Dr Lucy Potter, Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching)

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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What I am going to talk about

1. HUMSS Programs2. Structure of the Bachelor of Arts3. Majors in the Bachelor of Arts4. How a major works5. Electives 6. The Enquiring Mind: Arts of Engagement7. My Advice

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The Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is internationally recognised as a flexible degree program that offers a wide choice of fascinating fields to study. It attracts students interested in understanding the human condition in all its diversity, finding answers to important questions about human behaviour, cultures and history, and understanding the major social and political problems of our time.

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Disciplinary areas and Disciplines

The current School of History and Politics offers 2 broad disciplinary areas

1. History 2. Politics and International Studies

The current School of Social Sciences offers 4 broad disciplinary areas

1. Anthropology and Development Studies

2. Asian Studies (including Chinese and Japanese)

3. Geography, Environment and Population

4. Gender Studies and Social Analysis

The current School of Humanities is comprised of 9 Disciplines

• Classics• English and Creative

Writing• European Studies• French Studies• German Studies• Linguistics• Media• Philosophy• Spanish

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Named and double degrees

Named Degrees• BA Advanced• B Development Studies• B Environmental Policy and

Management• B International Studies• B Languages• B Languages with double

major• B Social Sciences• Diploma of Languages• B Media• B Music

Double Degrees• BA and B Econ• BA and B Sciences• B International studies and

BA• B International Studies and B

Econ• B Media and BA• B Media and B International

Studies• B Teaching and BA• B Health Sciences and B

Social Sciences• BA and B Music

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The Bachelor of Arts: Christmas tree metaphor

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Decorating your tree: choice and flexibility

• Majors• Minors• Electives

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What are majors and minors?

MajorA major requires you to pass at least 24 units of courses (with no more than 6 units at first year level) within one discipline area e.g. English, History or Asian Studies. As the majority of courses are worth 3 units each, a major equates to 8 courses (or subjects) within the one area, studied across your degree. The exceptions are a major in either Psychology or International Business, for which you must complete 33 and 27 units respectively.Major course lists are available at www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/majorsminors/

MinorA Minor requires you to pass at least 18 units of courses (with no more than 6 units at first year level) within one discipline area e.g. English, History or Asian Studies. As the majority of courses are worth 3 units each, a minor equates to 6 courses (or subjects) within the one area, studied across your degree. A minor must be in a different discipline to your major or primary area of study.Minor course lists are available at www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/majorsminors/

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BA Study Plan

http://www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/degrees/

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BA Study Plan translated

• 24 units in a major (no more than 6 units at level 1 and at least 18 units from advanced levels)

• 18 units in a minor (with no more than 6 units at level 1)• 30 units of electives, including the Faculty’s core course

The Enquiring Mind: Arts of Engagement (ARTS 1007)• Total units = 72• *A maximum of 24 units of elective courses may be

taken from Faculties other than H&SS. Courses listed on the Arts major and minor lists (including those from other faculties) are exempt from this list: ie in addition to The Enquiring Mind: Arts of Engagement, only one other elective need come from H&SS

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What majors and minors are there in the BA?

• Anthropology

• Art History and Visual Culture (available as a minor only)

• Asian Studies

• Chinese

• Classics

• Creative Writing

• Development Studies (for commencing and continuing students)

• Economics#

• English

• English for B Arts/B Teaching students

• European Studies

• French Studies

• Gender Studies and Social Analysis

• Geography, Environment and Population

• German Studies

• Hispanic Studies

• History

• Indonesian

• International Business#

• Italian

• Japanese

• Linguistics

• Management (for commencing and continuing students)#

• Marketing#

• Modern Greek

• Music Studies

• Philosophy

• Politics and International Studies

• Psychology (can only be studied as a major)

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Double Major

• You can also do two Majors in the BA as a single degree: the names of both these Majors will appear on your academic parchment when you graduate: eg. BA (English and History).

• If you choose 2 majors, you do not need to study a minor.

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Electives: open and closed /cognate

Open ElectivesOpen elective courses can be chosen from Humanities & Social Sciences (HUMSS) or other Faculties:

For HUMSS electives, see our HUMSS Courses page. HUMSS courses are divided into Level I (first year) and Advanced Level (second and third year).

For other Faculties’ courses, search the Course Planner. Ensure that there are no prerequisites or restrictions that will prevent you from taking the courses. Also, please be aware how many courses from other Faculties you are allowed to take towards your Study Plan.

Closed / Cognate Electives

Cognates or closed electives (formally called approved electives) are compulsory courses that you must study towards your degree; however you have the flexibility to choose from a list of closed courses. The degrees which require closed electives or cognates are as follows: Bachelor of Development Studies, Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management, Bachelor of International Studies, Bachelor of Media, Bachelor of Social Sciences and the Bachelor of Languages. View the relevant closed elective lists to choose your courses.Closed elective and cognate course lists are available at www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/majorsminors/.

