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Bachelor of Arts

Details for Australian residents

View details for International students.

You are considered an Australian resident (domestic student) if you:
  • Are an Australian or New Zealand citizen; or
  • Are an Australian permanent resident; or
  • Hold a permanent Australian humanitarian visa
You are considered an international student if you:
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Course essentials

An Arts degree is ideal preparation for today's changing world since it develops the highly sought-after skills of communication, problem-solving, teamwork and critical thinking that modern employers want.

With an emphasis on the humanities, creative arts and social sciences you will develop a grounding in the diversity of ways of knowing.

Energise your passions and drive your career forward - frequent graduate destinations include:

  • journalism, writing or strategic communications
  • teaching (a popular choice for students following completion of a Masters of Teaching)
  • creative arts administration
  • public servant and policy work
  • community sector professional roles
  • creative arts
  • software development
  • corporate management.

We collaborate with a network of business and industry partners. Everything you learn with us has direct links to the workplace and your future career. We offer you many opportunities for practical learning. 

Through the Graduating Projects, the Bachelor of Arts brings students together in group tasks to engage with the workplace and broader community.

The Victoria University Bachelor of Arts is distinctive for its emphasis on scholarly disciplines that are highly engaged with the workplace and the broader community. It offers this deeply rooted concept of an Arts education within the context of issues that prevail in Australia now.

You can study overseas for a semester at one of our many international partner institutes. 

Campus options

The VU BA is offered on two campuses:  Footscray Nicholson and Footscray Park.

Prospective students who meet the admission requirements will be entitled to apply for admission to the course at either campus.

Footscray Park (option FP) first year

First year students at Footscray Park take four foundational, transition-focused units (the ‘Fundamentals of Enquiry’ module) to support and enhance four units in scholarly disciplines of their choosing (the ‘Introduction to Majors’ module).

Footscray Nicholson (option FN) first year

First year students at Footscray Nicholson take a differently configured four units in Fundamentals of Enquiry to support and enhance an interdisciplinary Introduction to Majors with prescribed content. These students commence their discipline-specific studies in second year, beginning with the level 1 content in two minor/major sequences.

Majors

Choose from a range of subject areas and open up a world of career options:

Enquire now

How to apply

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications due 27 February 2017.

Already a VU student?

To transfer into this course from another apply online at our Admissions centre.

Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

[Supp. Desc. Info] Bachelor of Arts

An Arts degree is ideal preparation for today's changing world.

VU offers a broad range of specialisations

Gender Studies Lecturer Catherine Balmer discusses the unit.

Careers

This degree will prepare you for a range of exciting careers in the humanities and social sciences. You will develop skills in communication, research, critical analysis, intercultural relationships, and teamwork which are valued by potential employers in the modern workplace.

Graduates often move straight into positions in the public service, corporate, community and non-government organisations.

Others move onto graduate studies to pursue the many professional careers that are best served by graduates with a generalist first degree: 

  • media professionals
  • creative arts administrators
  • public servants and policy workers
  • community sector professionals
  • strategic communicators
  • creative artists
  • software developers
  • corporate managers.

Organisations employing arts graduates

Graduates are prepared for employment in a wide range of roles in organisations including government, the community, the arts, education and media.

Salaries

The average salary for an Arts graduate is A$42,962 – A$86,349 (PayScale).

All signs to success point west

After a VU cadetship with the Western Bulldogs, Kasey Symons now works in the AFL full-time while completing her PhD.
Read more

[Supp. Career Info] Bachelor of Arts

Core skills

An Arts degree is ideal preparation for today's changing world. It develops the highly sought-after skills of communication, problem-solving, teamwork and analytical thinking. Being successful in a modern society requires a broader understanding of humanity and people. That’s the benefit of studying the arts, humanities, and social sciences

Industry partnerships

We offer on-the-job learning for students through a wide range of industry partners that include Malthouse Theatre, Penguin Books, Beat Media, ABC, Channel 10, SBS, St Vincent de Paul, local councils and the Parliament of Victoria.

Study pathways

If you have completed the following diploma or advanced diploma course(s) at VU, you will be guaranteed a place in this bachelor degree. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

22091VIC - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

You will be credited for 4 units (half a year) of study.

EDES - Diploma of Education Studies

You will be credited for 8 units (a year) of study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Credit for skills and past study

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course coordinator or academic adviser.

Course objectives

Graduates of this course will be able to:

  1. Critically review theory, research and practice in the humanities, social sciences and creative arts;

  2. Critically reflect on the patterns of social, cultural, historical and political experience of society;

  3. Initiate, organise, undertake, and communicate research and critical inquiry into the lives of communities of diverse places, experiences, discourses and time;

  4. Exemplify a high degree of proficiency in active reading of complex texts, including collection and organisation of resource materials including the presentation of oral and written material

  5. Work with independence, self- reflection and creativity to meet goals and challenges in professional and academic pursuits

  6. Employ advanced interpersonal and collaborative skills, consistent with professional and ethical practice, when working with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

These six learning outcomes are integrated into the curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment for all students. The Bachelor of Arts common first year is likewise mapped in relation to these outcomes and shows an investment in each major with learning outcome coverage across its sequence of disciplinary and capstone units. The first year and the majors are mapped in conjunction with the CLOs, and the Graduate Capabilities in that section of this proposal.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Arts students will be required to complete 288 credit points (equivalent to 24 units) consisting of:

·  96 credit points (equivalent to 8 Units) of Core Arts studies
·  96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) of Major 1 (from the list below)
AND
·  96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) of Major 2 (from the list below)
OR
·  2 x 48 credit points Discipline/Breadth Minor studies (from the list below)
  

Note: Students intending to select 'Psychology' as their Major undertake APP1012 Psychology 1A, APP1013 Psychology 1B, ABA1000 Academic Discourse and Experience, ABA1002 Knowledge, Inquiry and Research plus any Four (4) units from the Core studies in Year 1.

Students intending to select 'Vietnamese Studies' as their Major undertake ACV1001 Basic Vietnamese A, ACV1002 Basic Vietnamese B, ABA1000 Academic Discourse and Experience, ABA1002 Knowledge, Inquiry and Research plus any Four (4) units from the Core studies in Year 1.

Show course structure

Core Arts Units:

Psychology Introductory Units

Vietnamese Introductory Units

Majors

Minors

Hide course structure

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional \'elective\' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course.

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

  • TAFE: VET applicants will be considered and pathways are available from a range of VET courses.
  • Year 12: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
  • Mature: Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence.

How to apply for this course

Before applying:

Consider whether you also wish to apply for:

When you're ready:

Apply direct to VU

You will need to create an account (or use your existing VU one).

Direct applications due 27 February 2017.

After you apply:

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (remember to check your Spam folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

You can also contact us directly:

  • Ring us on +61 3 9919 6100
  • Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

Use our Admissions centre to

  • Save incomplete applications to finish later
  • Submit applications for one or more courses
  • Track the progress of your applications
  • Upload any additional information we request

Enquire now

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At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.