Bachelor of Arts

Arts

inspiring achievement www.flinders.edu.au

Arts Fast facts COURSE LENGTH 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time 4 years with Honours ENTRY PATHWAYS Applicants who have completed the following are eligible to apply: >> SACE/NTCE (Year 12) or Interstate Equivalent Minimum 4 HESS G / 1 R >> International Baccalaureate >> TAFE/VET >> Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) >> Foundation Course Bridging Course >> Overseas qualifications >> Tertiary Transfer Grade Point Average (GPA) PREREQUISITES None. No assumed knowledge.

SATAC CODE 214031 2010 ATAR* 60.15

What does a Bachelor of Arts offer?

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is the most popular degree at most universities around the world, with good reason.

The BA produces flexible, literate and independent graduates, who are equipped with transferable skills highly valued in a wide range of jobs and industries.

Why study Arts at Flinders?

BREADTH The Flinders Bachelor of Arts (BA) offers 32 majors for you to choose from, providing a greater choice than is offered by any other university in South Australia. The Flinders BA spans three of the four Faculties of the University, including Science and Engineering.

FLEXIBILITY Our BA allows you to complete one or two majors within the degree. At Flinders 63% of BA students complete two majors, while those students interested in a single major may devote the majority of their electives to a single field of study.

UNIQUENESS The Flinders BA includes many majors that are unique in South Australia.

These include: American Studies, Archaeology, Legal Studies, Public Policy, Italian, Indonesian, Modern Greek, Spanish, Drama. Also Science majors such as Biological Sciences, Computer Studies, Earth Sciences and Mathematics.

You can combine your BA with any one of four other degrees, or as a double degree with Education.

* Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (formerly Tertiary Entrance Rank)

The BA at Flinders is taught almost entirely by full-time research oriented staff and over half of our BA graduates go on to further postgraduate study.

Study program and options To complete our BA degree you must complete at least one major sequence (taken across three years of study) and one minor sequence (taken across two years) from a different area of study, together with a selection of elective topics. Most students use some of those topics to complete a second major rather than a minor and in some cases it is possible to complete three full majors.

Note: Indigenous Studies, Latin American Studies, Professional Studies and Statistics can be taken as minor sequences only.

The following areas of study can be taken as major sequences.

For detailed information on all major and minor sequences go to: www.flinders.edu.au/courses/ undergrad/ba

AMERICAN STUDIES Flinders has Australia’s only Department of American Studies.

Introductory topics in American popular culture and the role of the US in the world are taught in First Year. You can then concentrate on specific areas of interest such as US history; politics; issues of race, class and gender; American business; and the international economy. The Washington Internship Program sends selected American Studies students to undertake a six-week placement in the US Congress.

APPLIED LINGUISTICS

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Applied linguistics is concerned with the practical issues of language: acquisition of second or foreign languages; language teaching; language policy; multilingualism; cross-cultural communication; maintenance of languages; and assessment and treatment of language difficulties. The major provides critical, practical and theoretical knowledge relevant to careers in foreign language education, the teaching of English as a foreign language or second language, and in social communication and the pathology of speech.

Biological sciences is the study of living organisms, and it helps us to understand our place in the world around us. It includes the study of plants, animals and marine life, as well as broader issues such as ecology, genetics and biotechnology.

Development studies examines change and development in the Third World. It aims to provide you with the analytical tools to understand the challenges facing the societies of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

You may specialise in specific geographical regions, or topics such as human rights, environment and gender.

ARCHAEOLOGY Archaeologists are interested in the relationship between material remains and what they can tell us about past cultures and civilisations.

There is a strong focus on the archaeology of Australia, including prehistoric, historic, maritime and modern material culture studies.

Field and laboratory work are essential components.

ASIAN STUDIES Flinders has one of Australia’s strongest Asian Studies programs.

Topic options range from politics and economics to culture, environment, Javanese gamelan music and the ‘war against terror’. Asian Studies may be combined with an Asian language, such as Indonesian, and there are opportunities to study abroad in Asia.

AUSTRALIAN STUDIES Australian Studies is a flexible program that addresses issues in contemporary Australia. First Year is built around one compulsory unit and a selection of other topics examining Australian identities, cultures and histories. In Second and Third Years you can select from a range of topic options provided by different university departments.

BUSINESS STUDIES Business studies gives you a fundamental understanding of key business skills including accounting, economics, marketing, organisational behaviour, and governance, sustainability and ethics. These studies aim to provide you with sufficient knowledge to effectively participate in a wide variety of business situations.

CREATIVE WRITING Creative writing develops the creative, practical, critical and collaborative skills necessary to pursue a career in the communication, arts and creative industries. As well as studying literary form and style, you will learn to write in a range of genres and styles, including those making use of new technologies. Graduates who have studied creative writing will have a portfolio of their creative achievements to attract prospective employers in the arts and communication industries.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Criminal justice examines the nature of criminality and deviant behaviour.

