Award Abbreviation: BA(Hons)
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Program Code: AR401
CRICOS Code: 026637D
Entry Requirements
You must have completed a Bachelor of Arts, or a related degree, with at least eight courses in the area of study of your thesis topic. A high level of achievement in the intended area of study must be demonstrated. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee entry. Importantly, enrolment is contingent upon the Faculty's capacity to provide appropriate supervision.
Honours Areas
Honours is offered in the following areas:
- Australian and Cultural Studies
- Creative Writing
- Environmental and Planning Studies
- History
- Journalism
- Politics and International Relations
- Social and Community Studies
- Sociology
Your research topic is developed in consultation with a supervisor and the relevant Honours Coordinator.
Program Structure
The Honours program has two major components of equal weighting:
- a 48 unit coursework component (which can consist of 4 x 12 unit, or 3 x 16 unit, or 2 x 24 unit components); and
- a 48 unit thesis component (also known as a dissertation component).
Satisfactory participation in the Faculty Honours Seminar is also required.
If you are completing your Honours program part-time over two years, the first year will normally comprise coursework and the second will be dedicated to your thesis.
Coursework Component
Coursework comprises a mix of:
(a) reading courses based on a program of supervised reading;
(b) existing courses in the chosen area of study, with additional
prescribed reading and assessment;
(c) dedicated Honours courses; or
(d) relevant courses through other universities.
Thesis Component
The nature of the thesis component is determined by your topic, the area of study and your supervisor.
After choosing an honours area and a broad topic, seek advice from the Area Coordinator to define a specific topic. Your topic is confirmed after discussions with potential supervisors, depending on your interests, your supervisors' interests and the availability of appropriate supervision.
Enrolment and Fees
- In any semester, standard full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL
- In any semester, standard part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date
- Commonwealth supported students pay student contributions
- Students who are not Commonwealth supported pay full tuition fees
EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL
Program Requirements and Notes
Length of Thesis
Your thesis will be a research project conducted over the full one year of enrolment and will normally be 15,000-20,000 words in length. The length is determined by the precise nature of the research in consultation with your supervisor and subject to the approval of the Dean.
Faculty Honours Seminar Program
The Honours Seminar Program helps to build an honours research culture and allows students from every Honours area to meet in a flexible way, throughout the semesters.
At least one presentation at the Honours Seminar will be a requirement of the Honours program and students will not be deemed to have successfully completed the program if they have not presented at the Seminar.
Examination
All coursework is normally graded internally. A copy of your thesis will be sent to two independent examiners, one of whom is normally internal and the other of whom is external to this University.
Assessment Requirements
To be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) students are required to pass the thesis and all components of the coursework. Satisfactory participation in the Faculty Honours Seminar is also required.
Classes of Honours
The degree is awarded in one of the three classes:
- Class 1
- Class 2 (Class 2 Honours is awarded as Division 1 or Division
2)
- Class 3
The class of Honours awarded may not be more than one grade higher than the grade for the thesis. For example, if you receive a Credit for your thesis, you may not be awarded the Honours degree at a higher level than Class 2 Division 1, regardless of the average mark.
Enquiries
Bruce Williams
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259; Email: bwillia4@usc.edu.au