ANU - STUDYAT - College of Arts and Social Sciences

Introduction

The ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) has one of the largest student cohorts at ANU. With more than 3,500 students, it is the heart of the University. Our staff and students come from more than 40 nations and internationalism is a key feature of CASS. A broad education is offered to students in archaeology and anthropology, art, digital arts and new media arts, humanities, languages, music, and social sciences — both the traditional disciplines and contemporary cross-disciplinary fields of study. Such an education promotes original thinking and brings with it life-long communication skills, and skills of criticism and analysis, that are of enduring value in any field of employment. CASS graduates are employed in a wide range of occupations, often with less restricted career paths than graduates with more vocationally oriented qualifications.

CASS’s teaching and research is of the highest standard, with staff regularly receiving national and international awards for their work. Through contact with our leading researchers, students are able to participate in cutting-edge intellectual debates. At the undergraduate teaching, we place special value on the personal interaction that is possible only in small-group teaching. We make use of information technology incorporating this wherever possible to advantage students..

College structure

CASS is made up of the Faculty of Arts, the Research School of Social Sciences, the Research School of Humanities, the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research and the Centre for Educational Development Methods. The Faculty of Arts undertakes the undergraduate teaching within six Schools and two Centres; Schools of Anthropology and Archaeology, Art, Humanities, Language Studies, Music and Social Sciences and the Centres for Arab and Islamic Studies and New Media Arts.

New enrolments

If you are enrolling in CASS for the first time you should seek advice about your choice of courses with the College Student Office staff at enrolment time. Successful applicants to the University will be advised in their offer letter of the days set aside for course advice, course approval and registration of enrolment.

Assistance for students

There are many sources of advice and assistance available to students in CASS. Initial points of contact include:

• CASS Student Office

• undergraduate administrators from each School Administration Office

• lecturers and tutors can assist students with their studies in each course outside regular class times. Lecturers make themselves available during special office hours designated for this purpose

• Heads of Schools (within the Faculty of Arts), program and major convenors, together with the undergraduate and graduate advisers in each discipline area, offer guidance on the nature and content of majors and individual courses.

Information can also be sourced from the Faculty of Arts website www.arts.anu.edu.au or the ANU student website www.students.anu.edu.au

CASS Student Office

The CASS Student Office is located on the ground floor of the Hayden-Allen Building (opposite the Tank Theatre). Opening hours are from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. Information can be requested via the email address enquiries.arts@anu.edu.au All written requests or email enquiries MUST include your university ID number.

The Office has responsibility for carrying out the general academic administration of the College in collaboration with the University Student Administration. Students should seek advice on the following matters from our expert advisers located in the College Student Office:

• planning your program of study

• seeking academic advice about your program

• enrolling in or dropping courses related to your program

• transferring to another College or program

• cross-institutional enrolment

• study overseas on Exchange Programs

• taking leave from your program

• credit (generally referred to as “status”) for previous study

• matters for special consideration – advice on intensity of enrolment when study is interrupted by illness or other personal difficulties; transferring to part-time study and on special examinations

• matters concerning the Honours year

• advice and approval for overseas exchanges

• advice on policies and practices related to the undergraduate program.

If a student is worried about a particular course, then it is better to first discuss the problem with the member of staff concerned with that course, rather than with the staff located in the College Student Office. General worries about the College or personal problems can be raised with any member of staff whom students feel will be sympathetic and helpful.

Contact the College Student Office for further details,
T: 02 6125 2898.

School administration offices

Each School and Centre in the Faculty of Arts has its own Administration Office centrally located close to the staff and teaching areas. Locations are as follows:

School of Anthropology and Archaeology

Ground Floor, A. D. Hope Building 014

School of Art

Ground Floor, School of Art Building 105

School of Humanities

First Floor, A. D. Hope Building 014

School of Language Studies

Third Floor, Baldessin Precinct Building 110

School of Music

School of Music Building 100

School of Social Sciences

Second Floor, Copland Building 024

Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies

Building 127

Centre for New Media Arts

First Floor, Peter Karmel Building 121

The School Administration Offices are responsible for the support of students and academic staff. Administrative staff organise the lecture rooms, lab, tutorials etc. for your courses and carry out the administrative support for disciplines within the School. Students should seek advice at the School Administration Office for matters regarding:

• general enquiries for staff and courses taught within the School or Centres

• tutorial list distribution

• handling of assessment pieces

• reading bricks information; and

• allocation of permission codes for web enrolment where pre-requisites have been waived by a lecturer/Convener.

University Student Administration

The University’s Student Administration is located on the ground floor of the Pauline Griffin Building (Bldg 11) and is responsible for a number of general academic administrative services. Students should seek advice at Student Administration for matters regarding:

• admissions to programs

• coordinating enrolment/re-enrolment advisory sessions

• billing and collecting HECS/tuition fees

• coordinating end of semester examinations

• coordinating graduation/conferring ceremonies

• issuing of academic transcript

• issuing student cards.

