A2000 Bachelor of Arts

The course comprises 144 credit points structured in three parts: Part A. Major studies, Part B. Specified studies and Part C. Free elective studies.

Part A. Major studies

These units will provide you with a focused program of study that will develop your practical and theoretical skills and knowledge in one Faculty of Arts listed major area of study. You will learn to critically analyse, apply and communicate an advanced level of understanding of the concepts and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of the area of study.

Part B. Specified studies

These units provide you with high quality, in-class student experiences that support a broader sense of belonging within and across the Bachelor of Arts. Through these studies you will develop:

• graduate attributes in a broad base of knowledge of the humanities, social sciences and creative arts and industries;
• a global perspective in the application of that knowledge, especially focused on social, cultural and political change; and
• interdisciplinary teamwork, digital and communication upskilling focused on sharpening skills for future workplaces and global leadership.

Part C. Free elective studies

These units will enable you to further develop your knowledge of your chosen major, or to investigate other areas of interest. You may choose electives from units offered within the Bachelor of Arts or any other Arts undergraduate course, or you can explore different disciplines and experiences offered from across Monash. This includes taking undergraduate units offered by other Faculties, and/or participating in University programs such as Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE).

Master's accelerated pathway

If you satisfy the below requirements, you may apply for the master's accelerated pathway:

• have achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65%; 
• have completed a minimum of 96 credit points in your bachelor's degree, including 24 credit points towards your Arts major; and
• have a minimum of 24 credit points of free electives available.

On joining the accelerated pathway your 24 credit points of free elective units will be replaced with specified units from your destination master's degree. As long as you attain a minimum WAM of 60% at the end of your bachelor studies, you will be eligible to continue your chosen master's degree the following year/intake.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

You must complete units as specified in Part A, Part B and Part C (144 credit points) including: a minimum of 96 credit points of Arts listed study over Part A and Part B, and 48 credit points of free electives in Part C.

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts you must complete 144 credit points as specified in the course requirements, including:

• a maximum of 60 credit points at level 1; and

• a minimum of 36 credit points at level 3, of which at least 24 credit points must be Arts units.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise specified.

Part A. Major studies (48 credit points)

You must complete one Arts listed major including:

• a maximum of 12 credit points at level 1; and

• a minimum of 18 credit points at level 3.

Note 1. It is recommended that you complete a sequence of level 1 units in more than one Arts major area so you have options for finalising your choice of major.

Note 2. If you intend to complete the Economics major, the background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent VCE Year 12 Higher level.  You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or by studying relevant topics in your final years of secondary school or by successfully completing either ECC1550 Introduction to quantitative skills for social sciences or MTH1010 Functions and their applications, as a first-year elective. (NB. Single degree students may complete ECC1550/MTH1010 as part of their Part C. Free elective course requirements.  Double students may complete the unit as part of their Part B. Specified studies course requirements)

Note 3. The European languages extended major requires entry level 2 intermediate in at least one of two language options.

Note 4. The Psychology extended major (APAC accredited level 1 sequence of units) is only offered in:

• A2000 Bachelor of Arts; and

• S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts

Note 5. If you intend to complete honours in your major area, you should check the required pre-requisites (e.g., specific units/credit points etc) to ensure you meet eligibility requirements.

Part B. Specified studies (48 credit points)
You must complete 48 credit points of Arts specified studies units including:

• 24 credit points of Career focus portfolio studies; and

• 24 credit points Arts elective studies which can be combined into a minor in an area of study different to the chosen arts major from Part A.

Single and double degree notes
Note 1. Some Arts career focus portfolio studies units may also appear within an Arts major. Each unit can only be credited once towards your degree.

Double degree (only) notes
Note 2. Double-degree students who are considering changing their major after their first year of study should seek course advice to ensure course requirements can be met.

Note 3. Students enrolled in S2006 BSc/BA completing the extended Psychology major within the BA will replace 12 credit points of Arts elective studies units with 12 credit points of Psychology extended major units.

Note 4. Students enrolled in D30022 BEd(Hons)SecEd/BA will complete:
- 12 credit points of Career focused portfolio studies;
- 12 credit point of Arts elective studies; and
- 24 credit points of Arts minor studies. The minor studies must meet VIT requirements. For further advice contact the Faculty of Education.

Note 5. Students enrolled in M2019 BPsych/BA will replace 12 credit points of Arts elective studies units with an additional 12 credit points of BPsych studies.

Career focus portfolio studies
You must complete 24 credit points. It is recommended that you complete a minimum of 6 credit points from each of the Career focus portfolio studies areas.

Career-ready creative and critical thinking
In an increasingly uncertain future, your ability to think critically and to harness your creativity will set you apart in the workforce, prepare you to be a conscientious global citizen, and enrich your day-to-day experiences. Your study in this area will equip you with the tools to carefully assess the information you receive and to creatively explore solutions to the challenges you will face as you navigate your career journey. 

