, Minor

Equivalent Subjects

The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.

COMM 2050 - Multiliteracies, replaced by INFO 2009 Multiliteracies

Replaced Majors and Minors

The majors and minors listed below count towards completion of this Program for students who began studying these majors and minors prior to the years indicated below.

M1052 Cultural and Social Analysis, Major, replaced by Culture and Society, Major in 2020 (listed above).
M1054 History and Political Thought, Major, replaced by History and Political Thought, Major in 2020 (listed above).
M1129 International English, Major, replaced by International English, Major in 2020 (listed above).

SM1070 Cultural and Social Analysis, Minor, replaced by Culture and Society, Minor in 2020 (listed above).
SM1072 History and Political Thought, Minor, replaced by History and Political Thought, Minor in 2020 (listed above).
SM1132 International English, Minor, replacedy by International English, Minor in 2020 (listed above).

Recommended Sequence

The following recommended sequence is for students commencing in Autumn semester. For students commencing in Spring semester, complete LANG 1029 Foundations of Academic English in your first semester and discuss subject selection with an academic program advisor

Recommended Sequence for students at Bankstown and Penrith campuses

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
HUMN 1052 Australian Politics and Active Citizenship 10
LANG 1029 Foundations of Academic English 10
LANG 1030 Thinking Critically About Texts and Society 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
HUMN 1053 Diversity, Language and Culture 10
One first Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Second Field of Study subject 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject or one flexible subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Second Field of Study subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
INFO 2009 Multiliteracies 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
First Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
One Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) or Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) or Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
Note: If the Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) has not been previously completed, students are required to complete this subject in their final semester of study.  
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Recommended Sequence for students at Parramatta campus

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
HUMN 1053 Diversity, Language and Culture 10
LANG 1029 Foundations of Academic English 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Second Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
HUMN 1052 Australian Politics and Active Citizenship 10
LANG 1030 Thinking Critically About Texts and Society 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Second Field of Study subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
INFO 2009 Multiliteracies 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Specialisation subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
One Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) or Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
First Major subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Flexible or Psychology, Testamur Major subject 10
Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) or Flexible or Second Field of Study subject 10
Note: If the Engaged Learning Pool subject (Level 3) has not been previously completed, students are required to complete this subject in their final semester of study.  
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Major and Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved major (80 credit points) or minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers majors and minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor  
Indigenous Australian Studies Major   
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change   
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective major or minor via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)