CRICOS Code: 071557G

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 and 2021 - 1655.9 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2018 and 2019 - 1655.8 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2017 - 1655.7 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2016 - 1655.6 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2015 - 1655.5 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2013 and 2014 - 1655.4 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2012 - 1655.3 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2010 and 2011 - 1655.2 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Commencement Year 2008 and 2009 - 1655.1 Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

The Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Scholars) degree will provide you with all the opportunities available in the Bachelor of Arts plus the opportunity to participate in a tailored mentoring and advanced academic study program. Throughout the degree you will develop superior knowledge and confidence to graduate a step ahead in your career. This degree has been designed to extend your knowledge and understanding of key disciplines within the Bachelor of Arts. Throughout the degree, you will be invited to participate in the academic and research life of the School of Humanities and Communication Arts including symposia and academic seminars. Through regular meetings with senior leadership staff at the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, we will help you plan your studies and opportunities to explore further advancement at Western Sydney.

This degree is exclusively for high-achieving students, and will continually challenge you to do even better and build on your academic success.

• Director of Academic Program - Dr Charles Barbour

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

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Bankstown City Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Bankstown City Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Part Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Arts with a Testamur Major in Psychology (MT1000) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).  A Psychological Studies major/sub-major does not meet APAC requirements for an accredited sequence in Psychology.

Admission

From Autumn 2024, there will be no further admissions into this program. 

Assumed knowledge: 2 Units of HSC English.

Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent.

ATAR of at least 90.

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.

All students must enrol in and complete the 40 credit points of the Bachelor of Arts Level 1 core subjects, plus 20 credit points from the Engaged Learning pool consisting of Level 3 subjects.

Core Components

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
Year 1 Core Subjects
Complete 40 credit points as follows:
HUMN 1052	Australian Politics and Active Citizenship	10
LANG 1030	Thinking Critically About Texts and Society	10
HUMN 1053	Diversity, Language and Culture	10
LANG 1029	Foundations of Academic English	10
Total Credit Points		40

Bachelor of Arts Engaged Learning pool

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
Level 3 subjects
Select two of the following:		20
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 Points		20

All students must complete

• Either a First Major or a Psychology, Testamur Major (T133)

And

• A Second Field of Study

First Major

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

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 (from the list of Second Fields of Study below) and
• 60 credit points of flexible subjects

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 two subjects 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 Second Field of Study below.

Psychology, Testamur Major

First Field of Study

Students not taking the accredited sequence in Psychology must complete one of the following Majors.

Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses.

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

Inherent Requirements

Second Fields of Study

All students must complete a second field of study.

Students completing the Testamur Major in Psychology must choose a minor.

Note: not all majors and minors are available on all campuses

Note: students completing the 140 credit point accredited Testamur Major in Psychology must not choose 0029 Psychological Studies as their Minor.

Majors

Minors 

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, replaced by International English, Minor in 2020 (listed above).

Recommended Sequence

Note that the number of BA core subjects on offer will vary depending on your campus of enrolment.

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
BA core subject (Level 1)		10
BA core subject (Level 1)		10
BA core subject (Level 1) or First Major subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
BA core subject (Level 1)		10
BA core subject (Level 1) or First Major subject		10
First Major subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Flexible subject 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 Major subject		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
First Major subject or Psychology Major subject		10
First Major subject or Psychology Major subject		10
Engaged Learning pool subject (Level 3)		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
First Major subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject		10
Flexible subject or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Flexible subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
First Major subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Engaged Learning pool (Level 3)		10
Elective subject or Second Field of Study subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
Flexible subject or Psychology Testamur Major subject		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	240

Minor Elective Spaces

Students in Advanced programs may use elective subjects toward obtaining an additional approved minor in Applied Leadership or Critical Thinking.

Applied Leadership, Minor

Critical Thinking, Minor

Minor elective spaces

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

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary Challenge 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
Creative and Visual Communication
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

For more information, visit the Challenge Minor website.  

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via Western Now.

WesternNow