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Bachelor of Arts

Bachelors Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    BA

  • Course code

    3007099

  • Credit points

    288

  • Equivalent units

    24

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts focuses on human cultures, values and beliefs that will broaden your mind with challenging ideas. This course fosters transferable skills that are highly valued across all sectors – qualities such as communication, analysis, critical thinking and problem solving.

At Southern Cross you have the opportunity to apply those skills to the real world through community engagement as you delve into contemporary social and environmental justice issues. Graduates develop cultural awareness and a deeper understanding of how to build their creative capacities and communication effectiveness.

Choose one of five exciting majors or combine more of your interests by choosing a shared major from disciplines across the University.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply critical analysis, reasoning and reflexivity to social and cultural situations and problems.

Demonstrate the ability to develop a persuasive independent argument incorporating a range of perspectives and evidence.

Develop innovative and creative responses to contemporary and historical social, environmental and cultural issues.

Investigate and evaluate issues with reference to principles of social justice and equity and according to ethical conventions.

Demonstrate understanding of cross-sector and cross-cultural differences in ethics and morality.

Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of society and culture in chosen disciplines of study.

Apply disciplinary knowledge to diverse contexts.

Access, interpret and evaluate information to inform decision-making and action.

Communicate effectively in a variety of forms, including in working autonomously or collaboratively.

Demonstrate a commitment to multicultural perspectives.

Develop awareness of knowledge and skills needed to engage in a culturally competent way with Indigenous peoples.

An optional professional placement provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace and to establish key contacts. In the Bachelor of Arts, students can undertake learning opportunities in the community through a number of units as well as through assessment opportunities.

History

Historical study fosters critical approaches to evidence and argument and the ability to interpret and communicate complex ideas, as well as insight into how personal and cultural values are shaped over time.

Creative Writing

This major offers aw rich blend of fiction and nonfiction, experimental writing, journalism, life writing, poetry, writing for stage and screen, and writing for young adults. It is taught by published writers from the Northern Rivers arts community and beyond.

Cultural Studies

Cultural Studies introduces you to critical approaches in the study of different cultural forms and practices and the political dynamics of contemporary culture.

Digital Media

This major introduces key digital media production skills and theories. It provides a background in media history and theory, as well as practical experience in design, journalism, narrative forms and audio-visual media production.

Politics and International Relations

This major takes a strong social justice approach to cover political, cultural and economic relations from local government to international organisations.

Shared majors

You can also choose a shared major as part of your degree.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A
Lismore Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A
Online Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Arts, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:
  • 6 core units (72 credit points), and
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 10 university wide electives (120 credit points): or
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 1 shared major (96 credit points) and 2 university wide electives (24 credit points), or 
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points), a second listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 2 university wide electives (24 credit points).
 
No unit will be credited to more than one major.
 
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Creative Writing after completing all 16 units (192 credit points) from the Associate Degree of Creative Writing. 
 
Students may be eligible to exit with the Associate Degree of Arts after completing 16 units (192 credit points) comprising 4 core units and 12 other units from the listed majors. 
 
Students may be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Arts after completing 8 units (96 credit points) comprising 2 core units and 6 other units from the listed majors. 
 

Entry requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

Language requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Arts, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:
  • 6 core units (72 credit points), and
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 10 university wide electives (120 credit points): or
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 1 shared major (96 credit points) and 2 university wide electives (24 credit points), or 
  • 1 listed 8-unit major (96 credit points), a second listed 8-unit major (96 credit points) and 2 university wide electives (24 credit points).
 
No unit will be credited to more than one major.
 
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Creative Writing after completing all 16 units (192 credit points) from the Associate Degree of Creative Writing. 
 
Students may be eligible to exit with the Associate Degree of Arts after completing 16 units (192 credit points) comprising 4 core units and 12 other units from the listed majors. 
 
Students may be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Arts after completing 8 units (96 credit points) comprising 2 core units and 6 other units from the listed majors. 
 

Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Notes
To meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts students must complete the equivalent of 24 units comprising:

All six (6) core units AND at least one eight (8) unit major from the list of majors AND one other major and two (2) electives OR ten (10) electives

Year 1 Session 1

CRTV1002 Create: Innovate: Change
Session1,2
Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Session1
Session1
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1,2
Session1,2
Anti-requisites DSGN1001 - Design Fundamentals ART00630 - Design ART10094 - Digital Art and Design I
WRIT1003 Written Communication
Session1,2
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Session1
Session1
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1,2
Session1,2
1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 1)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option

Year 1 Session 2

CLST1004 Critical Thinking for Digital Times
Session2
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Session2
Session2
Online
Session2
Session2
CLST1005 Unruly Subjects: Citizenship
Session2
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Session2
Session2
Online
Session2
Session2
1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 2)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option

Year 2 Session 1

CLST2002 Australia, Asia and the World
Session1,3
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1,3
Session1,3
1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 3)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option

Year 2 Session 2

1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 4)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option
1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 5)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option

Year 2 Session 3

INDG3001 Caring for Country
Session3
Location Domestic International
Online
Session3
Session3
Enrolment information This unit has a compulsory 5-day residential for internal and online students.

Year 3 Session 1

1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 6)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option
1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 7)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option

Year 3 Session 2

1 unit from your chosen major (Unit 8)
1 unit from your additional major or elective option
Elective Unit
Elective Unit

Note 1:

A student who receives an absent fail or fail for WRIT1003 will need to complete EDUC1001 - Language and Learning in your Discipline. If a student passes EDUC1001 - Language and Learning in your Discipline they will not need to complete WRIT1003 - Written Communication.

Unit Code Unit Title Notes

Core Units
CLST2002 Australia, Asia and the World
WRIT1003 Written Communication Note 1
CLST1004 Critical Thinking for Digital Times
CLST1005 Unruly Subjects: Citizenship
INDG3001 Caring for Country
CRTV1002 Create: Innovate: Change
Majors
Choose eight (8) units for a major

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
CLST1003 Doing Cultural Studies
CLST2005 Space, Place and Travel
CLST3002 Borderlands: Identity, Culture and Belonging
CLST3003 EcoCultural Studies
CLST2004 Gender, Sexuality and Culture
CLST1001 Perspectives on Australia
COMM3004 Independent Project
CLST2001 Culture, Technology and the Senses

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
HIST1001 Making History
HIST2001 Writing Place: Landscapes, Memory, History
INDG1009 Colonising Histories
HIST3001 Community History Research Project
HIST1002 US History: From Reconstruction to Globalization
CLST2006 Road Trip
CLST2003 Australian Cultural History
EDUC3016 Interdisciplinary Studies of History and Time

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
MDIA1001 Media Studies
MDIA1003 Digital Media Practices
MDIA1004 Journalism in the Digital Age
MDIA1002 Visual Communication and Design
MDIA2002 Essential Screen Skills
MDIA3001 Advanced Screen Production
MDIA2006 Film Studies
COMM3002 Professional Placement

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
WRIT1002 Introduction to Creative Writing
WRIT1001 Introduction to Written Texts
WRIT2004 Short Story Writing
WRIT2005 Writing Genre
WRIT2001 Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing
WRIT3001 Theories of Text and Culture
One unit from the following:
WRIT2003 Writing Lives
WRIT3002 Introduction to Editing and Publishing
WRIT2006 Writing for Young People
WRIT2007 Writing Poetry
And
COMM3004 Independent Project
Or
COMM3002 Professional Placement

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
POLT1001 Australian Politics
POLT2001 Ideas and Ideals in Politics
POLT2002 Local Government
POLT3004 Global Social Movements
POLT2004 Analysing Policy Problems
POLT3001 Peace, War and International Politics
SOCI3003 Religions and the State
ENVR1001 Science and Global Challenges