Course Structure
The basic rules of the Melbourne Model Bachelor of Arts (BA) are as follows.
- The BA is a three-year course if you study full time. It requires the successful completion of 300 points or 24 12.5-point subjects.
- You may specialise, or major, in one or two disciplines from a list of over 40 areas. You may study one major, two majors, or one major and one minor. All BA students must complete at least a major.
- A major is usually 100 points, or eight subjects. A minor is usually 75 points, or six subjects.
- In the first year, BA students complete eight level-1 subjects. In the second year, eight level-2 subjects and in the third year, eight level-3 subjects.
- One quarter of the degree is dedicated to breadth - studies outside the Faculty of Arts. Two subjects at each year level are dedicated to breadth studies.
There are two structural exceptions to these rules - Psychology and Economics. Please see the course charts below for examples of how these majors are completed within the BA.
Level one:
In the first year, students are required to complete eight level-1 subjects, including two breadth subjects and two subjects from a choice of eight Interdisciplinary Foundation (IDF) subjects. It comprises the following components:
- two Interdisciplinary Foundation (IDF) subjects, designed and taught collaboratively across arts disciplines. There are eight IDF subjects to choose from. BA students must complete two IDF subjects within their first two semesters of study and at least one IDF subject must be completed in the first semester of enrolment (25 points);
- two breadth subjects (25 points); and
- four discipline-based Arts subjects (50 points).
Students would usually complete at least 75 points at level one before progressing to level two.
Level two:
At level two, students are required to complete:
- two breadth subjects (25 points);
- six Arts discipline-based subjects (75 points).
Students would usually complete at least 75 points at level two before progressing to level three.
Level three:
At level three, students are required to complete:
- two breadth subjects (25 points);
- six Arts discipline-based subjects (75 points).
The maximum amount of study permitted within one area of study (e.g. History, English) is 125 points (10 subjects).
Majors and Minors
All BA students must complete at least one major. All students completing a non-language major will complete a capstone subject (see below) in that major, in the final year of the degree.
A major comprises 100 points of study:
- 25 points at level one;
- 37.5 points at level two;
- 37.5 points at level three (including a compulsory capstone subject in all non-language majors - see Capstone Subjects below)
A minor of 75 points is available in all programs that offer a major in the BA (below), as well as several additional programs. The minor comprises 75 points of study:
- 25 points at level one;
- 25 points at level two;
- 25 points at level three.
or
- 12.5 points at level one;
- 25 points at level two;
- 37.5 points at level three.
Capstone subjects are not available in the minor.
Students have the opportunity to complete a major or minor chosen from a broad range of Arts options. A major or minor is a specialisation in an area of study, requiring the completion of a specified number of subjects at each year level. Students complete a major in one or, with careful planning from first year, two areas of study, or a major (100 points of study) and a minor (75 points of study).
Breadth Studies
The Melbourne BA breadth component is a quarter of the Arts degree (25 points at each year level) that is undertaken in studies outside of the Faculty of Arts. This complementary study experience in disciplines such as environments, science, biomedicine, commerce and music provides enhanced contextual understanding of Arts studies in a tailored, individual study program.
Sample course plans
The following course plans are basic examples of how you might complete your studies in the BA. Due to the wide range of options available, there are hundreds of different ways you can complete your degree. You will receive one-on-one advice before you commence study to ensure you know your options and choose subjects that suit your goals.
Find subject details in the University of Melbourne Handbook.
Key
| Major subject 1 | Major subject 2 | Minor | Elective subject | IDF | Breadth |
Basic Course Structure
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | IDF (Part of Major 2) | Level 1 Arts discipline | Level 1 Arts discipline | Breadth |
| Semester 2 | Level 1 Arts discipline | IDF (Part of Major 1) | Level 1 Arts discipline | Breadth | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Arts discipline | Breadth |
| Semester 2 | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Arts discipline | Breadth | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Arts discipline | Breadth |
| Semester 2 | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Arts discipline | Breadth |
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Classics, a minor in Sociology and a breadth sequence in Land and Environment
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | Homer to Hollywood (Part of Major) |
History (1) | English (1) | Animals in Society |
| Semester 2 | Indigenous Studies (Part of Minor) | Sociology (1) | Classics (1) | Natural Environments | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Social Theory (2) | Sociology (2) | Classics (2) | Forestry and Systems Ecology |
| Semester 2 | Sociology (2) | Classics (2) | Classics (2) | Environmental Management | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Social Theory (3) | Sociology (3) | Classics (3) | Economics and Agribusiness |
| Semester 2 | Sociology (3) | Classics (3) | Classics (3) | Urban Horticulture |
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics (125 points) and Philosophy
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | Knowing Nature (Part of Major 1) |
English (1) | History (1) | Economics (1) |
| Semester 2 | Indigenous Studies | Philosophy (1) | Economics (1) | Economics (1) | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Gender Studies (2) | Philosophy (2) | History (2) | Economics (2) |
| Semester 2 | Philosophy (2) | Philosophy (2) | Economics (2) | Economics (2) | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Gender Studies (3) | Philosophy (3) | History (3) | Economics (3) |
| Semester 2 | Philosophy (3) | Philosophy Capstone | Economics (3) | Economics (3) |
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology (125-point major) and History
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | IDF Subject (1) | Psychology (1) | History (1) | Accounting (1) |
| Semester 2 | Psychology (1) | IDF Subject (1) (Part of Major 2) |
Economics (1) | Accounting (1) | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Psychology (2) | History (2) | History (2) | Psychology (2) |
| Semester 2 | Psychology (2) | Psychology (2) | History (2) | Accounting (2) | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Psychology (3) | History (3) | History (3) | Psychology (3) |
| Semester 2 | Psychology (3) | Psychology (3) | History Capstone (3) | Accounting (3) |
Bachelor of Arts with major in Media and Communications*
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | IDF Subject (M&C) | Level 1 Arts discipline | Level 1 Arts discipline | Level 1 Breadth |
| Semester 2 | IDF Subject | M&C subject | Level 1 Arts discipline | Level 1 Breadth | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 M&C | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Breadth |
| Semester 2 | Level 2 M&C | Level 2 M&C | Level 2 Arts discipline | Level 2 Breadth | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 M&C | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Breadth |
| Semester 2 | Level 3 M&C | Level 3 M&C Capstone | Level 3 Arts discipline | Level 3 Breadth |
*Only available to first year BA students who are commencing the degree at level one in 2010.
Further details
If you require in depth course details, please see the following structures.
Browse some sample course plans:
- BA basic structure
- BA basic structure with language
- BA with major and minor (example 1)
- BA with major and minor (example 2)
- BA with Psychology major
- BA with language major and minor
- BA with Economics major
- BA with Economics major commenced at level two
- BA with breadth sequence (or minor) in Economics
- BA with 37.5 level-1 points in breadth (example 1)
- BA with 37.5 level-1 points in breadth (example 2)
- BA entry after completion of 1EFTSL of study in a non-cognate degree at another University
- BA entry after completion of 1EFTSL of study in a cognate degree at another University
- BA with a major in Media and Communications
You can see details about subjects and disciplines in the University of Melbourne handbook.