Study options

Within the College there are opportunities to pursue specialised study as well as the more traditional broadly-based Arts courses which, by combining study in different disciplines, enhance individual versatility and adaptability in the changing circumstances of employment and community life.

Programs

The College offers the following undergraduate programs at both pass and honours levels:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree

• Bachelor of Arts (Art History and Curatorship)

• Bachelor of Arts (Development Studies)

• Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts)

• Bachelor of Arts (European Studies)

• Bachelor of Arts (International Relations)

• Bachelor of Arts (Music)

• Bachelor of Arts (New Media Arts)

• Bachelor of Arts (Policy Studies)

• Bachelor of Archaeological Practice

• Bachelor of Visual Arts

• Bachelor of Design Arts

• Bachelor of Music

• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Work (Dual degree
with the Australian Catholic University)

• Associate Degree (specialising in Music) – offered by CIT
and ANU

• Diploma in Arts available in most BA majors offered in the Faculty of Arts

• Diploma of Art

• Combined Programs.

To expand career options, combined undergraduate programs are also available in Arts/Visual Arts, Arts/Asian Studies, Arts/Commerce, Arts/Economics, Arts/Engineering, Arts/Information Technology, Arts/Music, Arts/Science, Arts/Science (Forestry), Arts/Science (Psychology), Arts/Law, Visual Arts/Asian Studies (Specialist), Visual Arts/Science (Forestry), Music/Asian Studies, Music/Asian Studies (Specialist), Music/Commerce, Music/Law, Music/Science, Music/Science (Psychology), Visual Arts/Music. The specific requirements for all combined programs are set out in the Handbook section on ‘Combined Programs’ at the end of this Handbook.

Program structures and course values

The requirements and structure of undergraduate degrees and diplomas are expressed in terms of units - with most courses having a six-unit value. The basic program pattern for an Arts degree over 3 years (6 semesters) is 8:8:8, that is, a standard full-time enrolment consisting of four courses per semester – eight courses per year.

Courses offered

To keep abreast of new developments and educational needs, the College continually revises the range of courses it offers. In addition to undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty of Arts, if you are enrolled in the single Bachelor of Arts (Program code 3100 series) degree, you may incorporate into your degree a maximum of 8 courses offered by other Colleges at ANU, including Asia and Pacific Studies, Business and Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, and Science. Generally students enrolled in combined degree programs may only enrol in courses offered by the two Colleges’ of their combined program (see the combined degree entries later in this Handbook). All courses are offered subject to staff availability and sufficient enrolments. A list of courses that may be counted as ‘Arts’ in a Bachelor of Arts degree can be found at the end of this chapter.

Selecting courses

You should read carefully the course descriptions set out in this Handbook before you finalise your enrolment. You can also consult the CASS Student Office about program structure and course choice. T: 02 6125 2898 or E: enquiries.arts@anu.edu.au All email enquiries MUST include your student ID number.

Graduate programs

The ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences offers Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy degrees undertaken by research only. A wide range of postgraduate coursework programs is also available in many, but not all disciplines. Intending coursework students should therefore contact those areas in which they are interested to see if postgraduate coursework programs are available. Further information can be obtained from http://info.anu.edu.au/StudyAt/050PP_Graduate_Coursework/index.asp

Australian National Internships Program (ANIP)

The Australian National Internships Program (see later entry in this Handbook) offers three Internships courses which are available to later-year students in a number of degrees. Students apply separately to the Program for selection and admission to these courses. At the time of application to the Program, students should consult the CASS Student Office to determine whether the ANIP course will fit within degree program requirements. For more information see
www.anu.edu.au/anip

Courses taken at other institutions (Status/Credit)

If you have completed all or part of a degree or approved diploma in another College at ANU or at another tertiary institution, you may be granted status (credit) for some of that work in your Bachelor degree. An application for status should be made at the time of enrolment. A completed undergraduate degree will normally be granted status of 54 units, expressed as an unspecified major and two unspecified first year courses. If you have an incomplete degree, an individual assessment will be made to determine if any status may be granted. Where status is granted you will be given a time limit to complete, which will be less than the normal maximum of 10 years. Applications for status need to be made at the CASS Student Office.

Grading and assessment

CASS has the same grading system for examination results that applies to the University as a whole. For further details see the ‘Examination and Assessment’ section of this Handbook.

Methods of assessment proposed in individual course entries are those preferred by the lecturers concerned. It is CASS policy that, within the first two weeks of each semester, lecturers should discuss with their classes the objectives, content and forms of assessment of courses within the limits of the broad outlines published. As a result of these discussions, and subject to the authority of the College, there may be some modifications in the methods of assessment proposed.

Students who submit written work for assessment in a particular course may not submit the same piece of written work (or a piece of work substantially the same) for assessment in any other course unless, prior to submission, they have obtained the approval of the Dean, lecturers in charge of the courses, and Convenors concerned.

