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2005 Course Handbook

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Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

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 and Environment, the recommendation will be made by the Community and Environment Honours Co-ordinator.

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

  • 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 specific major.
    OR
  • 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 specific major.
  • satisfactorily completed other approved requirements (if necessary).

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 is 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 discipline areas:

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

# 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.

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.

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 and can be accessed as a PDF document.

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

Please note new subject requirements for 2005: 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.

Subjects     Credit Points
School of English Literatures, Philosophy and Languages
ELL451 Honours in English Language and Linguistics 24
ELL452 Honours in English Language and Linguistics (PT) 12
ENGL411 English IV Honours 24
ENGL412 English IV Honours (PT) 12
ENGL421 Combined Honours (English) 24
ENGL422 Combined Honours (English) (PT) 12
EURO411 European Studies Honours 24
EURO412 European Studies Honours (PT) 12
FREN451 French IV Honours 24
FREN452 French IV Honours (PT) 12
ITAL451 Italian IV Honours 24
ITAL452 Italian IV Honours (PT) 12
JAPA451 Japanese IV Honours 24
JAPA452 Japanese IV Honours (PT) 12
LANG431 Combined French and Italian Honours (PT) 24
LANG432 Combined French and Italian Honours (PT) 12
PHIL411 Philosophy Honours 24
PHIL412 Philosophy Honours (PT) 12
PHIL421 Combined Philosophy Honours 24
PHIL422 Combined Philosophy Honours (PT) 12
 
School of History and Politics
HIST411 History IV (Honours) 24
HIST412 History IV (Honours) (PT) 12
HIST431 Joint Honours in History and another Discipline 12
HIST432 Joint Honours in History and another Discipline (PT) 6
POL411 Politics IV (Honours) 24
POL412 Politics IV (Honours) (PT) 12
POL431 Joint Honours in Politics and another Discipline 24
POL432 Joint Honours in Politics and another Discipline (PT) 12
 
School of Social Sciences , Media and Communication
CCS411 CCS Honours 24
CCS412 CCS Honours (PT) 12
CCS421 Joint Honours in Communication and Cultural Studies and another Discipline 24
CCS422 Joint Honours in Communication and Cultural Studies and another Discipline (PT) 12
SOC411 Sociology IV(Honours) 24
SOC412 Sociology IV(Honours) (PT) 12
SOC461 Joint Honours in Psychology and Sociology 24
SOC462 Joint Honours in Psychology and Sociology (PT) 12
SOC421 Joint Honours in Sociology and another Discipline 24
SOC422 Joint Honours in Sociology and another Discipline (PT) 12
STS411 Science, Technology and Society Honours 24
STS412 Science, Technology and Society Honours (PT) 12
STS431 Joint Honours in Science, Technology and Society and another Discipline 24
STS432 Joint Honours in Science, Technology and Society and another Discipline (PT) 12
 
Community and Environment
ARTS411 Community and Environment Honours ( Batemans Bay , Bega, Moss Vale and Shoalhaven campuses only) 24
ARTS412 Community and Environment Honours (PT) (Batemans Bay, Bega, Moss Vale and Shoalhaven campuses only) 12
 
All Schools
ARTS421 Joint Honours (Arts and other Faculties) 12
ARTS422 Joint Honours (Arts and other Faculties) (PT) 6
 
 
 

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