Bachelor of Arts

Duration3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start termTerm 1, 2024
Study modeOnline
Course codeCA10
Smiling student studying at outdoor table with another student during the day.

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts provides you with a varied and multidisciplinary education, as well as the opportunity to gain knowledge in a range of humanities and social sciences disciplines.

You will experience a variety of perspectives, methodologies and learning styles and explore disciplines that study the way humans recognise, record and debate human practices, meanings and values. This will aid you in developing a contemporary understanding of both the human condition and how society operates.

You will benefit from the flexibility to structure your course to suit your career aspirations and interests with a wide variety of majors and minors to choose from.

Study experience

Career Opportunities

The skills and knowledge that you gain within the Bachelor of Arts are transferrable across a wide range of industries and professions. You will gain life-long skills in creative thinking, critical reading, critical thinking, effective writing and communication skills, developing clear and cogent arguments, research, data analysis, understanding intercultural relationships, social justice, cultural heritage and environmental planning. These skills are regarded highly by those who recruit university graduates for government departments and various large companies and are beneficial to roles across a range of businesses and industries.

Explore endless career possibilities such as roles within government agencies, administration, publishing houses, environmental planning and management, media, journalism, libraries, museums, galleries, not-for-profit organisations, private companies, teaching, town councils, disability services, community sector organisations, youth workers and universities.

Structure & Availability

Course structure

You are required to complete 24 units that consist of four core units, two eight-unit majors and one four-unit minor.

Majors/Minors 

Align your interests to suit your career goals. The below clusters provide you with a guide to choosing major and minor combinations. 

Telling stories, media, publication relations

The creative writing, journalism, journalism and public relations options provide you with well-rounded and relevant professional communication skills that are valuable and transferrable to any industry.

Geography and environmental management

The environmental management and geography options prepare you for a wealth of career opportunities in professions such as environmental planning and policy, natural and cultural heritage and town planning.

Creative arts

The visual arts and theatre studies options allow you to develop skills, knowledge and experience in creative arts and combine this with professional practices to ensure you graduate with valuable and transferrable skills for a career in creative arts.

History

Studying history gives you skills in analysing, contextualising and synthesising information. Combined with other areas of study, these skills open the door to employment opportunities in libraries, museums and galleries.

Unit information

For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed a study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Online Availability

IntakeLocations
Term 1, 2024Available Online
Term 2, 2024Available Online

Creative Writing major
Do you have a passion for writing? Our Creative Writing major offers you the chance to develop the skills and knowledge you'll need as a writer in the digital age. You will develop a tool kit of writing styles and genres, including traditional fiction, non-fiction, poetry and scriptwriting, as well as experimental and hybrid genres such as speculative fiction, flash fiction, lyric essays, docufiction, and concrete poetry, among others.

English and Cultural Studies major
This major brings together two distinct but complementary disciplines: literary studies, where literature is read for its own sake and for the values it reveals in stories, poems and plays about our lived and imaginary experiences; and cultural studies, where ideas and concepts derived from a broad study of culture are explored through a variety of texts including film, media, television, advertising and the like. You'll learn to apply critical thinking across a range of genres and participate in thoughtful debate.

Geography major
You'll explore Australian geography and climate whilst forming practical skills with Geography Information Systems (GIS). This major also extends your knowledge into human geography, demographic analysis and sustainable environments.

History and Politics major
This major offers a rich exploration of the historical events, politics, conflicts, cultures, values and traditions that have shaped our modern world.

Journalism major
This major introduces you to journalism and media relations preparing you for a career in a range of genres. You'll graduate with foundational knowledge including the boundaries of legal and ethical journalism, plus how to frame the narrative and write for a variety of settings.

Liberal Arts major
The Liberal Arts major is available if you wish to gain credit for another course. Approval from the Head of Course is required to access this major.

Pathway to Teaching (Early Childhood) major
If you're thinking about becoming an early childhood teacher in childcare/early learning centres and kindergartens, this is a suitable choice for you. This major is designed to fast-track you to our Master of Teaching where you can apply for four units of credit.

Pathway to Teaching (Primary) major
If you're thinking about becoming a primary school teacher, this is a suitable choice for you. This major is designed to fast-track you to our Master of Teaching where you can apply for four units of credit.

Pathway to Teaching (Secondary) major
If you're thinking about becoming a secondary school teacher, this is a suitable choice for you. This major is designed to fast-track you to our Master of Teaching where you can apply for four units of credit.

