Become a creative, critical thinker
Follow your interests and build your own career with a flexible Bachelor of Arts. Choose from a wide range of specialisations, including literature, history, politics and international studies, sociology, and more.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first year courses in Human Services, Social Science, Psychology or Social Work at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
- ^First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from Semester 1, 2020. Limited majors/minors available at Moreton Bay campus.
- Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some first year courses in Human Services, Social Science, Psychology or Social Work at Gympie. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
- ^First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from Semester 1, 2020. Limited majors/minors available at Moreton Bay campus.
Follow your interests and build your own career with a flexible Bachelor of Arts. Choose from a wide range of specialisations, including literature, history, politics and international studies, sociology, and more.
As an Arts graduate, you’ll enter the global marketplace of ideas with advanced skills in critical and creative thinking.
In this program you will:
- Explore new ideas and ways of thinking
- Become a skilled communicator
- Develop specialist knowledge in subjects that interest you
- Build advanced critical thinking, research and writing skills
Career opportunities:
(depending on majors selected)
- Researcher
- Publisher / editor
- Sociologist
- Geographer
- Historian
- Policy officer
- Government / development professional
- Media and communications professional
- Writer
Membership
Eligibility for memberships depends on areas of specialisation.
Majors/Minors:
Sunshine Coast
Majors: Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; English; Geography; History; International Studies; Japanese In-country (Major); Japanese Studies; Japanese In-country (Extended Major); Journalism; Psychology; Screen Media; Sociology; Sustainability - Society; Theatre and Performance
Minors: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health; Behavioural Science; Counselling Skills; Creative Writing and Publishing; Criminology and Justice; Development Studies; English; Environmental Geography; Geospatial Analysis; Global Environmental Politics; History; Human Geography; Indigenous Studies; International and Human Rights; International Studies; Japanese Studies; Journalism; Music; Town Planning Studies; Screen Media; Social Theory; Sociology; Sustainability; Theatre and Performance
Moreton Bay
Majors: Creative Writing and Publishing; English; Geography; History; Journalism; Psychology; Screen Media
Minors: Behavioural Science; Creative Writing and Publishing; English; History; Indigenous Studies; Journalism; Screen Media
Please note that not all study components and/or combinations of study components included in this program may be able to be completed in the minimum duration. Please contact the Program Coordinator if you require written confirmation prior to accepting a place in this program.
Program structure
Introductory courses (3) 36 units
COR109 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SUS101 Industry Project 1: Australian Cultural Studies
SCS130 Environment, Heritage and Tourism
Developing and Graduate courses (2) 24 units
SCS225 Research Project in History and Australian Studies
PLUS select one course (12 units) from:
CMN313 Life and Death in the City: From Settlement to Federation
SCS300 Talking History: Memory and the Past
Major and minor courses (16)^ 192 units
Select 2 majors (16 courses/192 units) OR Select 1 Extended major (12 courses/144 units) and 1 minor (4 courses/ 48 units) OR
1 major (8 courses/96 units) and 2 minors (4 courses each/ 48 units each) from those listed below:
^ With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students may replace a specified major or minor with a study component deemed to be equivalent commenced or completed at another university or comparable tertiary institution.
Majors (8) (96 units):
Creative Writing and Publishing ^
Criminology and Justice
English^
Geography^
History ^
International Studies
Japanese In-country (Major)
Japanese Studies
Japanese In-country (Extended Major) (144 units)
Journalism ^
Psychology^
Screen Media ^
Sociology
Sustainability - Society
Theatre and Performance
Minors (4) (48 units):
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Behavioural Science^
Counselling Skills
Creative Writing and Publishing^
Criminology and Justice
Development Studies
English^
Environmental Geography
Geospatial Analysis
Global Environmental Politics
History^
Human Geography
Indigenous Studies^
International and Human Rights
International Studies
Japanese Studies
Journalism^
Music
Town Planning Studies
Screen Media^
Social Theory
Sociology
Sustainability
Theatre and Performance
^Available at Moreton Bay campus
Elective courses (3)* 36 units
Select 3 elective courses (36 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.
* Students who select the Sociology or Sustainability Major or Minor will be required to select 4 electives.
The selection of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen - refer to program requirements.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses (120 units)
- Complete no less than 3 graduate level (300 coded) courses (36 units)
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.