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Review

• How many courses do you need to construct a Major sequence?

• How many units do you need to construct a Major?

• Can you construct a Major from First Year courses alone?

• Can you construct a Major from Advanced courses alone?

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Answers

• How many courses do you need to construct a Major sequence? – 8 courses

• How many units do you need to construct a Major? – 24 (8 courses x 3 units)

• Can you construct a Major from First Year courses alone? – No. You can only count 2 courses (6 units) from First Year towards

your Major.

– You need at least 6 courses (18 units) at Advanced level.

• Can you construct a Major from Advanced courses alone? – Yes. You need 24 points from Advanced courses.

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ARTS 1007 The Enquiring Mind: Arts of Engagement• This course prepares students for study in the

Humanities and Social Sciences, no matter what their program or major might be.  

• The course takes the position that the pursuit of knowledge is the fundamental purpose of a university education.

• It aims to equip students for study through the interdisciplinary presentation and investigation of broad perspectives (the 'Big' Questions) in the Humanities and Social Science, and the systematic teaching of the key academic skills required in scholarly enquiry.

• The main focus of the course is the process of intellectual discovery in its own right as students progress through the following segmented but interconnected stages of research: search and select; investigate; synthesise and evaluate; report.

• Students will gain an understanding of the ways in which meaning is made through various representational forms - including language, film, art and music - and be able to recognise the relevance of research in the real world. 

• The course is taught by experienced, research-active academics.

 

 

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Speaking Freely

Week Broad Topic of Lecture (provisional)

1 Introduction and Fundamentals of Free Speech / Expression

2 The Body

3 Visual Art

4 Music

5 Film

6 Social Movements

7 Communities and Cultures: Dealing with Difference

8 Presentation of the Self: How can we Look?

9 Dissent: Challenging Custom, Law and Government

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Learning Outcomes  On successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. understand the ways in which meaning is made through various representational forms, including language, film, art and music.

 

2. comprehend the importance of cultural difference and diversity in interpreting representational forms.

 

3. recognise the nature of research and its relevance to the real world

 

4. locate, access, and evaluate information including both primary and secondary source material through the preparation of assessment tasks

 

5. apply academic conventions in assessment tasks, including principles of intellectual honesty and respect

 

6. use technologies appropriate to the University learning environment

 

7. analyse contemporary issues central to the Humanities and Social Sciences

 

8. operate effectively in small groups in the discovery of new knowledge, and in the preparation and presentation of research based on that discovery

 

9. communicate coherent, evidence-based arguments in written and spoken forms.

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Assessment (provisional)

1. Annotated Bibliography2. Research Essay3. Policy Report4. Group Conference presentation5. Seminar participation

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Does it matter whether I do ARTS 1007 in semester 1 or semester 2?

No

This course aims to prepare you for your second and third years of study (and possibly beyond) by giving you the higher level skills you need to research and communicate in Humanities and Social Sciences courses. You will work on building these skills in your semester 1 and 2 courses, where they are linked specifically with the discipline area/content of the courses. ARTS 1007 provides opportunities for both self-directed and collaborative learning under the guidance of an experienced, research-active academic, and provides an understanding of how different Disciplines within the Faculty interact in the investigation of problems.

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My Advice

• To help you decide on a major(s), do level 1 courses in areas that were your favourite/strength at school, or you are interested in but were unable to study at school.

• In terms of choosing a minor, think about logical connections with your major that will strengthen your knowledge in that Discipline (eg: a Linguistics minor with a Language major; a Classics minor with an English major; a Creative Writing minor with an English major; a Politics and International Studies minor with a History major; an Anthropology major with a Development Studies minor, or vice versa etc).

• Commit to your major and minor (or two majors) at the end of your first year of study and plan for years 2 and 3 accordingly, with the advice of Discipline advisors in your major(s). Stay on track.

• Choose electives that interest you but may take you out of your comfort zone (be courageous and adventurous). Guard against getting ‘lost’ in the elective space.

• Since there is scope for electives outside of H&SS go forth and broaden your mind by studying in another Faculty (ie the benefits of the so-called ‘liberal’ education).

• Study Abroad: go for it (to count towards either your major or your minor or as electives: seek advice before you choose).

• Construct an individualised Study Plan based on your decisions about your major and minor (or majors) at the end of your first year of study. Consult with staff at the Faculty Office.

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Change is possible

• Change in the short term: you can drop and add courses online until Monday 17 March

• Change in the longer term: you can change your choice of majors and minors because only 6 units of Level 1 study can be counted towards a major (this means that you can make up a major – 24 units – from Advanced level courses alone)

• Credit for courses completed if you wish to change your program or the structure of it

So……..

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So, drop in

Advice and Support

• H&SS Faculty Office (ground floor of the Napier Building)

• H&SS websitehttp://www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/

• Discipline Advisorshttp://www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/advisors/

• University Supporthttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/firstyear/

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