The Bachelor of Arts program is the most flexible of all the degree programs offered by the Faculty. The basic degree requirements are simple: an approved major sequence from List A and a minimum of study in other areas. Apart from that, you will have a great deal of freedom to 'focus' your degree, by choosing related courses to contribute to a particular specialisation, or to choose a wider range of courses that reflect diverse interests.

An Arts degree is a pathway through a wealth of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences. Its objective is to stimulate students intellectually; to immerse them in worlds of learning; and to graduate them as citizens with strong written and oral communications skills, the capacity to research, criticise and reflect, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

The basic requirements for the degree are:

1. a total of 144 units of credit. Each course offered by the Faculty has a unit of credit rating, depending on the number of hours taught and the type of course.

2. 48 units of credit obtained in Level 1 courses ie courses designed for students in their first year of study. Of these, no more than 12 can be in any one sequence of study. 24 units of credit must be obtained from courses offered specifically by the Faculty.

3. a major sequence (List A) in one of the following:

A major sequence is an approved progression of courses in a school, department or program: you will find details under the relevant entry.

4. at least 66 units of credit must be gained in courses offered by schools, departments or programs within the Faculty.

5. at least 66 units of credit gained in schools, departments or programs outside the school/department in which you are majoring, so that your program does not become too one-sided.

6. in addition to the areas listed under 3. above, major sequences (List B and C) are available in - List B: Aboriginal Studies, Asian Studies, Cognitive Science, Irish Studies, Jewish Studies and Philosophy of Science; List C: Art History and Theory, Biological Science, Computing, Economics/Economic History, Geography, Geology, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, International Business, Mathematics and Psychology.

7. during their second and third years of study, students are also required to complete 12 units of credit from the University's General Education program. These courses are part of the requirements for the degree and do not incur an additional HECS or fee obligation.

8. 6 units of credit in an Upper Level ARTS3000 course detailed in the Handbook.

You must include the first year requirements for at least two major sequences in schools or departments within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, as you must complete at least one to qualify for the degree. Find the courses you need from the corresponding entries in the Online Handbook: this will normally account for 24 units of credit of your first year program. In deciding what other courses to enrol in, you should consider which courses best complement the ones you have chosen. These may not necessarily be 'close relations'; for instance, a foreign language may be extremely useful for a history major, and vice versa. Unless you are a part-time student, you should enrol in courses carrying 48 units of credit.

In structuring your program for second and third year Upper Level, it is essential that you fulfill the requirements for a major sequence in the school(s) or department(s) in which you are specialising. If you have any doubts about them, make sure you consult a member of staff before enrolling in second year. Try to complement your majors with courses which will provide you with skills and perspectives which will contribute to a broader and more critical approach to your special areas of interest. Major sequences offered by programs such as AUST Australian Studies are designed to provide this kind of context. They offer an interdisciplinary alternative to a school-based major, or simply a way of giving more coherence to your other courses. Comparisons and connections are often the best way of bringing the particular problems of an area of study into clearer focus. Members of staff may be able to recommend particular courses in other schools which will help you in the direction you wish to take.

While it is desirable that all Upper Level students seek advice on their program from their home school, it is essential for intending Honours students. If you want to proceed to fourth year Honours Level in one or two schools or programs, you should work out a program which fulfills the requirements for Honours Level entry with the Head of School or program Coordinator concerned as early as possible in second year. With Combined Honours (Honours in two schools/programs) in particular, this can avoid many later problems such as missing prerequisites.

Students are also required to complete 12 units of credit from the University's General Education program during their second and third years of study. For further information, please refer to "General Education" in the Table of Contents (see left-hand side of page).

Pass Degree

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must obtain, normally over three years of study, a minimum of 144 units of credit in approved courses including:

1. a total of 48 Level 1 units of credit;

2. no more than 12 Level 1 units of credit in any one sequence of study from Lists A, B, and C below;

3. a major sequence of 42 units of credit from List A below;

4. at least 66 units of credit, including a minimum of 24 at Level 1, from sequences in Lists A and B;

5. at least 66 units of credit from courses offered outside the major sequence specified in 3. above, which may include major sequence(s) from Lists A, B or C;

6. 12 units of credit from the General Education program, normally taken in the second and third year of study;

7. 6 units of credit from a third year ARTS elective.

List A
AUST Australian Studies, CHIN Chinese Studies, COMD Development Studies, EDST Education, ENGL English, Environmental Studies, EURO European Studies, FREN French, GERS German Studies, GREK Greek (Modern), HIST History, HPSC History and Philosophy of Science, INDO Indonesian Studies, JAPN Japanese Studies, KORE Korean Studies, LING Linguistics, MEFT Media, Film and Theatre, MUSC Music, PECO Political Economy, PHIL Philosophy, POLS Politics and International Relations, RUSS Russian Studies, SLSP Policy Studies, SOCA Sociology and Anthropology, SPAN Spanish and Latin American Studies, WOMS Women's and Gender Studies.

List B
ASIA Asian Studies, ATSI Aboriginal Studies, IRSH Irish Studies, JWST Jewish Studies, LATN Latin, Philosophy of Science, SOCW Social Work.

Majors are not available in Latin or Social Work.

List C
BIOS Biological Science, CHEM Chemistry, COMP Computing, ECON Economics/Economic History, GEOH/GEOS Geography and Geology, GMAT Surveying Spacial Information and Systems, MATH Mathematics, MGMT Human Resource Management/Industrial Relations/International Business, PHYS Physics, PSYC Psychology, SAHT Art History and Theory.

Majors are not available in Chemistry, Physics or Surveying.

8. The Pass degree of Bachelor of Arts may be awarded with Distinction where a candidate has a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in all courses completed since enrolment at UNSW which are credited towards the degree.

Honours Degree

To qualify for the award of the degree at Honours level in one or two Schools/specialisations, a student must:

9. have obtained 144 units of credit in accordance with 1.-7. above and satisfied the appropriate prerequisites for entry to the Honours level program;

10. obtain a further 48 units of credit in an approved Honours program.

The Honours degree is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions and Class 3). Students who fail to obtain one of these classes may proceed to graduate with the Pass degree.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following web-page:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html