Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Program Code
BARTS

Program Faculty
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Academic Year
2025

These Program Rules should be read in conjunction with the University's policies (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies).

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts is a flexible degree program that offers a wide choice of fields to study. It is for students interested in understanding the human condition in all its diversity, finding answers to important questions about human behaviour, cultures and history, and political problems. The program provides students with specialised and transferable skills such as effective communication and creative thinking, adaptability, problem solving and analysis, teamwork, research, and professional and ethical conduct. The program allows students to explore new or existing interests, and allows them to specialise in at least one major and a minor from a range of disciplines. It also includes the opportunity to learn one (or more) of eight languages, plus they can choose to build their cultural skills by studying a semester or two overseas.

The Bachelor of Arts is an AQF Level 7 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 3 years.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand a broad and coherent body of knowledge in selected disciplines and related inter-disciplinary topics in the Humanities and Social Sciences, with an in-depth knowledge of one or more disciplines including relevant concepts, theories, skills, debates, emerging issues, and methods of inquiry.
  2. Apply creative and critical thinking to identify and solve problems within complex social contexts using rigorous techniques of inquiry involving a variety of primary and secondary sources.
  3. Communicate effectively in a range of spoken and written modes and formats within discipline and professional contexts in a variety of social, cultural and linguistic situations and contribute productively to group-based outcomes.
  4. Demonstrate career readiness and leadership skills appropriate for beginning professional practice including: 4.1 information technology skills to access, store, manage, analyse and present discipline-based information and data, and to communicate effectively with others 4.2 lifelong learning skills characterised by academic rigour, self-direction and intellectual independence.
  5. Identify social and cultural global issues and their ethical implications, and demonstrate the capacity to operate with personal and professional integrity in a range of social, cultural and linguistic contexts.
  6. Appreciate and manage their own personal capabilities through processes of self-appraisal, and demonstrate respect and mutual responsibility in sustaining productive relationships.

Conditions

Condition of enrolment
Program Maximum Duration: As specified in Table 1 of the Coursework Academic Programs Policy, this program must be completed within a Maximum Duration which includes any periods of non-enrolment, leave of absence or approved study at other institutions for credit towards a Program.

Interruption of program: Students must apply for permission from the Executive Dean or delegate before taking a Leave of Absence. Any extension of the leave without approval will result in the loss of place in the program but an application may be made to be re-admitted to the program subject to the admission procedures in place at the time.

Academic Program Rules for Bachelor of Arts

There shall be a Bachelor of Arts.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units, comprising:

  1. Level I courses to the value of at least 12 units but not exceeding 24 units.
  2. Level II and III courses to the value of at least 48 units, with at least 24 units at Level III.
  3. ARTS Core Competency course to the value of 3 units.
  4. At least one major to the value of 24 units in Arts, including a capstone course; or a major to the value of 33 units in Psychology; or a major to the value of 27 units in Mathematical Sciences.
  5. At least one minor to the value of 18 units in Arts; or in International Business, Management, Marketing; or a minor to the value of 21 units in Psychology, unless a second major is presented.
  6. The major and minor are to be taken from different areas of study.
  7. Elective courses to a maximum of 27 units.
  8. Broadening electives to the value of 9 units, only where a second major is presented that is not from the same study area.
  9. A second non Arts major to the value of 24 units may be presented from Marketing.
  10. Level I courses to a minimum of 12 units must be presented before undertaking courses at Level II.
  11. Level II courses to a minimum of 6 units must be presented before undertaking courses at Level III.
  12. No more than 24 units of elective courses offered outside of the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics.

Arts majors are available in

  • Anthropology
  • Art History and Visual Culture
  • Australian Studies
  • Chinese Studies
  • Classics
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Digital Humanities
  • Economics
  • Education
  • English
  • Film Studies
  • French Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography, Environment and Population
  • German Studies
  • History
  • Indigenous Knowledges and Society
  • Indonesian Studies
  • International Development
  • Italian Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Media
  • Modern Greek Studies
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish Studies

The following non-Arts majors can be taken only as a second major in addition to an Arts major.

  • Marketing

Arts minors are available in

  • Anthropology
  • Art History and Visual Culture
  • Australian Studies
  • Chinese Studies
  • Classics
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Digital Humanities
  • Economics
  • Education
  • English
  • Film Studies
  • French Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography, Environment and Population
  • German Studies
  • History
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • Indigenous Knowledges and Society
  • Indonesian Studies
  • International Development
  • Italian Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Media
  • Modern Greek Studies
  • Music
  • Music Education
  • Philosophy
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish Studies

The following non-Arts minors can be taken in addition to an Arts major:

  • International Business
  • Management
  • Marketing

Core Courses

Major

Minor

Electives

  • Open Electives and Broadening Electives

    To satisfy the requirements for Open Electives and Broadening Electives students must adhere to the following:

    Courses to the value of 27 units from the following:

    Of these courses:

    • A maximum of 24 units can be chosen from any other undergraduate courses offered by the University that are available to the student.  All remaining electives must be chosen from disciplines within the Faculty of Arts. Business, Law and Economics.
    • At least 9 units must be from outside the major and minor areas.  These are known as broadening electives.
    Students who complete a second major are exempt from this requirement.