Focus on your passion and contribute to arts research
This program gives you the opportunity to research an area you’re passionate about. You’ll build your research skills as you design and conduct a thesis study to contribute to arts research, with the support of a supervisor with relevant research interests and expertise in your chosen area of study.
- 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.
This program gives you the opportunity to research an area you’re passionate about. You’ll build your research skills as you design and conduct a thesis study to contribute to arts research, with the support of a supervisor with relevant research interests and expertise in your chosen area of study.
You'll learn to critically review relevant published literature and undertake useful and meaningful research. You'll also develop your presentation skills and deliver at least two lectures on your research progress.
Join our research student community and attend thesis seminars and discussion groups with fellow research students. At the end of your honours program, continue your research with further postgraduate study or a higher research degree.
Specialisations
Creative Writing and Publishing, Criminology and Justice, English, Geography, History, International Studies, Japanese Studies, Journalism, Psychology, Screen Media, Sociology, Sustainability - Society, Theatre and Performance
Admission requirements
Students must have completed a Bachelor of Arts, or a related degree from a recognised higher education institution, with at least eight courses in the area of study of their 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 University's capacity to provide appropriate supervision in the intended field of research.
Admission is available in Semester 1 only as students need to undertake the coursework component during their first semester.
Career opportunities
Depending on the research area selected, academia, government / corporate positions in policy development, public administration, journalism, multimedia design.
Program structure
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) structure is usually as follows:
- a 48 unit coursework component (consisting of a combination of courses weighted from 12 to 24 units), and
- a 48 unit thesis component.
Satisfactory participation in the School's honours seminars, including completion of at least one oral presentation, is also required.
If completing the 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:
- compulsory coursework focusing on methods and methodology (ART411 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 nature of the thesis component is determined by the topic, the area of study and the supervisor in conjunction with the Head of School. The University's Honours Seminar Program helps build an honours research culture within USC and provides opportunities for honours students from across the University to meet. At least one oral presentation at the School's honours seminars is a requirements of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
Classes of honours
The degree is awarded in one of the three classes:
- Class I
- Class IIA
- Class IIB
- Class III
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 grade for your thesis, they may not be awarded the honours degree at a higher level than Class IIA, regardless of the average mark.
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
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 96
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements and notes
Honours Seminar Program
The Honours Seminar Program helps to build an honours research culture within USC and provides opportunities for honours students from across the university to meet.
At least one oral presentation at the Honours Seminar is a requirement of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
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 the University of the Sunshine Coast