Public Relations major
You'll learn key concepts surrounding crisis communications, celebrity public relations, media industries, social media and society ensuring your ability to communicate effectively within an organisational environment.  As a graduate, you may find employment in areas of employee relations, reputation and crisis management, media, content management, event management, communication strategy, and product development.

Theatre Studies major
You'll explore areas including medieval theatre, commedia dell'arte, Shakespeare and modernism as well as a range of contemporary Australian and international theatre plays and practice. Plus, you'll master theatre methods and develop your own creative practice.

Visual Arts major
Expand your horizons with the study of self-expression and exploration through visual art. You will seek out the connection between culture and society, with visual art. Plus, you'll learn to analyse how culture impacts us as individuals and develop professional skills to connect with the arts infrastructure.

Digital Storytelling minor
This minor introduces you to fundamental skills in visual design, digital video production, and narrative and documentary film-making techniques.

Discovering Theatre minor
Explore the origins of theatre, musical theatre, Australian drama and the evolution of comedy within theatre in this minor.

Environmental Management minor
You will learn the big picture around why an organisation needs an environmental conscience. You'll explore Australian Government environmental legislation and develop essential skills such as impact assessment to help any organisation live up to its environmental license to operate.

Essential Geography minor 
This minor introduces human geography themes, Australian geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and Australian weather and climate.

First Nations Studies minor
In this minor, you will engage with colonialism taking you into the national context of First Nations Australians and perspectives in interface with non-Indigenous power and authority. You will develop skill sets to critically investigate, argue and interpret issues around identity, nationalism and power, and to question issues and approaches that purport to be about ‘reconciliation’.

Liberal Arts minor
The Liberal Arts minor is available if you wish to gain credit for another course. Approval from the Head of Course is required to access this minor.

Literary Studies minor
Explore the complexities and delicacies of a variety to literary genres. Plus, you will develop analytical skills and new perspectives to enhance your own literary practices.

Strategic Communication minor
Strategic Communication is about using communication techniques with purpose. This minor shows you how to craft a message for a specific audience to ensure the message is received as intended and can be acted upon.

Visual Art Practices minor
Expand your horizons with the study of self-expression and exploration through visual art. In this minor, you'll work in a studio, think critically and engage in creative processes to develop a portfolio of your own contemporary artworks.

Working with the Media minor
This minor will introduce you to the world of the media, from traditional to contemporary forms of journalism. You'll learn how the media operates, what they want and what makes the news.

World History minor
This minor introduces you to some world histories, including ancient, medieval, modern and twentieth-century eras.

Writing Stories minor
Calling all storytellers, this minor helps you to develop and refine your skills in writing engaging works for different audiences and markets.

Professional Practice and Experience - BUSN13004

This work-integrated learning will involve a placement in an organisation loosely related to one of the BA discipline majors. For example, a work placement in a museum.

Requirements

Recommended study

Nil

English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no ore than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Nil

There are no implications for students in regard to security requirements.

You will have to meet this course's inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes.

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative Fees

Fee TypeFees
International Indicative First Term FeeA$15,270
International Indicative First Year FeeA$30,480

Please note the following important information:

  • Fees are in Australian dollars (A$).
  • Fees are indicative only and do not cover additional costs such as textbooks, accommodation, visa applications, OSHC, general living etc.
  • Fees are based on a full-time study load and the final fee payable will be determined by your selection of units and if any credit was awarded for recognition of prior learning.
  • The University reserves the right to amend fees at any time during the course. Fees are reviewed yearly and may increase in the following year to enable CQUniversity to continue to provide quality services and facilities to students.
  • Courses are subject to change at the discretion of the University.
  • It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of the entry requirements and prerequisites of the courses you wish to undertake.
  • The typical annual fee shown provides an estimate of the tuition fees for the first year of the course in the same academic year. This estimate assumes a full-time study load of 4 units per term (based on two terms).
  • Students not on an Australian student visa can only undertake courses online from an overseas location.
  • Courses undertaken online may be studied on a full-time or part-time mode.
  • International students studying on-campus in Australia may take no more than 33 per cent of their entire course by online education, and this option cannot be taken in its entirety during a compulsory term (Term 1 and Term 2).

Please refer to our international course fees page.

Scholarships are not available for this course.

How to apply

Our easy to use online application system for international students will guide you through the process of applying for a course at CQUniversity Australia.