Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Overview

The Honours year functions in the university curriculum principally as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research. It offers a unique opportunity to study a chosen discipline or interdisciplinary area in depth and to undertake a personalised research project.

As it is also the entry point for postgraduate research students, it provides a stimulating and supportive environment in which students formulate ideas, engage in debate and acquire the critical tools that will equip them for a research career. Honours is the most direct pathway to further academic research; a class II division 2 (II.2) is the minimum requirement for entry into an MA research or PhD program. As such, the Honours year provides:

− training in research skills and in information systems (archives, the Library, databases, electronic research networks);

− opportunity to practice articulating complex ideas orally and in writing, practice in working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project within a deadline;

− experience in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument/thesis.

Entry Requirements

Entry to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is determined by a recommendation from the Honours Co-ordinator of the School, following the student's application to the University and the School for admission to the Honours year. For the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community, Culture and Environment, the recommendation will be made by the Community, Culture and Environment Honours Co-ordinator.

To qualify for admission to a course leading to an honours degree of Bachelor of Arts a person shall have:

1. either:

a) qualified at this University for the award of a relevant pass bachelor degree with an average of at least 70% across the major in which the Honours degree will be undertaken, with the additional requirement of a Distinction in two subjects at 300 level in the major; or

b) qualified at another tertiary institution for the award of a pass bachelor degree containing a coherent study equivalent to a relevant major study with an average of at least 70% across the major in which the Honours degree will be undertaken, with the additional requirement of a Distinction in two subjects at 300 level in the major; or

2. satisfactorily completed other requirements approved by the delegated authority.

Course Requirements

Each Program has its unique Honours Course made up of a thesis (50% of the total mark) and a program of coursework (50% of the total mark). In all cases, students considering Honours or Joint Honours are encouraged to talk to the School Honours Coordinators well in advance to seek approval for enrolment, discuss their program, and negotiate a thesis topic and supervisors.

Grade of Honours

The overall grade of Honours is determined by calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM) for the 400-level subject in which the student is enrolled. Honours are awarded in the following categories:

− Class I (WAM 85 to 100%)

− Class II, Division 1 (WAM 75 to less than 85%)

− Class II, Division 2 (WAM 65 to less than 75%)

− Class III (WAM 50 to less than 65%)

If the WAM is below 50%, an Honours grade is not awarded.

Areas of Study in Honours

An Honours year in the Faculty of Arts is available in the following areas:

− Aboriginal Studies#

− Community, Culture and Environment*

− English Language and Linguistics

− English Literatures

− European Studies

− French

− History

− Italian

− Japanese

− Media and Cultural Studies

− Philosophy

− Politics

− Science, Technology and Society

− Sociology

*Available at Batemans Bay, Bega, Moss Vale and Shoalhaven only.

Students may also undertake Joint Honours where two of the areas set out above can be combined or when a discipline from the Faculty of Arts is combined with a discipline from another Faculty. Students who are intending to undertake Joint Honours should consult the Faculty Honours Co-ordinator.

# Students who have completed a double major may be accepted into an Honours year. The Honours course will be administered by the academic unit of the student's second major, subject to approval by the Head of the relevant academic unit and the Head of the Aboriginal Studies Program.

Honours Guide and Code of Practice (Honours)

The Faculty of Arts Honours Guide provides detailed information on all Honours courses. It is provided in hard copy to all honours students can be accessed as a PDF document at the following web address:

www.uow.edu.au/arts/current/honsb.pdf

Students are advised to refer to the following University of Wollongong web site for access to the Code of Practice - Honours: www.uow.edu.au/handbook/honourscode.html

Honours Subjects

Full-time students enrol in one 24 credit point subject each session. Part-time students enrol in the 12 credit point equivalent each session. The way the subject is constituted (i.e. the relationship between thesis and coursework) is determined by individual Programs and/or Schools. Details of the Honours courses offered by different Programs are outlined below.

Last reviewed: 12 January, 2007