Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Dean's Scholar)

The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only. 

Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.

Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Dean's Scholar)

Abbreviation:

BA-BCMS(Dean'sSchol)

UOW Course Code:

794_2

CRICOS Code:

081884K

Total Credit Points:

216

Duration:

4.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts

Intake Session(s):

Autumn/Spring

Delivery Mode:

On-campus (Face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 751360

Additional Information:

Course Finder

Overview

The Dean's Scholar double degree aims to provide an enriched educational experience for high-achieving, motivated students. This degree is for students hoping to make a contribution to fields of study through teaching or research, or as professionals.

This double degree program enables students to combine the humanities and social inquiry focus of the Bachelor of Arts with critical perspectives on media industries and practices offered by the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies. There are strong complementarities between the two degrees due to their inter-related perspectives and focus on global media and internationalisation.

This double degree program enables students to combine the prescribed core and at least one major in the Bachelor of Communication Media Studies with a wider range of subjects, including one or more majors from the Bachelor of Arts. This is a good combination for students who wish to enhance their employment opportunities with both a major program of study and a broad selection of subjects. Students have combined majors in Digital Communication with English Literatures, or Journalism with Politics. Students in this degree combination also have more room to add both a major and a minor program of study from the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts or another Faculty. Students taking advantage of this could major in Marketing Communication and Advertising but add a major in French and some general subjects in the environmental sciences. These are excellent pathways for students seeking to work in an international context.

Dean's Scholars have the opportunity to attempt subjects not normally available to first-year students. Students may be granted exemption from certain first-year subjects and be permitted to extend their subject load, enabling them to complete the degree in less than the normal time frame and enter Honours in their third year. Each Dean's Scholar receives an academic mentor, a member of staff who mentors and offers advice on matters concerned with the degree.

Dean's Scholar students benefit from:

  • Access to shared study and workspace;
  • Yearly text book/resource allowance for full-time students;
  • Limited printing privileges;
  • Dean's Scholars lunch time seminar series (seminars are conducted by high profile academic staff as well as visiting fellows);
  • Opportunities to attend academic and higher degree research workshops and seminars;
  • Dean’s Scholars celebratory events;
  • Extended Library privileges

The Faculty Heads of Students oversee the program and have regular meetings with students. On successful completion of the first part of the course, Dean's Scholars will be guaranteed admission to Honours.

To remain in the program, Dean's Scholars must maintain an average of 75% in each year of study. If the student's average falls below 75%, the student will be transferred into the BA/BCMS (794).

Dean's Scholars are able to use the University's student exchange program to undertake a period of study overseas. Several students have successfully competed for places in the Australian National Internship Program or the University Capitol Washington Internship Program. These programs are highly coveted and place students in political offices in Canberra or Washington D.C. where they gain practical experience related to the theoretical components of the degree.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

The course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Handbook page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes. Further information about major learning outcomes for the BA is available under the relevant BA major page in the Undergraduate Course Handbook.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the double degree of Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Dean's Scholar)students must complete a minimum of 216 credit points.

The 216 credit points shall include:

  1. LHA 102 Dean’s Scholars Seminar and LHA 302 Dean’s Scholars Research Project (12 cp in total)
  2. The core subjects prescribed for the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies;
  3. One of the majors for the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies;
  4. At least one of the majors listed for the Bachelor of Arts;
  5. A second major (minimum 48cp and maximum 60cp), or a minor (minimum 24cp), from within the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts; and 
  6. Electives to bring the total credit points to 216. These electives can be:
  • subjects that are not already counted towards the requirements of the BCMS;
  • subjects offered by the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts or other faculties.
  1. No more than 90 credit points in 100-level subjects; 
  2. A  clear pass must be achieved in the core 300 level subjects. 

Minor Study

Students can take Minors as part of their double degree program provided they meet the requirements set. Minor studies consist of a minimum of 24 credit points of which no more than 12 credit points at 100 level can be counted.

Minors appear on the transcript (academic record), but do not appear on the testamur. To have a minor study recorded, students must declare their minor study by submitting an Application to Declare or Change Intended Major/Minor.

Students can consult with academic advisors in the relevant schools concerning the selection of appropriate subjects. 

Honours

Students can do an Honours degree in either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies. This requires additional study (one year full-time, or two years part-time).

Honours may be undertaken by students who meet the requirements for enrolment.

Students should consult the single degree entries for Honours requirements. Further information can be accessed at UOW Honours.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 28 August, 2018