Bachelor of Arts

A flexible arts degree offering a large selection of humanities and social sciences majors. Develop critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, and communication skills.

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About the Course

With our flexible Bachelor of Arts, you can choose from a wide range of majors and minors taught by La Trobe's passionate and committed staff. This flexible degree allows you to pursue your passion and your profession, while keeping your career options open.

Shape your own future with this interdisciplinary course. You’ll specialise in at least one area by choosing a major from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS), and then explore your interests or build an essential skill by choosing secondary majors, minors and electives from HUSS and select other areas of the University. You’ll graduate with your majors and minors listed on your academic transcript, so future employers can recognise your expertise.

Create your own path. Want to major in Sociology, with a second major in Marketing, then take a Creative and Professional Writing subject as an elective? Go for it. Or perhaps you’d like to pair Politics and English? Or Crime, Justice and Legal Studies with Linguistics? Build your own future – we’re here to help you achieve your dream. No matter which path you choose, you’ll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

In your first year, you’ll explore your interests and passions, trying out subjects from a range of different areas. In your second and third years, you’ll delve deeper while also choosing electives and minors that broaden your skills and knowledge.

Studying online offers you the flexibility to complete the degree from wherever you’re based. Throughout your degree, you’ll be well supported by La Trobe’s passionate and committed academics, who are experts in their fields. Many of La Trobe’s online subjects in Humanities and Social Sciences also give you the opportunity to log in to live sessions and engage directly with academics and your fellow students in real time.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement at organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.* Many of our exchange programs are financially supported.

The world is waiting for you. Step into it.

Course Entry Requirements

Successful completion of two of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects:

LST1LOJ Law and (Dis) Order
SOC1SAC Society and Culture: Introduction to Sociology
ARC1THJ The Human Journey
POL1SNS States, Security and International Relations

Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites

Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:

are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.

Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page page for further information.

La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.

Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.

Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:

Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.

*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit

Course Structure

Recommended study pattern

This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field.

Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.

Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:

Award requirements

To quality for the award of Bachelor of Arts, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:

8 major subjects
16 elective subjects (which can include an additional major or minors)

Choose your subjects

Majors

Students must complete a course related major sequence consisting of 8 subjects (120 credit points) from the following arts majors:

Archaeological and Heritage Studies
Creative and Professional Writing
Crime, Justice and Legal Studies
Digital Media
English
History
Hindi Studies Beginners
Human Geography
Linguistics
Philosophy
Politics
Psychological Science
Sustainability and Development
Sociology
Visual Cultures

In addition, students may wish to complete a second major sequence consisting of 8 subjects (120 credit points) from the list above, or one of the following business majors:

Agribusiness
Digital Business
Enterprise
Management
Marketing

Electives

Students can complete an additional major (detailed above), minors (detailed below) or elective subjects.

Students may wish to complete a course related minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following arts minors:

Anthropology
Archaeological and Heritage Studies
Cognitive and Developmental Psychology
Creative and Professional Writing
Crime, Justice and Legal Studies
Digital Media
English
Environmental Humanities
Hindi Studies Beginners
History
Human Geography
Linguistics
Philosophy
Politics
Psychological Science
Sociology
Sustainability and Development
Visual Cultures

Students may wish to complete a minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following business minors:

Accountancy
Agribusiness
Digital Business
Digital Marketing
Enterprise
Human Resources Management
Management

Exit points

Upon completion of Level one 8 subjects (120 credit points), students have the option to exit with a Diploma of Arts (AD002O).*

*Please note that if you are a past La Trobe student who has discontinued study, or if you have been absent without leave, you are not eligible to apply for an alternative exit retrospectively.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Apply systematic, detailed knowledge and understanding of at least one discipline or interdisciplinary area in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Develop creative, critical and analytical skills to address problems in a range of social and cultural contexts.
Demonstrate high-level, ethical, professional and culturally aware communication skills.
Design and conduct independent and collaborative research into complex problems relating to social issues, considering ethical implications and multiple perspectives.
Navigate, critically assess and strategically utilise information from both physical and digital sources.
Demonstrate flexibility and resourcefulness to act as critically engaged global citizens.