Swinburne University of Technology - Melbourne Australia
Future Students - Courses
Course Description:
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program provides students with an opportunity to pursue their undergraduate studies to a high level in an additional year of research-orientated study. It gives students a strong base from which to pursue further study or to gain employment that requires high-level conceptual, analytic, research and communication skills. Students undertaking the fourth year will expand their knowledge of an area of study to a degree not possible within a three-year course. The program is available to students who have completed all requirements for the three-year bachelor degree with a relevant major at a high standard. A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) qualification denotes strong academic performance and provides the background required to pursue a range of postgraduate studies. Most universities require a four-year undergraduate course as a prerequisite to enrolment in masters and doctoral programs. In many cases, an honours degree is preferred to other forms of fourth year study (e.g. postgraduate diplomas). For students seeking employment after their undergraduate study, an honours degree can prove to be an advantage. The fourth year of study includes substantial independent study and skills development in the area of research and project management especially appropriate for students seeking employment in professional and administrative areas. The honours program aims to help students develop: general intellectual and academic knowledge an awareness of current intellectual debates specific academic skills and knowledge appropriate to their discipline ability to design and carry out a program of individual research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge ability to write an extended and coherent academic thesis at a high standard In contrast to undergraduate studies, the honours program requires a high degree of initiative and self-direction from students. Students plan, carry out and monitor their studies more actively than in their undergraduate courses. The ability to do this, as evidenced by a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree, is one of the special qualities an honours graduate can claim.
Course Structure:
To achieve a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) students must complete a range of class requirements depending in which strand a candidate is enrolled. For the thesis subjects, students submit a thesis, which will normally be in the range of 10,000 to 15,000 words. This will be supervised by a member of staff in the area of study. Final results are given for the year as a whole. Students will be graded as follows: First Class Honours (H1) 80%-100% Second Class Honours Division A (H2A) 70%-79% Second Class Honours Division B (H2B) 60%-69% Third Class Honours (H3) 50%-59%
Major specialisation:
Culture, Nature Civilisation Industry and Community Studies Social Science Media and Multimedia Languages Psychology
Units of Study:
Culture, Nature and Civilisation The Cultural Studies strand is available to students who have completed a major in Philosophy and Cultural Inquiry, Cultural Studies, Media or Politics and History at Swinburne University, or an equivalent major from another approved university. Semester 1 HAC440 Media and Cultural Studies Seminar A (25 credit points) HAC442 Media and Cultural Studies Thesis A (25 credit points) Semester 2 HAC441 Media and Cultural Studies Seminar B (25 credit points) HAC443 Media and Cultural Studies Thesis B (25 credit points) Industry and Community Studies The Industry and Community Studies strand is available to students who have completed one of the following majors: Australian Studies, Media, Politics and History or Sociology at Swinburne University, or an equivalent major from another approved university. Semester 1 HAI440 Industry and Community Studies Seminar A (12.5 credit points) HAI442 Honours Thesis A Industry & Community Studies (25 credit points) HAF445 Issues in the Social Sciences (12.5 credit points) Semester 2 HAI441 Industry and Community Studies Seminar B (25 credit points) HAI443 Honours Thesis B Industry & Community Studies (25 credit points) Social Science The Social Science strand is available to students who have completed a major in Australian Studies, Media, Politics and History or Sociology at Swinburne University, or an equivalent major from another approved university. Semester 1 HAF440 Social Science Seminar A (12.5 credit points) HAF445 Issues in the Social Sciences (12.5 credit points) HAF442 Social Science Thesis A (25 credit points) Semester 2 HAF441 Social Science Seminar B (25 credit points) HAF443 Social Science Thesis B (25 credit points) Media and Multimedia The Media and Multimedia strand is available to students who have completed a major in Philosophy and Cultural Inquiry, Cultural Studies, Media, Multimedia or Politics and History at Swinburne University, or an equivalent major from another approved university. Semester 1 HAMM440 Media and Multimedia Research Seminar (25 credit points) HAMM442 Honours Thesis A (Media and Multimedia) (25 credit points) Semester 2 HAMM443 Honours Thesis B (Media and Multimedia) (25 credit points) plus two electives chosen from (all 12.5 credit points): (25 credit points) HET732 Multimedia Development HET824 Media Theory, DVD and Compositing HET748 Advanced 3D Animation and Rendering HAM420 Online and Convergent Journalism HAM427 Media Public Policy Languages The Languages strand is available to students who have completed an Italian or Japanese major at Swinburne University or another approved university. Italian Semester 1 HAA440 Italian Seminar A (25 credit points) HAA441 Italian Seminar B (25 credit points) Semester 2 HAA442 Italian Thesis A (25 credit points) HAA443 Italian Thesis B (25 credit points) Japanese Semester 1 HAJ440 Languages Seminar A (Japanese) (25 credit points) HAJ442 Honours Thesis A (Japanese) (25 credit points) Semester 2 HAJ441 Languages Seminar B (Japanese) (25 credit points) HAJ443 Honours Thesis B (Japanese) (25 credit points) Psychology The Psychology strand is available to students who have completed a major in Psychology at Swinburne University or another approved university. Semester 1 HAY453 Advanced Quantitative Methods (12.5 credit points) HAY454 Psychological Assessment (12.5 credit points) HAY470 Thesis A(12.5 credit points) Plus one elective chosen from: HAY472 Contemporary Psychology (12.5 credit points) HET707 Neuroscience Methods (12.5 credit points) Semester 2 HAY457 Ethical and Professional Issues (12.5 credit points) HAY460 Honours Psychology Thesis B (also available in Semester 1) (25 credit points) plus one elective chosen from: HAY473 Current Issues in Social Psychology (12.5 credit points) (subject to availability and demand) HAY458 Counselling Psychology (12.5 credit points) HET738 Neuropsychology Methods (12.5 credit points)
Education Abroad:
Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies while on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Education Abroad website or telephone the Education Abroad Office on (03) 9214 4816.
Professional recognition:
The Psychology strand of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society as a fourth year of study in psychology.
Entry Requirements:
To be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program, a student must have satisfied the requirements of an undergraduate pass degree with a relevant arts/social science major (normally completed within the last five years), from a university approved by Swinburne. To be eligible for selection, the student must have achieved an average level of attainment of a credit or better, in an appropriate undergraduate course (and/or range of disciplines) considered by the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Honours Committee to be acceptable for entry into the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course. Students who achieve at least two distinctions or better in third year subjects may also be considered. Please note that offers made are limited by the number of places available, and preference is given to students who have completed their undergraduate pass degree at Swinburne.
Application Procedure:
Application forms can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/registrar/student/UG_Honours.pdf Applications for March 2009 entry close on 7 November 2008 (for Psychology strand). Non-Swinburne students interested in the Psychology strand should note that, in the normal course of events, only Swinburne Psychology students are accepted into the Psychology Honours program. If you anticipate receiving an HD (H1) average in your third year subjects, you may contact the Psychology Honours Co-ordinator on 9214 8859. Psychology honours applications will not be considered unless you have discussed your application with the Psychology Honours Co-ordinator prior to lodging your form. Non-Swinburne applicants whose final undergraduate psychology results have not been released at the time of application should forward their final results to: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences (Room AS202) or (Mail H31) Swinburne University of Technology PO Box 218 HAWTHORN VIC Telephone: (03) 9214 8859
Further information:
Submit an Online Enquiry Tel: 1300 368 777 Email: study@swinburne.edu.au Faculty of Life and Social Sciences website
