Become a creative, critical thinker
Follow your interests and build your own career with a flexible Bachelor of Arts. Choose from a wide range of specialisations, including literature, history, politics and international studies, sociology, and more.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- ^First- and second-year year courses offered at USC Moreton Bay from Semester 1, 2021. Not all majors/minors are available at USC Moreton Bay.
- ^First- and second-year year courses offered at USC Moreton Bay from Semester 1, 2021. Not all majors/minors are available at USC Moreton Bay.
Follow your interests and build your own career with a flexible Bachelor of Arts. Choose from a wide range of specialisations, including literature, history, politics and international studies, sociology, and more.
As an Arts graduate, you’ll enter the global marketplace of ideas with advanced skills in critical and creative thinking.
In this program you will:
- Explore new ideas and ways of thinking
- Become a skilled communicator
- Develop specialist knowledge in subjects that interest you
- Build advanced critical thinking, research and writing skills
Career opportunities:
(depending on majors selected)
- Researcher
- Publisher / editor
- Sociologist
- Geographer
- Historian
- Policy officer
- Government / development professional
- Media and communications professional
- Writer
Membership
Eligibility for memberships depends on areas of specialisation.
Majors/Minors:
Sunshine Coast
Majors: Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Geography; History; International Studies; Japanese In-country (Major); Japanese Studies; Japanese In-country (Extended Major); Journalism; Psychology; Screen Media; Sociology; Sustainability - Society; Theatre and Performance
Minors: Behavioural Science; Counselling Skills; Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; Development Studies; English; Environmental Geography; Geospatial Analysis; Global Environmental Politics; History; Human Geography; Indigenous Studies; International and Human Rights; International Studies; Japanese Studies; Journalism; Music; Town Planning Studies; Screen Media; Social Theory; Sociology; Sustainability; Theatre and Performance
Moreton Bay
Majors: Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Geography; History; Journalism; Psychology; Screen Media; Sustainability - Society
Minors: Behavioural Science; Counselling Skills; Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Environmental Geography; Geospatial Analysis; History; Human Geography; Indigenous Studies; Indigenous Studies; Journalism; Screen Media; Sustainability;
Online
Majors: Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Journalism; Screen Media
Minors: Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Journalism; Screen Media
Please note that not all study components and/or combinations of study components included in this program may be able to be completed in the minimum duration. Please contact the Program Coordinator if you require written confirmation prior to accepting a place in this program.
In 2021, first-year courses in this degree will be available online. Second-year courses will be offered online from 2022, and third-year courses from 2023. If you wish to study online and are intending to apply for credit for previous studies, please contact Student Central to discuss your options.
Please note: Not all courses are available online. Depending on your choice of majors and/or electives, some courses may require regular on-campus attendance at USC Sunshine Coast or USC Moreton Bay. For more detail, please visit the USC website.
Program structure
Introductory courses (2) 24 units
SUS101 Corporations Law
SCS130 Civil Procedure
Developing and Graduate courses (2) 24 units
SCS225 Social Sciences and Humanities Project
PLUS select one course (12 units) from:
CMN313 Administrative Law
SCS300 Professional Conduct
Major and minor courses (16)* 192 units
Select 2 majors (16 courses/192 units) OR Select 1 Extended major (12 courses/144 units) and 1 minor (4 courses/ 48 units) OR
1 major (8 courses/96 units) and 2 minors (4 courses each/ 48 units each) from those listed below:
* With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students may replace a specified major or minor with a study component deemed to be equivalent commenced or completed at another university or comparable tertiary institution.
Majors (8) (96 units):
Creative Writing and Publishing
Criminology and Justice
English
Geography
History
International Studies^
Japanese In-country (Major)^
Japanese Studies^
Japanese In-country (Extended Major)^ (144 units)
Journalism
Psychology
Screen Media
Sociology^
Sustainability - Society
Theatre and Performance^
Minors (4) (48 units):
Behavioural Science^
Counselling Skills
Creative Writing and Publishing
Criminology and Justice
Development Studies
English
Environmental Geography
Geospatial Analysis
Global Environmental Politics
History
Human Geography
Indigenous Studies^
International and Human Rights
International Studies^
Japanese Studies^
Journalism
Music^
Town Planning Studies
Screen Media
Social Theory^
Sociology^
Sustainability
Theatre and Performance^
^Not currently available at Moreton Bay campus
Elective courses (4)* 48 units
Select 4 elective courses (48units) from the undergraduate elective course options.
* Students who select the Sociology or Sustainability Major or Minor will be required to select 5 electives.
The selection of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen - refer to program requirements.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses (120 units)
- Complete no less than 3 graduate level (300 coded) courses (36 units)
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.