It explores who commits crime and critiques how the criminal justice system responds to crime. It caters for people seeking to work in crime prevention or with victims of crime or the handling of those who have committed criminal acts. Positions include police, social workers, psychologists, and policy makers.

DRAMA This is the longest established program of its kind in South Australia. It offers a comprehensive grounding in the theories and practice of theatre, with topics ranging from modern and postmodern theatre to television drama and Shakespeare in performance.

Performance workshops are offered in movement, voice, improvisation and Stanislavskian techniques.

EARTH SCIENCES Earth sciences studies all aspects of our planet, from weather patterns and global climate change to water resources and earthquakes. First Year examines the operation and interaction of all components in the complex earth system. You can then select subjects from meteorology, oceanography, hydrology or environmental geology.

ENGLISH English encourages a knowledge of and enthusiasm for literature and fosters the skills of reading and writing. It enables you to acquire an understanding of our literary and linguistic heritage and learn about how it relates to contemporary society. Effective communication is critical in the workplace today and students learn to become adept and flexible writers and readers.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

MATHEMATICS

Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary and integrative study of human impact on the biophysical environment and of a range of environmental issues.

It examines issues such as water management, loss of biodiversity, conservation, land care, climate change, population growth, pollution and sustainable development.

International relations studies a world divided among different countries. Its elements include diplomacy, foreign policy, military affairs, human rights, international political economy and trade, international organisations like the United Nations, and global issues such as weapons, terrorism and environmental cooperation.

GEOGRAPHY

LANGUAGES: French, Indonesian, Italian, Modern Greek, Spanish

Mathematical ideas and techniques play important roles in many areas including commerce and social sciences. For instance, mathematical modelling is critical to many areas of business. The use of statistics in the systematic collection and analysis of data is an essential component of many professional areas such as business forecasting, behavioural sciences and marketing.

Geography focuses on two major areas of inquiry: the study of the biophysical environments that support human societies and the study of the places in which people live and work. Geographers examine the processes that affect these environments and places, and are involved in the planning and management of environmental resources.

HISTORY History provides an introduction to issues such as revolution, fascism, migration, the population explosion, warfare and globalisation which have shaped, and continue to influence, the modern world. You can choose to specialise in a specific area such as European, Australian or international history, or select a range of topics in different areas.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Computing and information technology are strengths at Flinders.

The IT major provides grounding in the key concepts and core skills of computing and information technology. Topics cover the areas of electronic information literacy through to applications design and development. This includes programming, software engineering and database systems. No background knowledge is assumed.

The study of languages is multidisciplinary. It assists in developing and improving communication skills as well as enhancing sociocultural understanding of local and international environments.

Language studies promote insights into diverse cultural and linguistic practices. The languages offered at Flinders may also be studied in a Diploma in Language.

At Flinders, we believe that languages are particularly important and recognise different mainstream language learning programs. Other university accredited languages, undertaken through crossinstitutional studies, including those offered by the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, are available as majors in the Flinders BA.

LEGAL STUDIES Equips you with practical skills that are valuable in many occupations. It provides knowledge about law and an understanding of what the law is, why we have law, and what its effects might be. You can develop the legal and analytical skills required in many industries including social work, policing, legal services, research, and policy positions.

PHILOSOPHY Philosophy deals with some of the big questions about the world, society, and ourselves. Is there a God? What is knowledge and what do we know? Does mortality and government have any authority over us? Do animals have rights?

Philosophy encourages thought and discussion by presenting a range of possible answers.

POLITICAL STUDIES Politics is the study of public life in Australia and the rest of the world. Its elements include the role of parliament and government, constitutions, political parties and elections, international relations, world events, and debates about ideologies and political philosophy.

PSYCHOLOGY Psychology is the study of human behaviour and experience. It considers how we learn and develop during our lives, our relationships with other people, individual differences such as personality and self-esteem, thinking processes, the role of biological factors in how we behave, and the causes and treatment of psychological problems. You can also learn about how psychologists gain knowledge through research.

PUBLIC POLICY Public policy is for students interested in the way government works and in the policies, programs and activities which drive it. It examines such issues as the environment, taxation, welfare, immigration, schools, Aboriginal affairs, higher education, prisons and transport, as well as the way policies are developed, implemented and assessed.

SCREEN AND MEDIA Screen and media provides you with a chance to study screen-based media such as film, television and computer games from a range of historical and theoretical perspectives. Optional production topics enable you to explore video, film, and digital media production, scriptwriting and web design.

