Frequently Asked Questions
- Where will my degree take me?
- Why study Arts at Wollongong?
- What is a major?
- What are minors?
- What is a double degree?
- What does 100, 200 and 300 mean?
- Why credit points?
- Am I correctly enrolled?
- What if I want to appeal against a mark?
- What if I want to appeal against a final result?
- What if I have other grievances?
- What is late withdrawal without penalty?
- Can I change my degree?
- What if I need extra help with my study skills?
- What if I have a disability which prevents me from completing a task?
- What do I do if I have used up my internet quota?
- What is Honours?
- What do I need to do to graduate?
This is the question most commonly asked by students and their parents when they come to talk to us about enrolling in an Arts or Communications degree.
Arts and Communication Graduates from Wollongong are lecturing at Universities in Australia and overseas, writing for Sydney newspapers, teaching all over the world, working as policy analysts in the Public Service, seen daily on television, writing plays and working in advertising and publishing.
Employers want graduates who can find information, analyse it and make independent decisions. They want people who can handle the technology AND be creative. This is why they're now employing more Arts and Communication graduates; because these degrees teach critical analysis, produce good researchers and good decision-makers.
In a recent University-wide survey, Arts was rated highest in student satisfaction. Studying at Wollongong means you will be able to speak to your teachers. We have small tutorial groups, and outside class times all staff have individual consultation times.
The academic staff are part of world-wide networks in their fields, they edit international journals and hold senior positions on international academic bodies; they are excellent and innovative teachers who take time to talk to their students AND to care about them.
A Wollongong Arts degree gives you flexibility; most students structure their degree path using four areas of study in their first year. Most majors, even the majors like Communication Studies, with prescribed cores, allow you to structure your own program to include YOUR areas of expertise.
We have excellent facilities. The University library is equipped with state-of-the-art resources and a talented, proactive staff. Each Faculty has a librarian who provides specialist services to its staff and students. One of the University's goals is to produce students who are technologically literate. We understand that not all students are confident computer/internet users, so all our students are provided with electronic mail accounts and are required to undertake a basic computer literacy skills program.
A major is a program of study that consists of a minimum number of credit points. Some majors are quite open in their requirements. They allow you to navigate your way through the major by meeting credit point requirements at each level. Others have core subject requirements to complete the major. Some majors are prescribed (i.e. there is no choice). All majors require at least a pass in 24 credit points (or three subjects) at 300 level from the subjects offered for the major. The requirements for each major are set out in detail later in this Handbook.
You can undertake two majors (commonly called a double major) in your degree. As long as your first major is taken from those offered by the Faculty, the second major can be taken from Arts, or from any other Faculty, provided you meet the requirements for that major. Common double majors include English Literatures and History, or Politics and Economics. If the two majors chosen have common subjects at any level, you may count one subject twice towards the requirements of both majors but may only count the credit points once towards the credit points required for the degree. If in doubt, see the staff at Arts Central.
All majors appear on your testamur awarded at graduation.
A minor is a concentrated area of study that requires fewer credit points than a major. It is a useful way of rounding out, or supplementing, a major. In a language area, for example, a minor could be useful if you want proficiency, but not necessarily fluency, in a language. However, you should note that you cannot cross count subjects from a nominated minor into any other major or minor. Minors do not appear on your testamur but do appear on your transcript (i.e. your academic record).
Sometimes students confuse a double major with a double degree. A double degree allows you to complete two degrees in less time than it would normally take to complete two separate degrees. The time required varies from degree to degree. Most take between 4.5 and 5 years. Double degrees are listed on page 1 of the Handbook.
Why a double degree?
A double degree allows you to combine areas of interest and specialisation that suit your future careers and in some areas, a double degree provides a distinct employment advantage.
What does 100, 200 and 300 mean?
If you’ve skipped to the subject descriptions in this Handbook, you will have seen that all subjects have a numbered prefix. These indicate the level of study:100 level subjects are first year subjects; 200 level subjects are second year subjects; 300 level subjects are third year subjects.
Each subject offered by the University has a credit point value. Credit points for subjects vary from faculty to faculty. In Arts, the general rule is as follows: all 100 level subjects are worth 6 credit points: all 200 and 300 subjects are worth 8 credit points. All majors have credit point requirements as do all degrees. For a single degree, you will need to have completed 144 credit points, for most double degrees 216 credit points.
If you are not enrolled in a subject you will not receive a mark for the subject. Check your enrolment on SOLS to ensure that you have enrolled correctly. If you find a problem with your enrolment record please contact Student Central immediately.
How do I appeal against a mark?
The first thing you should do is contact the person who marked your work, usually your tutor. Ask them to discuss the result with you. In almost every case, you will find that this clarifies the situation for you. If however you are still concerned, you may appeal the mark. If you want to proceed with an appeal, use the Faculty Academic Grievance Form (Appeal Against Decision or Action Affecting Academic Experience) which can be downloaded from the Arts Central web page. You will be asked to provide a clean copy of the assessment task.
How do I appeal against a final result?
If you wish to appeal a final result, use the Faculty Grievance Form (Appeal Against Decision or Action Affecting Academic Experience) which can be downloaded from the Arts Central web page.
What if I have other grievances?
If you have any other grievances, it is best to raise them initially with your subject coordinator or the Head of School. If you wish to take the matter further, use the Faculty Grievance Form (Appeal Against Decision or Action Affecting Academic Experience) which can be downloaded from the Arts Central web page.
What is late withdrawal without penalty?
There are times when, despite the best intentions in the world, circumstances intervene that prevent you completing a subject and the results show a fail for the subject. In these circumstances, you can apply for a late withdrawal without penalty which means that the subject is withdrawn from your record. You can apply by filling in the Application forLate Withdrawal without Academic Penalty form which can be downloaded from the Arts Central web page. But note that applications for late withdrawal without penalty are subject to strict deadlines, require comprehensive documentation and are only given in exceptional circumstances.
Yes, you can by completing the Application to Vary Course Registration form and submitting it to Student Central. From there it is sent to the relevant Sub Dean for consideration.
What if I need extra help with my study skills?
Feedback on your assessment tasks may suggest that you need some extra assistance in order to develop your academic skills, either in research or writing. The University’s Student Services Centre at the Wollongong campus (02 4221 3977) exists to provide assistance to students in all aspects of academic study skills. Make sure you ring first to make an appointment.
What if I have a disability which prevents me from completing a task?
Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with the University’s Disability Liaison Officer. Disability Services provides a comprehensive overview of the resources and policies which enable the University to support students whose studies may be affected by permanent or temporary disability. In particular, students may occasionally need to request reasonable accommodation of their disability in terms of assessment tasks. Your Student Support Adviser will assist you to register and explain the assistance that can be provided.
What do I do if I have used up my internet quota?
Your internet quota is governed by conditions set out by the University’s Information Technology Services (ITS). If you feel that you have not breached the conditions set down, apply for an increase through the ITS site. If your quota has been used for genuine study related matters, an increase will normally be given. If you have used your quota for purely recreational matters, no increase will be approved.
Honours is a fourth year of study. It offers you the opportunity to study a chosen discipline or interdisciplinary area in depth and to undertake a personalised research project working closely with a supervisor who is an established expert in the field of study being undertaken. Honours can be seen as the end of your undergraduate study or as an entry point for postgraduate research.
To graduate, you need to have met the requirements of any major studied and the credit point requirements for the degree. It is recommended that you keep a check on your credit point tally. You can complete more than the minimum credit points required for a degree but never less than the minimum, even if it is 2 credit points. How to Apply to Graduate.
