Skip Navigation | ANU Home | Search ANU | Student Admin | International

Overview | Program Requirements | Study Options | Majors | Honours | Summary of Courses | Career Options

Degree Structure

Below is an example of a typical pattern calculated on 6 unit courses.

	Arts Major e.g. History	Units	Arts Major e.g. Film Studies	Units	Arts and/or Other Units	Units	Total units
1st yr courses	Max 2 courses	12	Max 2 courses	12	Max 4 courses	24	48
Later yr courses	Min 5 courses	30	Min 5 courses	30	Min 6 courses	36	96
TOTAL	7 courses	42	7 courses	42	10 courses	60	144

Majors outside the Faculty
For students to include a major from another Faculty it must be a clearly defined major (as specified in the Undergraduate Handbook) and the student must follow the rules and requirements for that major as specified by the relevant Faculty.

Below is an example of a typical pattern calculated on 6 unit courses for an Arts major and an Asian Studies major within a Bachelor of Arts.

	Arts Major e.g. Political Science	Units	Arts Courses	Units	Major out of Faculty e.g. Asian History	Units	Total units
1st yr courses	Max 2 courses	12	Max 4 courses	24	Max 2 courses	12	48
Later yr courses	Min 5 courses	30	Min 5 courses	30	Min 6 courses	36	96
TOTAL	7 courses	42	9 courses	54	8 courses	48	144
	Arts -- min. 96 units				Out-of-Faculty -- max. 48 units

Combined Programs
The combined programs offered by the Arts faculty enable students to expand their career options, as they have access to the directly related specialist employment available to each degree. Employers keenly appreciate the combination of expertise or professional training with a broad educational base.

The structure of the combined program is such that students are not permitted to take courses from outside the two Faculties in which they are enrolled. The only exception to this ruling is that the Arts Faculty will recognise as Arts cognate courses up to two courses (12 units) to be undertaken in a third Faculty where those courses are required to complete an Arts major. This will only apply to the History, Lingusitics, Applied Linguistics, Developmental Studies, Population Studies, Social Research Methods and Religious Studies majors.

Please note that any courses taken within a combined program may only be counted once (ie towards one degree, not both).  In the case where a course is a compulsory course in both degrees (or a major within each degree), the course may still only be counted in one program, however, a student is entitled to an exemption from the course in the other program.

If you wish to check if a course is classified as an Bachelor of Arts course, then refer to the list at the end of this chapter. Note that students in a combined program can also undertake a maximum of 24 units from the Science Cognate List.

The Pass Degree

The pass degree is designed to give students a sound general education in one or all of the humanities, social sciences and languages.

Full-time students can complete the program in three years. Part-time students need at least six years to complete the program, assuming that they take four semester-length courses each year. All students, whether studying part-time or full-time, are required to finish their programs within ten years.

Even though students enrolled in the BA program must complete 96 units offered within the Faculty of Arts, they have a wide choice of courses as they may choose courses up to the value of 48 units offered by the Faculties of Asian Studies, Economics and Commerce, and Science (but not Law).

In exceptional circumstances, a student may include more than 48 units at 1000-level. Students must seek permission from the Sub-dean.

Within the 96 units required to be undertaken within the Faculty of Arts, up to 24 units may be taken from the list of approved Science Cognate Courses (see end of Arts Chapter).

Typical full-time study plan for a Pass degree based on two Arts Majors:

	First semester	Second semester
1st Year (48 units)	2 x Arts 1st yr courses 1 x Arts 1st yr course Major A 1 x Arts 1st yr course Major B	2 x Arts 1st yr courses 1 x Arts 1st yr course Major A 1 x Arts 1st yr course Major B
2nd Year (48 units)	1 x Arts Later-yr course 2 x Arts Major A 1 x Arts Major B	1 x Arts Later-yr course 1 x Arts Major A 2 x Arts Major B
3rd Year (48 units)	2 x Arts Later-yr courses 1 x Arts Major A 1 x Arts Major B	2 x Arts Later-yr courses 1 x Arts Major A 1 x Arts Major B

Note:

• Both Arts majors A and B are based on 42 units ie. 7 courses x 6 units each
• A maximum 8 x 1st year courses is allowed

The Degree with Honours

Information on honours for Bachelor of Arts.