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• Creative and Performing Arts
• English and Writing
• Film, Media and Cultural Studies
• Languages
• History
• Linguistics
• Philosophy and Religion
• Sociology and Anthropology

Is Arts for you?

Doing an Arts degree builds your knowledge and understanding of the world, enables you to better communicate across culture, gender and religion, and equips you with skills that will see you through life.

An arts degree is for you if you have an interest in broadening your view of the world, and enjoy critically analysing where we've been, where we are now, and where we may be going in the future. It allows the flexibility and choice to pursue specific areas of interest to you.

Combined degrees

There are a range of degrees that can be combined with a Bachelor of Arts to further strengthen your employment prospects.

The following combinations can be completed in four to five years, when you study full-time:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts

Equipping you with sought after skills

As an Arts graduate, you have highly developed research, communication, creative, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, and the capacity to think outside the square. These are the skills that employers look for when making recruitment choices.

As well as equipping you with these general skills, an Arts degree also builds specialist skills, in the area(s) of your choice.

Majors and minors

As you progress through the Bachelor of Arts, you will complete two majors OR one major and two minors. There are a wide range of areas to major and minor in, and each of them is very different in terms of what you learn, what you will build skills in and what career outcomes they deliver.

Aboriginal studies

The Aboriginal studies major provides students with the opportunity to study various aspects of Indigenous Peoples' experiences and perspectives with a focus on Indigenous histories, societies, leadership styles, cultures and issues to do with Aboriginal communities. The major also aims to increase Indigenous students' pride and confidence in their identity and culture.

Graduates with a major in Aboriginal studies find employment in a wide range of government and non-government sectors in areas requiring specific skills in cross cultural awareness, as well as Aboriginal institutions concerned with land councils, medical services, legal services, cooperatives, and housing companies.

Students should be aware that within this sector there are a number of positions which are Indigenous identified. There are also many positions within the government and non-government sectors, which may not be directly focused on Indigenous affairs, but require the transferable skills such as oral, written and interpersonal communication skills that are developed during the course. Post graduate study also opens a variety of opportunities to Aboriginal studies graduates in the business, education, health, and legal sectors.

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Ancient history and classical languages:

Ancient history is currently the 7th most popular subject for NSW HSC students and many students wish to continue classical studies at university. Ancient history and classical languages are offered as one joint major. Students can choose from a range of ancient history and classical languages courses to complete the ancient history and classical languages major.

Ancient history courses provide students with the opportunity to study ancient societies, primarily Greek and Roman, their culture, archaeology and history. Ancient history students are valued in the workforce for their ability to express themselves eloquently in both written and verbal forms, for their analytical skills and for their appreciation of historical concepts and their relevance in modern society. Careers often include law, journalism, publishing, teaching, policy development and the public service sector.

The classical languages courses allow students the opportunity to study aspects of both or either the Latin or Greek classical languages. The courses undertaken as part of this major aim to provide students with both a grammatical and practical understanding of the ancient languages but also an understanding of key cultural and historical concepts and issues. An appreciation of modern English in relation to the historical languages is also developed.

Creative and performing arts:

The creative and performing arts major allows students the opportunity to study a broad range of subject areas in the creative and performing arts, taught from an interdisciplinary perspective. Courses are offered at the Callaghan and Central Coast campuses and include a diverse range of visual art, drama and performance making courses that explore critical concepts and issues relevant to the creative and performing arts.

Graduates of this major are valued for their communication skills, critical thinking, artistic and creative ability, project management skills, technical knowledge and understanding of interpersonal and group dynamics.

Employment opportunities exist in the arts in both the government and private sectors, as well as in other creative industries such as advertising, journalism, public relations and marketing. Creative and performing arts majors may find their employment opportunities in these areas are improved by combining their studies with related courses. Additionally, post-graduate study may provide a variety of other career opportunities in the education, legal and management sectors.

English and writing:

The focus of the English and writing major is the critical study of literature from various periods, including world literature in translation and literary practice (creative writing). Students have the opportunity to study various literary genres such as renaissance literature, children's literature, postcolonial writing, contemporary fiction and poetry and develop an appreciation for the historical and cultural contexts of texts. They may also pursue practical training in creative writing and acquire an understanding of the diverse range of media available to the contemporary writer (print, theatre, film, online and television). The courses offered in this major emphasise training in creativity, critical thinking and effective written communication, vital skills sought by creative industries that include education, publishing, advertising, journalism, television and other media.

