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Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 

N052     


Study Mode Study Level Duration Campus and Intake Show intake calendar
Full-time
Part-time (day)
Part-time (evening) 		Undergraduate 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time.
Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time. 		Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2)

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.
 
Psychology strand applicants only
Prospective students for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Psychology strand may wish to consider the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology which is also an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited fourth year Psychology program.

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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%

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  • Culture, Nature Civilisation
  • Industry and Community Studies
  • Social Science
  • Media and Multimedia
  • Languages
  • Psychology

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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
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)
Semester 2
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
plus two electives chosen from (all 12.5 credit points): (25 credit points)
HET732 Multimedia Development

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 successful applicants 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)

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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.

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The Psychology strand of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is accredited by the APAC as a fourth year of study in psychology.

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To be considered for admission into the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program (not including the Psychology strand), 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 considered for selection, the student must have achieved, as a minimum, 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 units 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.
 
Requirements for Psychology strand applicants
A degree from a recognised tertiary institution (or approved equivalent) with a major in psychology approved by APAC. Applicants who meet the above requirements should also note that offers are based on academic achievement, especially for third year undergraduate psychology units.
 
Note:
Following APAC guidelines, only recent honours/postgraduate formal training may be recognised as prior learning in relation to this course.

Applicants who have obtained qualifications from overseas should ensure that their qualifications have been assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

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For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees

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Closing date for non-Psychology strand applicants: Friday 17 February 2012 for Semester 1, 2012 intake.
 
Prospective students should download and lodge an Application form. Mid-year entry may be available.
 
Closing date for Psychology strand applicants: Friday 4 November 2011 for Semester 1, 2012 intake . There is no mid-year entry for this program.

Psychology strand applicants only
Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Psychology strand must lodge the following form and associated documents by the closing date:
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 High Distinction (HD or First Class Honours (H1) average in your third year subjects, you may contact the Psychology Honours Co-ordinator on 9214 5209. 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 Psychology applicants whose anticipate receiving a HD (H1) average in their final undergraduate psychology year and whose results have not been released at the time of application should forward their final results as soon as possible to:

Faculty of Life and Social Sciences (Room AS320) or (Mail H31)
Swinburne University of Technology
PO Box 218
Hawthorn VIC 
Tel: (03) 9214 5209
 
Applicants should provide a covering letter, showing the applicant's full name, contact details and application course details, with any additional documentation being forwarded to the University.

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Tel: 1300 368 777
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au
 

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