Bachelor of Arts

During this course students will:

1. Explicate a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines of the Humanities and Social Sciences as a basis for independent lifelong learning and professional application.
2. Analyse ethical practice, social justice, cultural diversity, reconciliation and environmental sustainability in diverse contexts.
3. Critique the assumptions and values inherent in human behaviour and power structures and explain the processes in past and present society that have produced social change.
4. Demonstrate the capacity to critically analyse the social, cultural, political and environmental factors that affect regional and global sustainability.
5. Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge in diverse contexts; think critically and creatively about complex problems; and evaluate different perspectives.
6. Demonstrate the cognitive and technical skills relevant to social research that facilitate communication of a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas.
7. Identify and explicate the value of Humanities and Social Sciences skills and knowledge in professional, real-world contexts.

Prepare yourself for the workforce with the ultimate skill set. When you study the Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Arts, you combine traditional humanities knowledge and skills, such as critical thinking, with professional specialisations and transferable employability skills.

Get the best of both worlds

We're changing the game when it comes to learning that works for you. Year one, you can choose to study online or combine on-campus and online study. you'll make connections with your peers and academics who are passionate about sharing their expertise. Plus, we'll keep the timetable compact so you can fit everything in. As you move into your second and third years, you'll study more online as you start to specialise. The course changes as you learn more.

Build a solid foundation - then specialise

Will you get a solid grounding in fundamental theory and practice? Of course. That's what your first year is all about. You will build on a solid foundation in humanities disciplines in first year to mix and match the areas of specialisation, from creative arts and marketing to history and sociology, in second and third year that align with your career goals.

Build your employability from day one

We worked with many organisations to develop this Bachelor of Arts course - to ensure it hits the mark for the future workplace. That's why you'll get to study employability skills subjects, gaining the aptitudes that are important in any career. Things like communication, cultural awareness and critical thinking. These are the human-centric skills that employers want.

Recommended study pattern

The course consist of:

• seven Core subjects (56 points)
• six Transferable skills subjects (12 points)
• three Work integrated learning subjects (20 points)
• Major (64 points) -
• Minor (32 points)
• one Capstone subject.

When selecting the areas of study and subjects, the following rule applies:

• A maximum of (96 points) at level 100
• A minimum of (40 points) at level 300 must be completed. Level 400 subjects will be considered to be level 300 subjects in meeting this requirement.

The Enrolment Pattern below outlines the part-time program pattern for Session 1 (February/March) intake.

PART TIME

Year 1 Session 1

COM120 Reasoning and Writing

HSS100 WIL 1: The Contemporary Bachelor of Arts (4)

EMP100 Building Resilience for the Workplace (2)

EMP109 Solving Problems with Critical Thinking (2)

Year 1 Session 2

PHL104 Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics

VPA107 Fundamentals of Visual Culture OR POL110 Australian History & Politics

Year 2 Session 1

HST101 The Short Twentieth Century

LIT111 Texts and Meaning

Year 2 Session 2

SOC101 Understanding the Social World

IKC101 First Nations Foundations: Knowing, relating and understanding Country

Continuing students transfer to nominated major.

Students may elect to exit at this point with the Diploma of Arts.

Year 3 Session 1

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Year 3 Session 2

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Year 4 Session 1

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Year 4 Session 2

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Students may elect to exit at this point with an Associate Degree in Arts.

Year 5 Session 1

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Year 5 Session 2

Major or minor subject

Major or minor subject

Year 5 Session 3

HSS200 WIL 2: Engaging with Community and Industry

OR

BUS223 Work Placement 1 ** [Business major] (6)

OR

WEL232 Workplace Learning in Human Services [Human Services major]

OR

JST321 Justice Studies Workplace Learning [Justice Studies major]

**Note: Students who choose BUSS223 (6) will need to undertake an additional Transferable Skills subject (2).

Year 6 Session 1

Transferable skills subject (2)

Transferable skills subject (2)

Transferable skills subject (2)

Transferable skills subject (2)

Year 6 Session 2

HSS302 Capstone Subject: Your Discipline, Your Region and the World

HSS303 WIL 3: The Think Well

Award requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Choose your subjects

Majors

Students select one major from the following list. Students intending to progress to a Charles Sturt Graduate Entry Teaching Program must complete Humanities Pathway to Teaching major.

Creative Arts

English

Environmental Studies

History

Human Services

Humanities Pathway to Teaching

Justice Studies

Management and Marketing

Performing Arts

Philosophy and Ethics

Psychology (Non Accredited)

Sociology

Writing and Publishing.

Exit points

Associate Degree in Arts [Exit point only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 128 points.

Diploma of Arts [Exit point only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 64 points.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $43,500

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Charles Sturt University is Australia’s most experienced online uni, and has the country’s highest graduate employment rate. From agriculture, arts, healthcare and IT, to business, law, social work and teaching—you’ll get the latest skills in your field, and learn from academics who are connected to industry. Add in 24/7 IT support, scholarships and a vibrant student community, and you can take your next, or first, career step with confidence.

Learn more about CSU.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

34

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

37

Successful completion of two university-level subjects (AQF level Associate Degree or higher) demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies.

Minimum ATAR of 55 (including adjustment factors).

• A completed AQF Certificate III or higher level qualification OR 50% completion of an AQF Diploma level qualification; OR
• Successful completion of a Tertiary Preparation Course from an Australian University or an accredited provider demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies; OR
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) with an equivalent ranking to the currently listed ATAR.

Two years full time (or equivalent) work experience that meets the following requirement: the ability to demonstrate the development of literacy, analytical skills, and social-historical knowledge.

Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants.

Please note that the following subjects have a Work Integrated Learning component. Students will select three subjects from the following list:

• HSS100WIL 1: The Contemporary Bachelor of Arts
• HSS200WIL 2: Engaging with Community and Industry
• HSS303 WIL 3: The Think Well
• BUS223 Work Placement 1
• HSS305 International Exchange
• JST321 Justice Studies Workplace Learning
• WEL232 Work Place Learning in Human Services 1
• HSS305 International Exchange