Academic dishonesty (plagiarism)

Students enrolled in the College are expected to be able to express themselves and to sustain an argument in their own words. They may not submit written work containing improperly acknowledged transcription or excessive quotation of the work of others. The University considers academic dishonesty a most serious academic offence and severe penalties may be imposed on anyone found guilty of it. The University’s policy can be found at http://info.anu.edu.au/policies/Codes_Of_Practice/Students/Other/Academic_Honesty.asp The Academic Skills and Learning Centre is also available to help students who need assistance with academic writing.

Cross-institutional study

In limited circumstances it may be possible to undertake cross-institutional courses for status towards ANU Arts programs. Permission for cross-institutional enrolment will normally only be given where:

• no similar Arts related-course is available at ANU. The proposed course must be acceptable as an Arts course at ANU and approved by the CASS Student Office or

• a student’s personal or employment circumstances require her/him to reside away from Canberra for a given semester; or

• a student is within two semesters of completing a degree and is required to move away from Canberra.

Students wishing to undertake cross-institutional study must contact the CASS Student Office. Study on a cross-institutional basis is limited to the equivalent of one year’s study (48 units) for single degree students and 24 units of study for combined degree students.

If you are seeking approval to include cross-institutional courses in your degree you must submit a “Request for Cross-institutional Study” form in advance of your enrolment at the other institution. Students must attach course descriptions/outlines of intended courses for which they are seeking cross-institutional approval. This form is available at the CASS Student Office. You must allow AT LEAST 2 weeks for processing of this application. On completion of the cross-institutional course/s, you must provide the office with an official transcript of your studies at the other institution for the granting of status to be confirmed and entered on your academic record. Status (credit) will appear on your record as ‘unspecified status’ and does not include the grade you achieved at the other university.

Variation of enrolment

Students may change their course enrolment in accordance with the dates and procedures determined and published by the Director of Student and Academic Services (SAS) in the Student Enrolment and Administrative Procedures (SEAP) Guide.

If you drop courses before the HECS census date you will have the courses deleted from your academic record. Courses dropped after census date will appear on your academic record. Courses dropped after census date will appear on your academic record with or without failure in accordance with the specified University Drop (withdrawal) dates determined and published by the Director of SAS in the SEAP Guide. In exceptional circumstances and upon presentation of evidence of medical or compassionate reasons, the Dean of the College may grant an exemption from this regulation.

See http://students.anu.edu.au/seap or collect a hard copy from the Pauline Griffin Building or the CASS Student Office.

Students may discuss such decisions or any other matter relating to a course of study with the relevant advisor responsible for undergraduate matters.

Enrolment in prerequisites/co-requisites/incompatible courses

A prerequisite course is one that a student must successfully complete prior to enrolling in another course. However, because the University asks students to enrol in courses for a whole year Student21 will allow students to enrol in a course if you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite/s with no result yet recorded. If you subsequently fail the prerequisite you are responsible for dropping the intended course.

A co-requisite course is a course that must have been successfully completed prior to, or be taken in the same semester as, the course with which it is identified as a co-requisite. If you want to enrol in a course that has a specified co-requisite that you have not previously successfully completed, you must enrol in your elected course and the co-requisite. You must continue enrolment in both the co-requisite course and the elected course to gain results in both courses.

Incompatible courses overlap in course content to such an extent that both courses cannot be taken for credit. You should not enrol in a course that is identified in the course catalogue or Handbook as being “incompatible” with a course you have already taken and passed. If you do enrol in such a course you will not receive credit for the “incompatible” course.

Exemption from a prerequisite/co-requisite course

If you are seeking an exemption from a prerequisite or co-requisite course you must gain permission from the lecturer. An “Approval to Waive Prerequisite(s)” form is available at all School Administration Offices and the CASS Student Office. You must consult with the relevant course lecturer or Convenor and upon their approval they must sign and date the form. Upon receipt of the signed approval form the relevant School Administration Office will allocate you a Permission Code that will allow you to enrol in the course over the web via ISIS.

Repeat courses

You may not enrol in a failed course for a third time without the approval of the relevant Head of School.

With the approval of the CASS Student Office you may repeat a course that you have passed previously, in order to fulfill program requirements or to achieve a higher grade, but this can only be undertaken as a non-award enrolment that incurs the upfront payment of a Domestic Tuition Fee.

Student responsibility

While staff will provide you with information and give you assistance wherever possible, it is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct at all times and that you adhere to the administrative procedures and policies outlined in the SEAP Guide. Claimed ignorance or misunderstanding of a procedure will not be sufficient reason for avoiding the consequences, which may have serious academic, financial or administrative repercussions for you.

It is strongly recommended that you read the General Information section of this Handbook and obtain a copy of the Student Enrolment and Administrative Procedures (SEAP) Guide.

Further information concerning your enrolment and administrative procedures can be obtained from the CASS Student Office or from University Student Administration in the Pauline Griffin Building or you can access the SEAP Guide contents from the website at www.anu.edu.au/sas/studentadmin

Following is a list of Schools and Centres within the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences that offer undergraduate courses:

School of Archaeology and and Anthropology

School of Art

School of Humanities

School of Language Studies

School of Music

School of Social Sciences

The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East and Central Asia)

The Centre for New Media Arts

School of Resources, Environment and Society