Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholar) | 2017

* The Bachelor of Arts offered at Bega, Batemans Bay, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven Campuses and South Western Sydney are listed on different pages - Bachelor of Arts (Regional Campuses) and Bachelor of Arts - South Western Sydney.

Overview

The Dean's Scholar 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.

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 Bachelor of Arts (702).

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.   Refer to UOW's Credit Arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholar) will be able to:

1. Evaluate complex issues and ideas about society and culture;

2. Apply disciplinary knowledge in a variety of real-world professional contexts;

3. Communicate concepts effectively to a range of audiences; 

4. Use digital and other technologies essential for careers and lifelong learning;

5. Independently plan and execute a research or professional based project that demonstrates an understanding and critical analysis of the area of study.

All BA (Dean's Scholar) students will be able to demonstrate these outcomes which are common to each BA (Dean's Scholar) major. Each major also has major learning outcomes that are unique to that major. Major Learning Outcomes are outlined under each major.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholar) course code 702_2, a candidate must complete a total of at least 144 credit points, comprised of the following:

1. At least one major study available in the Bachelor of Arts, outlined below (48 credit points);

2. LHA 102 - Dean's Scholars Seminar (6 credit points);

3. LHA 302 Dean's Scholars Research Project (6 credit points);

4. A second major (minimum 48 credit points and maximum 60 credit points) from within the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts (LHA); OR a minor (minimum 24cp) from within LHA;

5. Elective subjects offered in LHA or other faculties, to the value of at least 144 credit points.

Note:

• Average mark of 75% or better must be maintained;
• Not more than 60 credit points can be taken in 100-level subjects;
• At least 24 credit points of subjects completed at the 300-level within the major must be at a pass mark or better.

Majors and Minors

The Bachelor of Arts, is one of the more open degrees offered by the University. Rather than relying on a prescribed program of study, it offers students a range of choices. The degree offers majors in the disciplinary areas familiar from study at school, like English Literatures, History and Languages. Other disciplinary areas that might not be as familiar, include Philosophy, Sociology, and Politics. The study of a discipline gives students a developing set of skills while they acquire a set of conceptual frameworks and a body of knowledge interpreted using those frameworks. For example, within the study of 'history', students learn how to research and write history, as well as how to read what historians have thought about the past.

The Bachelor of Arts also offers interdisciplinary studies. These are built around either a place (for example Australian Studies) or a theme (for example Indigenous Studies). These areas reach across disciplines to illustrate different ways an issue can be explored. Australian Studies relies on History and Indigenous Studies. Interdisciplinary study areas ask the students to step outside the comfort zone offered by disciplinary majors and offer challenging alternatives to traditional areas of study.

Most majors offered in the Bachelor of Arts require at least 48 credit points although some require more (for example, those taking a Language as a Beginner). All majors require at least a pass in 24 credit points at 300 level from the subjects offered for the major. All Bachelor of Arts majors include the 6cp subject LHA301 Capstone. As students are only permitted to cross count one subject in two majors, students who take two BA majors are advised to cross count LHA301 in both of their majors.

The requirements for each major and minor are set out later in this Handbook.

Note:

A number of 300 level subjects have “First offered 2018” recorded in the session of offer. This note means that these 300 level subjects have been reviewed and that the first time these new versions may be offered is 2018. 

Majors

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholar) course code 702_2,  must take at least one of these majors:

• Chinese (Mandarin) for Character Background Students
• Chinese (Mandarin) for Non-Chinese Background Students
• Creative Writing
• Cultural Studies 
• English Literatures
• French
• History
• Indigenous Studies
• International Relations
• Italian
• Japanese
• Philosophy
• Photography
• Politics
• Science and Technology Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Writing and English Literatures

#The Cultural Studies major is currently under review. Students interested in this major should contact the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, prior to enrolling.

LHA - Second Major/Minors

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Dean;s Scholar) course code 702_2 must also take a second major or alternatively a minor within LHA.

Second Major

Students who wish to take a second major may choose from the list of BA majors.

Alternatively students interested in taking a second major that is not a BA major, may like to consider the following:

• Digital Media and Communication
• Global Media and Communication
• Global Sustainable Development
• Journalism and Professional Writing

Minors

Most minors offered in the Bachelor Arts consist of 24 credit points and require at least 12 credit points at 200 level of higher. 

Minor studies are recorded on a student's  transcript, but are not recorded on the testamur. To have a minor study recorded, students need to declare their minor study by submitting an Application to Declare or Change Intended Major/Minor.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholar) course code 702_2, at Wollongong may choose from the following minors, information about each minor is available on a dedicated minors page.

• Ancient History
• Art History
• Asia Pacific Studies
• Australian Studies
• Chinese (Mandarin) for Character Background Students
• Chinese (Mandarin) for Non-Chinese Background Students
• Creative Arts
• Creative Production
• Cultural Studies
• Design
• Design History
• Digital Media and Communication
• Education
• English Language and Linguistics
• English Literatures
• Ethics
• European Studies
• French
• Gender Studies
• Global Media and Communication
• History
• Indigenous Studies
• Indonesian*
• Italian
• Japanese
• Journalism and Professional Writing
• Media Arts 
• Music
• Philosophy
• Philosophy of Psychology
• Photography
• Politics
• Science and Technology Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Technical Theatre
• Visual Arts

* Available through cross institutional study only

Internship and International Subjects

The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts (LHA) internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting. The internship subject ARTS302* is offered to all LHA students providing they meet the pre-requisites. Another popular internship facilitated by the Faculty is the Politics Internship. The Politics internship subject POL 305 presents interested students with the opportunity to be an intern at Washington, New York or Canberra. Read more about the Faculty Internship Program on our website.

*Subject is currently under review and may undergo some changes. students are encouraged to enrol in CRPL200 (6cp) whilst ARTS302 is under review. 

One of the Faculty's aims is to encourage students to study in an overseas university. Students can study abroad for a full session taking three to four subjects, or can study abroad for a shorter period of time by taking a study tour. The Faculty's study tour subjects currently focus on War History and incorporate visits to Gallipoli and the Western Front. Both subjects are listed below:

Honours

See separate entry for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours).

The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts Honours Handbook can be accessed as a PDF document from the Faculty Honours Students page.

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