Program summary 
Program overview
Honours areas 
Entry requirements 
Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
Program structure
Program requirements and notes
Classes of honours
Enquiries

Program summary

Award abbreviation: BA(Hons)
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places, domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Program code: AR401
CRICOS code: 026637D

Program overview

An honours degree offers you the opportunity to continue your undergraduate studies at a higher level, specialising in your area of interest. Completing an honours degree develops your ability to design and complete a research project relatively independently within a given time frame.

This style of independent learning can give you an advantage when entering the workforce. An honours degree is also the main pathway to further postgraduate study, particularly research-focused study.

In the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, research supervision is offered in a wide range of research areas by experienced academic staff. You might like to visit current honours projects or ideas for research projects.

Honours areas

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is offered in the following areas:

• Australian and Cultural Studies
• Communication Studies
• Creative Writing
• Environmental and Planning Studies
• Historical Studies
• Journalism
• Justice Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Public Relations
• Social and Community Studies
• Sociology
• Studies in Art and Design

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 good 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.

Program structure

The honours program structure is normally as follows:

1. a 48 unit coursework component (consisting of a combination of courses weighted from 12 to 24 units, up to 48 units), and
2. 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:

• CMN574 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
• reading courses based on a program of supervised reading
• existing courses in the chosen area of study, with additional prescribed reading and assessment
• dedicated honours courses, or
• relevant courses through other universities

Thesis component

The thesis component consists of a sustained scholarly project developed from the research proposal submitted with the enrolment application. The nature and topic of this component is determined by your interests, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.

The research proposal accompanying the honours enrolment application is normally 2-3 pages. It includes an outline of the research topic, its rationale, an indication of the research methodology, and should refer to relevant literature in the topic area.

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, normally of 15,000-25,000 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.

How to apply

Apply for an honours program.

Enquiries

Dr Elizabeth Eddy
Honours Coordinator
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1269
Email: eeddy@usc.edu.au

Dr Peter Innes
Research Coordinator
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5459 4802
Email: pinnes@usc.com.au 

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