Bachelor of Arts (1706)
- 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
enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au
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 |
Bankstown City Campus (from 2023) | Full Time | Internal | Diane Colman |
Bankstown City Campus (from 2023) | Part Time | Internal | Diane Colman |
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal | Dr Helen Basides |
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal | Dr Helen Basides |
Penrith Campus | Full Time | Internal | Dr Hiromi Muranaka |
Penrith Campus | Part Time | Internal | Dr Hiromi Muranaka |
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.
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.
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 1052 | Australian Politics and Active Citizenship | 10 |
HUMN 1053 | Diversity, Language and Culture | 10 |
LANG 1029 | Foundations of Academic English | 10 |
LANG 1030 | Thinking Critically About Texts and Society | 10 |
Level 2 | ||
INFO 2009 | Multiliteracies | 10 |
Level 3 | ||
Engaged Learning Pool Subjects: | ||
Select one of the following: | 10 | |
Humanities Internship | ||
Service Learning | ||
Group Project | ||
Study Tours | ||
We Are The University: Students Co-creating Change | ||
Total Credit Points | 60 |
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)
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:
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
Minors
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
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Autumn session | Credit 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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
Total Credit Points | 240 |
Recommended Sequence for students at Parramatta campus
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Autumn session | Credit 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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
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 Points | 40 | |
Total Credit Points | 240 |
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
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing
Ideate. Strategise. Innovate.
Humanising Data
Students can apply for an elective major or minor via MySR.