Employment opportunities exist in the above areas, as well as in government sectors, law, public relations and business corporations where communication skills and critical thinking are highly valued (complementing this major with relevant courses may increase employability in these areas). Pursuing honours in English and creative writing can improve the critical and creative skills acquired at the undergraduate level, thus enhancing career prospects. It also prepares students to undertake independent research at postgraduate level.

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Film, media and cultural studies

The film, media and cultural studies major provides students with opportunities for integrated, in-depth explorations of film, media and culture that will equip them with detailed knowledge and a critical understanding of the pivotal role of the media in contemporary societies. As an interdisciplinary major, film, media and cultural studies complements other media and sociology courses, as well as courses offered in visual and performing arts, leisure and tourism, marketing and IT. Courses within the major explore the historical, textual, political and social contexts of media and culture, with an emphasis upon practical investigation of both local and global debates.

Graduates of this major are well prepared for careers in the arts and media but also other sectors where they are valued for their ability to form articulate and well thought out arguments, for their highly developed written skills and their critical analysis. Further study may increase employment opportunities in some areas, though practical experience and a passion for the discipline area are also well-regarded.

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History

The history major provides students with the opportunity to study history that is relevant to contemporary issues. History provides a window to the world, helping us understand and interpret the societies and cultures, the people, and events of the past. As well as awakening and expanding our historical horizons, the study of history entails the disciplined, critical use of evidence, and the development of good writing skills. The eras treated in our courses range from the medieval period to contemporary times. Some courses survey the histories of nations or regions (Australia, Europe, Britain, Asia, and the United States); others examine specific historical themes or events, including the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Vietnam War, women's history, or film and history.

Employment opportunities for history majors exist both in their discipline sector (e.g. universities, museums, heritage management) but also in other industries that value their high level written and verbal communication as well as analytical and critical thinking skills. Completion of post-graduate qualifications may provide additional job opportunities such as teaching and law while completion of an honour year helps further develop skills and makes graduates particularly attractive to government employers. Some students choose to combine their history studies with courses from other disciplines such as human resources, marketing and journalism to further broaden their career prospects in these areas.

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Human geography and the environment

The human geography and the environment major explores the relationships between people and places in a global context. Students develop an understanding and appreciation of the interactions between people and their environment in terms of globalisation, development, urbanisation, sustainability, diversity and inequality. Graduates find employment in a range of sectors including:

• regional economic development
• urban and regional planning
• international aid work
• social and community planning
• market research and analysis
• Commonwealth, State and Local public administration
• education
• environmental management
• Environmental and social impact assessment.

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Linguistics

The linguistics major provides students with the opportunity to study language as a human communication system, focusing on the structure, acquisition and uses of language, and on the variety of world languages. Linguistics complements a number of other disciplines such as education, psychology, languages, media and communications, computer science/IT, science, and law.

Depending upon the level of study and combination of other courses studied, graduates find work in a range of industry sectors including:

• computers, engineering and technology
• community language work
• field linguistics
• language policy work and government positions
• interpreting and translating
• education and research
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

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Modern languages (French, German, Japanese and Chinese studies)

The modern language majors and minors give students the opportunity to study written and spoken communication in a choice of four languages. Modern language courses aim to give students a good appreciation and understanding of the culture of their chosen language as well as introducing them to translation techniques and relevant texts and films.

Employers value graduates of this major or minor for their ability to communicate effectively, for their cultural sensitivity and for their critical and analytical thinking skills. Completing qualifications and becoming proficient in a modern language can also provide a platform for further studies and an edge over other graduates in some sectors such as international business, finance, marketing and tourism.

Please note: Chinese is available as a minor only.

Philosophy and religion:

Philosophy and religion are offered together as a single major. Students undertake core courses introducing them to a broad variety of issues in both areas, and then complete their major as they choose, either by specialising in philosophy, or by specialising in religion, or by undertaking a combination of both.

The philosophy courses in this major give students the opportunity to study a range of fundamental questions. Some relate to the nature of reality and knowledge, such as: What is the relation between mind and body? Do we have free will? Is science the only source of knowledge? Others relate to problems in ethics and politics, such as: What is the right thing to do? How should society be organised? How is it best to live? These and other questions are approached in a number of different ways, ancient and modern, western and eastern.