• ATS1057 Introduction to Philosophy: The meaning of life

• ATS1264 Ethics, health and justice

• ATS1310 Extreme earth! The geography of disasters

• ATS1314 Introduction to international human rights

• ATS1365 Introduction to sociology

• ATS1366 Big ideas for better futures

• ATS2139 Song writing: How to write a popular song

• ATS2256 The mind, the self and political behaviour

• ATS2292 The ethics of artificial intelligence

• ATS2359 Hearing the country: Studies in Indigenous Australian ethnoecology

• ATS2378 Global inequality and alternatives to development

• ATS2743 Build your career: Planning and strategies for employability

• ATS2871 Environmental ethics

• ATS2910 Professional and academic presentation skills

• ATS2922 Everyday improvisation

• ATS2946 Critical thinking: How to analyse arguments and improve your reasoning skills

• ATS3659 No Planet B: The climate crisis in historical perspective

• ATS3730 Imagining tomorrow, climate change and social futures

• MON2500 Research, experimentation and discovery

• MON3500 Research, experimentation and discovery

Innovative approaches to solving global challenges 
The challenges of the day are often based in complex, difficult contexts. Fundamental to the Arts degree is the ability to analyse and understand those contexts, to situate them in the complexity of human pasts and present, and to develop innovative, collaborative solutions. Your study in this area will prepare you to thrive in a complex world and to use your knowledge to make change in your career and community.  

• ATS1055 Introduction to health humanities 

• ATS1056 Geopolitical security in the Indo-Pacific

• ATS1248 Introducing archaeology and ancient history 2

• ATS1254 Culture, power and difference: Indigeneity and Australian identity

• ATS1309 The geography of global challenges

• ATS1610 The making of the modern world, 1750 to the present

• ATS1945 Issues in Australian politics and government

• ATS2199 The inhuman body in the human world: Corporations and contemporary culture

• ATS2211 Understanding workplace innovation

• ATS2792 Understanding Australia: From the deep past to the present

• ATS2880 Climate justice challenges in the Indo-Pacific

• ATS2879 Indigenous geographies

• ATS2881 Monash Arts Prato: Discovering Europe

• ATS2882 Monash Arts Malaysia: Global city Asia

• ATS3543 Australia’s ancient Indigenous past: A 65,000 year archaeological odyssey

• ATS3584 The Indigenous history of modern Australia

• ATS3632 Post-conflict: Justice, memory, reconciliation 

• MON2750 Monash innovation guarantee

• MON3750 Monash innovation guarantee

Leading collaboratively and cross-culturally
Considering views other than your own, thinking cross-culturally, and preparing yourself to be a responsible, respectful global citizen: these skills are essential for the leaders of tomorrow, no matter the profession, and your study in this area will build your capabilities in these areas, while exploring some of the urgent questions of the day.

• ATS1079 Live! From the past

• ATS1081 Multicultural and multilingual society: Perspectives and practices

• ATS1111 Indonesian Introductory 1

• ATS1255 Encountering cultures: Introduction to anthropology 2

• ATS1262 Understanding social behaviour

• ATS1280 Understanding the media

• ATS1343 Popular music in global perspective

• ATS1903 Introducing literature: Ways of reading

• ATS2084 Ancient mythologies

• ATS2184 Intercultural skills for an internationalised workplace

• ATS2266 Living a meaningful life: Wisdom traditions and their contemplative practices

• ATS2281 Aboriginal languages  

• ATS2354 Interrogating racism: Indigenous Australians and the state

• ATS2927 Global Encounters: Indigenous knowledges, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange

• ATS3064 Intercultural skills for global leaders

• ATS3174 Melbourne migrant cultures in contact

• ATS3326 Living a meaningful life: Wisdom traditions and their contemplative practices

• ATS3327 True happiness: The art, practice and science of human flourishing

• ATS3634 Indigenous peoples globally

• ATS3956 Trauma and memory in the modern world

• MON2100 Global Immersion Guarantee program

Leading with purpose
Whether working in a team, designing an innovative solution, or being a part of global communities, your ability to communicate clearly and respectfully will be needed to take your work from idea to action, and from action to impact. Your study in this area will explore how we communicate and whose voices are heard, will develop critical skills in collaboration and leadership, and will strengthen your voice in the interactions in your personal, educational, and professional life.

• ATS1078 Crafting compelling written content 

• ATS1298 Professional writing

• ATS1338 Cracking the language code: English and beyond

• ATS2170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific

• ATS2311 First Nations Australian film and television

• ATS2490 Writing and editing for the workplace

• ATS2551 Writing resistance: Understanding the power of Indigenous story-telling through literature

• ATS2637 Global bioethics

• ATS2839 Ethics

• ATS3129 Arts internship (12 credit points)

• ATS3170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific

• ATS3188 The story and the stage

• ATS3329 Language, culture and power

• ATS3611 A history of God

• ATS3852 Researching social justice

• ATS3935 Professional practice

• ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy

• MON2000 Volunteering in practice

Arts elective studies
You must complete 24 credit points of Arts elective studies. You may:

• combine units into a minor area of study different to your chosen major from Part A and with no more than 12 credit points at Level 1; 

• combine units with Part A studies to complete an extended major; or

• complete Arts undergraduate units (prefix ATS coded units) chosen from across the faculty as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units.

Part C. Free elective studies (48 credit points)
You may choose electives from units offered within the Bachelor of Arts, or any other Arts undergraduate course*. Using your electives in this way, may assist you to complete:

• an extended Arts major;

• an additional Arts major or minors;

• an Arts Master's accelerated pathway;

• additional Arts global study tour opportunities; and/or

• additional Arts industry experience opportunities.

You may also use your free electives to explore different disciplines and experiences offered from across Monash. This includes taking undergraduate units, minors or majors offered by other Faculties* and participating in University programs* such as Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE). Elective units may be at any level ensuring that the course rules are satisfied for the Bachelor of Arts.

* subject to unit rules and enrolment restrictions

Note 1. No more than 12 credit points can be credited towards two majors, or a major and a minor. The same credit points cannot be credited towards more than one minor.

Note 2. Undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3; the level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code.