Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Overview

Honours is a fourth year of study added on to the end of an undergraduate degree. For some students, it gives them an employment advantage in their post University careers. The Honours year also functions in the university curriculum as a bridge between undergraduate study and postgraduate research. It offers a unique 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. As an entry point for postgraduate research students, it provides a stimulating and supportive environment in which students formulate ideas, engage in debate, develop research skills and acquire the critical tools that will equip them for a research career. To move into a postgraduate research degree, the minimum requirement is a class II division 2 (II.2) grade.

Students can take an Honours program in a disciplinary area, an interdisciplinary area or in a joint Honours program. Joint Honours can only be undertaken if a student has completed a double major. Irrespective of what they choose to do, students considering Honours are encouraged to talk to the School Honours Coordinators or the Faculty Honours Coordinator well in advance to discuss their program, and negotiate a thesis topic and supervisors.

Entry Requirements

To qualify for entry into Honours, students must have qualified at this University for a pass bachelor degree with an average of at least 70% across the major (or majors) in which the Honours degree will be undertaken with the additional requirement of a Distinction in two of the 300 level subjects required by the major. To enter the Honours year, students need to submit an application through UniAdvice. Applications for disciplinary Honours go to the relevant School Honours Coordinator. Applications for interdisciplinary Honours (including applications for Community, Culture and Environment Honours) go to the Faculty Honours Coordinator.

Applicants from other tertiary institutions are also required to meet the same requirements. In exceptional cases, admission will be granted after the applicant has successfully completed other requirements set by the relevant Honours Coordinator.

Course Requirements

Irrespective of the Honours program chosen, the program consists of coursework (which makes up 50% of the final mark) and a research thesis (which makes up 50% of the final mark).

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

Communication and Cultural Studies

Community, Culture and Environment*

Employment Relations

English Language and Linguistics

English Literatures

European Studies

French

History

Interdisciplinary Honours

Italian

Japanese

Philosophy

Politics

Science, Technology and Society

Sociology

Spanish

War and Society

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

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

Enrolment

Full-time students enrol in one 24 credit point subject each session. Part-time students enrol in the 12 credit point equivalent each session.

Last reviewed: 12 October, 2007