The religion courses in this major provide students with the opportunity to study the history, literature, beliefs and practices of religion, as well as a sample of the principal world religions from antiquity to the present day. This multidisciplinary program allows students to approach religion from a variety of perspectives, including anthropology, theology, classics, education, history, philosophy and/or sociology.

The philosophy and religion major may be complemented by combining it with other courses such as history, writing, community welfare, law, psychology, business, sciences and IT.

Graduates of this major are valued in the workforce for their written and verbal communication skills, their breadth of vision, their capacity for abstract reasoning, their historical and cultural sensitivity, as well as their ability to think critically and logically. Other skills developed in this major and highly valued by employers include abilities to solve problems creatively, to form coherent and meaningful arguments, to communicate with a range of people of different beliefs and values and to gather evidence and conduct research. Graduates find employment in a range of industry sectors including:

• business
• community and welfare
• consulting
• law
• diplomatic services
• media and publishing
• public service administration
• research and education.

Politics and international relations:

Politics and international relations offer you a range of courses to complete within this major.

Politics courses within this major enable students to understand the nature of political systems, both in Australia and internationally, key political ideas, theories and terminology, and the impact of politics in terms of how decisions are made about the allocation of scarce resources and the resolution of social problems. The skills and knowledge gained in this major give graduates the ability to work in a wide range of employment sectors, including:

• local, state and federal government policy and administration
• political parties, interest groups and associations
• education and research
• foreign affairs and trade
• media
• business
• community and welfare services.

International relations courses within this major provide students with a strong understanding of all aspects of international relations, including foreign policy, Australia's place in the world, and in so far as they impact on policy making, religion, ethnicity and nationalism. Related themes and electives cover diplomacy, strategic and defence studies, foreign languages, trade negotiations, terrorism, areas studies, international organisation and globalisation.

International relations is an expanding area. Recruiting occurs in various government departments, in particular the Intelligence community, Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Positions attained through the government and/or through the private sector will often lead you overseas. Some of our successful recent graduates have found work as diplomats, defence intelligence analysts and other areas of public policy. Working in this area may involve writing or editing foreign policy, negotiating international agreements, providing assistance to Australians overseas, or working in one of over 80 Embassies, Consulates or High Commissions in a number of countries around the world. Competitive graduate positions are available.

Psychology studies:

This major is a non-accredited stream for students with a general interest in psychology and for those who see psychology as complementary to their other studies within the Bachelor of Arts. You will be able to choose to explore different areas in psychology, ranging from neural activity in the brain (neuropsychology) through to memory and decision-making (cognition) and personality and social psychology. You will learn how the mind develops in children and what can go wrong with the mind by studying abnormal psychology. You will also study some of the applications of psychology in areas such as organisational, community and health psychology.

Sociology and anthropology

Sociology and anthropology are offered as one joint major. Students can choose from a range of sociological and anthropological courses to complete the major. Sociology is the study of contemporary social issues, social institutions, and social relationships to understand social order and social change. Sociologists study issues such as gender, family, class and social status, ethnicity, and religion, including the ways we organise our lives with a focus on issues of inequality, power, globalisation, and identity.

There are a diverse range of specialty areas within the field of sociology as a whole. Some examples of areas of focus include youth culture, food production and consumption, popular media, crime and deviance, development, the environment, and health. Anthropology is the study of cultures ranging from small-scale indigenous groups to advanced capitalist societies, with a focus on fieldwork studies to understand people's way of life. Focus areas of study include violence, myth, and indigenous issues.

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Arts: delivering diverse career options

A Bachelor of Arts degree enables you to study what you are passionate about in life, and convert this learning into a career. You have the flexibility to choose from a broad range of courses, and to tailor the degree to match your specific interests.

Jobs for arts graduates

Arts graduates are employed across business, government and the not-for-profit sector, in a range of areas including:

• diplomacy, foreign affairs, public service and government communications
• journalism, publishing and writing, public relations and media management
• television, radio and film
• advertising and marketing
• human resources, project management, corporate consulting, business analysis and research
• language translation and project management for international organisations
• arts management and curatorship, theatre directing, film-making and acting
• public policy for the arts, multimedia and visual arts
• *teaching
• adult training and development

 

*With further study.

Achiever profiles