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Bachelor of Arts (BART) - BA

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Distance education: 909405; Toowoomba campus: 909441; Springfield campus: 929441

CRICOS code (International applicants): 009258A

 On-campus*^Distance education
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus:Springfield, Toowoomba -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration:3 years full-time, 6 years part-time or external 
Program articulation:

From: Diploma of Arts

To: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Footnotes
*The Bachelor of Arts is being introduced at the Springfield campus commencing in 2012. However, at this stage, not all of the majors and minors that are offered on-campus at Toowoomba are being delivered at Springfield campus. As a result, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts at Springfield are eligible to undertake any of the external and web courses offered through Toowoomba.
^Majors to be available at Springfield include: English Literature (phased in from 2012) and Journalism (phased in from 2011). A minor in Communication and Media Studies and History (phased in from 2012) will also be available at Springfield.

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: studyarts@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

In this section:

Program focus

Driven by a fascination with people and society and a thirst to learn, the intellectual challenge and critical thinking skills developed by a study of arts has equipped our greatest thinkers, philosophers and policy makers for generations. The Bachelor of Arts program at USQ provides a broad-reaching plan of study, with opportunities to specialise in two or three areas of study within Communications, Creative Arts, Humanities and International Relations, as well as optional and elective study choices from dozens of additional fields of study. Building on core studies in a range of academic skills, the Bachelor of Arts offers a flexible study pattern across several skill and knowledge-bases, while also allowing you to gain substantial progress toward career paths within specific disciplinary or professional fields. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts should be able to apply both intellectual and practical skills to further study, research, and employment in a wide range of careers.

Anthropology major

This major provides students with understanding and insight into the nature of human behaviour and how people live and work together in various kinds of social groups. The study of Anthropology helps students learn to understand the physical and cultural similarities and differences between people.

Career opportunities

Career options are available in social planning, community development and social policy, as well as in a wide range of public service and welfare occupations, and in cultural heritage and Native Title consultancy. To become a professional anthropologist or sociologist, graduates must undertake a fourth year Honours degree.

Archaeology major

The archaeology major provides you with an in-depth perspective on the past, as well as practical archaeological training, including field methods and laboratory analysis. As this major is ‘hands-on’ there is a compulsory for some course offerings, giving you the chance to get real life experience. The archaeology major combines anthropology and history courses and selected archaeological field methods courses from our partner institutions.

Career opportunities

The career outcomes are similar to those shown above under Anthropology.

Asian Studies major

This major combines studies in an Asian language and its culture together with theoretical perspectives that apply to Asian institutional structures, policy frameworks, political systems and ideologies, economies and security regimes. Students will also study the complexities of cross-cultural interaction and issues.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist in public service, ethnic affairs, foreign and defence affairs, business, international trade and tourism.

Australian Studies major

This Interdisciplinary major provides students with a broad perspective on issues linked to the Australian continent and its populations, its history and culture, its Indigenous peoples and its place in the modern global world. Drawing on diverse fields of study, including anthropology, communications and media studies, drama, English literature, history, Indigenous studies, international relations, and music, the major will equip students to address contemporary cultural and social issues of national importance, in terms of both its national, regional and global contexts.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist in a wide range of occupations in the public and private sectors, including government work, teaching and research, community work and business.

Communication and Media Studies major

This major combines the study of human communication theory with the development of human communication skills. Students will analyse the areas of language, film, television and culture, while learning about interpersonal, group and mass communication, and communication in multicultural societies. Students will develop an understanding of communication problems in society by examining communication processes at all levels.

Career opportunities

Opportunities exist in public relations, communication policy, management, administration and the arts, culture and media industries, teaching and community development.

Contemporary International Studies major

This interdisciplinary major looks at Australia’s place in the international and the contemporary world. It draws on courses from history, international relations, languages, cultural studies and politics to provide a broad perspective on contemporary issues in our world today. Students are encouraged to consider spending a semester studying abroad as part of this major.

Career opportunities

Opportunities for careers exist in many areas of the private and public sector, including international business and government, foreign affairs and trade, research and development. This major combines very well with studies in business and/or law.

Creative Media major

This major focuses on providing a creative environment for students interested in the artistic use of computer driven digital technologies, with a focus on conceptualising, designing and applying self-generated projects sustained upon a firm technological base and professional application. Students will work in the field, in the television studio, sound studios and design and computer labs to realise their projects. Please note that no mid-year enrolments are accepted into this major. Students will need to consult the discipline coordinator regarding their enrolment.

Career opportunities

Television production, animator, video and sound production, secondary teacher (with further study).

Drama - see Theatre Theory major

English Literature major

English has one of the longest and richest traditions of writing, and the English literature major offers a structured view of this large body of knowledge. The study of English literature also develops students' skills in forming critical arguments, conducting research, and documenting evidence. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app in this area encourages students to be analytical and to develop a clear and expressive writing style in a range of modes. Students examine both the great texts and innovative and contemporary works of poetry, prose, drama, film, new media and critical essays.

Career opportunities

Career options are available to graduates in such areas as teaching, librarianship, publishing, media and the public service.

German - see Language and Culture major

History major

This major provides a challenge for those with an enquiring mind. History is not unlike a forensic science; it examines clues, assesses the reliability of witnesses and seeks out the reasons and truth behind an event. Historians have insight into what events have happened and why. Students will examine world civilisations, historic and contemporary Australia, race relations in Australian history, European and American history, and the 20th century.

