UNSW is a progressive university, which engages in a practical way with contemporary social issues. That ethos is reflected in our Arts and Social Sciences programs, with their unique opportunities for work-integrated learning and international experiences. Our professionally designated programs, the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and the Bachelor of Social Work, provide you with hands-on professional training and credentials. Our programs and specialisations in Media, Criminology, Development Studies and Environmental Humanities prepare you for a career in those fields, as well as deepening your understanding of them. The Bachelor of Social Research and Policy develops skills in conducting research, analysing data and policies, writing reports, and project management – all highly relevant to careers in public policy or the private sector. The Bachelor of International Studies offers a truly global perspective, including a one-year overseas study placement at a partner institution. Our specialist creative courses in Music, Dance and Theatre and Performance combine practice with theory, to develop existing interests and talents or broaden your horizon in new directions.

The wide-ranging UNSW Bachelor of Arts is organised around the knowledge and skills you will need to succeed in a rapidly changing professional world. The BA offers you intellectual training in traditional Humanities and Social Science disciplines, while enabling you to apply this training to complex, contemporary challenges such as global development, international business and the environment. We particularly encourage you to study languages, for a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

With so many options on offer, you will need to make important decisions during your time in Arts and Social Sciences. When you need advice, visit our Student Centre on the ground floor of the Morven Brown Building. Our academic staff have feedback hours, when you can seek specialist academic advice. We encourage you to take advantage of the wide range of campus activities, from sports and clubs, such as the Arts Society, to social events and volunteering.

We hope that you will take an active role in the affairs of the University. Students are represented on UNSW’s main decision-making body, the Academic Board, as well as on many Arts and Social Sciences committees. We also invite you to comment regularly on your courses and your overall experience. We are always on the lookout for ways to improve.

Arts and Social Sciences at UNSW is a lively and welcoming community of scholars and students, buzzing with challenging ideas and focused activity. Here you will discover new ways of understanding the world, learn to think critically and communicate effectively, develop your talents and creativity, and then translate your knowledge and skills into exciting and unpredictable careers.
What we offer you is a license to explore. Study hard, have fun, and a very warm welcome to you.


Professor James Donald
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

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