SOCIOLOGY Sociology studies the social institutions and processes characteristic of contemporary society. These can relate to health and illness, crime and deviance, the media, popular culture, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, and employment.

It links the way individuals try to form identities against the backdrop of society and the construction of culture.

WOMEN’S STUDIES Women’s studies addresses the broad question of how gender (social definitions of femininity and masculinity) operates, both in contemporary life and historically, in Australia and in other cultures.

Gender, intersecting with other social orders of difference (principally race, class and sexuality) shapes cultural and social institutions as well as personal identity and relationships.

Combined or double degrees You also can take a BA as part of a combined or double degree program. > Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice: If you are interested in the combined program with the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (5.5 years) you must apply for the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice combined degrees program (SATAC Code 214442) and select the stream code that corresponds to the BA. > Bachelor of Business: If you are interested in the combined program with the Bachelor of Business (4 years) you must apply for the Bachelor of Business combined degrees program (SATAC Code 214762) and select the stream that corresponds to the BA. > Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting/Finance): Applicants interested in the combined program with the Bachelor of Commerce (4 years) must apply for the Bachelor of Commerce combined degrees program (SATAC Code 214082) and select the stream code that corresponds to the BA. > Bachelor of Education: If you would like to apply for one of the Education/Arts double degree programs (4 years) you will need to apply for one of the specific Education/Arts SATAC Codes. > Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology): If you would like to apply for the combined Behavioural Science/Arts program (4.5 years) you will need to apply for the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (SATAC Code 214051).

Flinders also offers you the opportunity to study a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide you with

competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to your degree. You will complete a total of one extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language.

There is also the option to combine the BA with an Advanced Diploma or Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Adelaide Central School of Art (5 years) or selected TAFE qualifications in business, marketing, accounting or human resource management.

Related courses Archaeology, Behavioural Science, Business, Creative Arts, Environmental Management, Geographical Information Systems, Government and Public Management, Information Technology, International Studies, Justice and Society, Languages, Media, Social Planning.

Further study A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program is available in most areas of study and a range of graduate entry degrees are also available.

The theories and ideas learnt in the course are applicable to the real world and throughout the degree it was always easy to see those connections.

The topics taught within the course were always interesting, encouraging learning and student participation which was evident in the tutorials, seminars and lectures.

Comment from graduate obtained from the Australian Graduate Survey 2009.

Why make Flinders your choice?

Before you get here

While you’re here

Your next step

Helping you realise your goals > and ambitions is important to us> at Flinders University.

A well-rounded university education should not be the end of your learning but a launching pad for the next phase of your life.

Flinders has a variety of resources and services to help you kick-start your career.

It is why we have so many, > flexible entry pathways.

And it is also why we have an extensive network of services to support you all the way from your initial enquiry and enrolment> right through to your graduation.

Flinders understands that everybody’s life path is different.

If you are completing Year 12 and thinking about uni, Flinders improves your chance of getting into the course of your choice by offering bonus points for many of its courses.

If you are not a school leaver, > TAFE/VET qualifications, the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, our Foundation Course and our Tertiary Transfer schemes are other ways > you can get to Flinders.

What you learn should be relevant, it should increase your understanding of the world around you. It should be a way for you to reach your full potential.

Flinders is fully committed to constantly improving the quality of its teaching and learning, and has a very strong record of achievement in the national Australian Teaching and Learning Awards. Since 2004, Flinders academics have twice won the Prime Minister’s Australian University Teacher of the Year Award.

Learning at Flinders is connected to our dynamic research environment, with strong links to industry and the broader community.

Flinders also has state-of-the-art facilities on a superb campus – it is a perfect setting in which to study, to grow, to relax and to meet with friends.

How to apply?

Flinders offers two admissions cycles each year: > The January (Semester 1) intake; applications open in August for commencement the following year. > Mid-year intake opens in May for commencement in July (Semester 2) that year. Not all courses are offered mid-year.

The information contained in this brochure is accurate at the time of publication: May 2010.

Flinders University reserves the right to alter any course or topic contained herein without prior notice. Alterations are reflected in the course information available on the University’s website.

CRICOS Provider No. 00114A

www.flinders.edu.au

Applicants must apply through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit www.satac.edu.au for full details on how to apply.

Admissions/Prospective Students Office

Flinders University GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 Tel: 1300 657 671 Email: admissions@flinders.edu.au For international student enquiries: international@flinders.edu.au or visit: www.flinders.edu.au/ international

Practical placements which give you job-ready skills are an integral part > of many Flinders courses.

You will have access to valuable career advice from industry leaders, professionals and graduates.

Or you may like to study for one of our postgraduate courses.

Whatever your next step, when > you graduate from Flinders you will be part of an international network of alumni who have built careers > that benefit their communities