Career opportunities

Employment fields range from teaching, librarianship, museum consultancy and archival work to journalism, media and the public service.

Indigenous Studies major

The major gives students an understanding of Australian Indigenous perspectives and ways of thinking and allows one to see the value and contribution of Indigenous Australians to contemporary Australian society. This major will be of particular value to students studying nursing, education, anthropology or journalism.

Career opportunities

Employment fields range across a wide range of public and private sector organisations, including public service and government, community work, teaching and research.

Indonesian Language major

Students will develop formal and informal communication skills in the Indonesian language, learn grammar and language structures, and acquire a vocabulary of some 4,500 commonly used words. Skills will be developed for conversation, reading and writing. Learn about the language and culture through contemporary Indonesian literature, popular newspapers and magazines. No prior knowledge of the language is needed.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist in Australia and overseas in international business, tourism and federal or state government departments (e.g. trade, tourism, immigration, defence and foreign affairs). Combined with a graduate entry degree in Education, it is possible to pursue a career in primary or secondary teaching.

International Relations major

This major is designed to strengthen students’ understanding of Australian domestic and external affairs. A range of theoretical perspectives is examined, including institutional structures, policy frameworks, political systems and ideologies, economies and security regimes in various regions. Students will also study the complexities of cross-cultural interaction and issues, which will be developed analytically through issue-based, problem-solving approaches.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist in public service, ethnic affairs, foreign and defence affairs, business, international trade and tourism.

Journalism major

Students prepare for a career in journalism or a related field by reporting, writing, editing, designing and producing for the Web, television, radio, newspapers and magazines. A wide range of knowledge and skills across multiple media, and a focus on hands-on experience, enables students to work in the 21st century's digital newsrooms. Students are also encouraged to link with industry by undertaking internships as journalists.

Career opportunities

Our graduates are working in radio, television, online and print media, throughout Australia and overseas. They include news and specialist reporters, columnists, commentators, copywriters, producers, sub-editors, editors, newsreaders and presenters. Journalism skills are also valued in public relations, publishing, law, commerce and business - where experienced journalists have become media officers, publishers, editors, speechwriters for government officials, politicians and executives, and corporate communicators.

Language and Culture major

The Language and Culture major offers students the choice of study in either German or Mandarin Chinese. The Language and Culture major will equip students for the challenges and opportunities of global citizenship in the twenty-first century, teaching competencies in both language and cultural knowledge. It uses the experience of language learning as a gateway into the broader study of German and Chinese history, politics, culture, traditions, customs and national identities. Language and Culture teaches foreign language skills as a means for students to acquire an enhanced cross-cultural awareness and to prepare them effectively for the real-life possibility of studying and living abroad.

Career opportunities

The study of language and culture equips students for a variety of careers, including international business, trade and diplomatic services, journalism and foreign correspondent work, arts and the creative professions and teaching abroad. Language and culture is also the ideal preparation for overseas professional placements or exchanges in fields such as business, engineering, sciences and information technology.

Mandarin Chinese - see Language and Culture major

Music (Theory and History) major

The music major consists of several survey courses in music history and repertoires, including both classical and popular Western traditions and courses in both aural and written musicianship, including song-writing and harmony.

Career opportunities

These majors are meant to complement skills acquired through other Arts studies. Supported by further study, careers as a teacher, librarian, music administrator, music critic or concert promoter are available to you.

Popular Culture major

This Interdisciplinary major allows a comprehensive sweep across the various elements that formed and which make up popular culture today. It includes relevant courses from across the Faculty of Arts, from areas as diverse as creative arts, media studies, journalism, literature and history. This combination will be particularly useful to prospective secondary teachers and workers in the media.

Career opportunities

This major is a good foundation for a number of careers in both private and public sectors, including various parts of the media, communications, business and the arts.

Public Relations major

With this major you will gain the skills and knowledge to review communication policies within an organisation and develop and implement communication programs and strategies. This major will also equip you with skills required in the industry, such as creating public awareness campaigns and improving organisation, public and media relations. This major will help you identify communication problems of organisations through appropriate research and strategic planning.

Career opportunities

Most organisations recognise the importance of public relations to ensure the support of the public, media, government and their own staff. Opportunities exist in the areas of corporate public relations, consulting, government organisations, lobby groups, environmental and social issues, fund-raising, publicity and promotion, and community development.

Theatre Theory major

The theatre major includes studies in the history of theatre and its repertoires. It also examines the role of theatre in observing, mirroring and altering its cultural context.

Career opportunities

Collaborative artist, events manager, play and screenwriter, arts administrator, secondary teacher (with further study), community arts officer, youth arts officer.

Visual Arts Theory major

Visual Arts Theory introduces social, cultural, historical and philosophical issues affecting studio practice and its reception.

Career opportunities

This major is designed to complement skills acquired through other Arts studies. Supported by further study, careers as a teacher, librarian, artist, art critic or curator are available to you.

Writing and Society major

This innovative interdisciplinary major allows students to study across a diverse yet interconnected range of courses, all of which focus in some way on writing and its social dimensions. Students are able to choose between and to combine writing in different forms, such as creative writing, writing for the media and public relations, editing and publishing, journalism and newly evolving media such as webpages and blogs, studied in a context of contemporary history, culture and literature.

Career opportunities

Students will have opportunities in many evolving areas of the contemporary world and economy that stress the importance of writing and communications. Examples include creative writing, journalism, the media, editing and publishing.