Single degree

The Bachelor of Arts requires 144 units (24 courses), including: 

• A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
• A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses  (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses) 
• One major listed in the study orders  
• A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) 

With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. The College of Arts and Social Sciences offers a range of optional minors as listed in the “overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.

Double degree

The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. 

• Flexible Double Degree - Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Science (4050): 192 units 

• Flexible Double Degree - Law (Honours) (4350), Flexible Double Degree PhB Advanced Arts Social Sciences Business & Science (4569), or Flexible Double Degree - Engineering and Advanced Computing (Honours) (4750): 240 units

Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. 

The Bachelor of Arts component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:

• A maximum of 36 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 6 x 6 unit courses) 
• A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses  (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses) 
• One major listed in the Bachelor of Arts  

With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. See the 'overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.

Enrolment Status

The Bachelor of Arts typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units. 

In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Arts This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken. 

If you combine the Bachelor of Arts with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.  

Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time. 

If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete. 

International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave. 

Maximum time for completion 

• The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Arts degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave. 
• The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave. 

A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer. 

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

In your first year, you will enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. Eg ENGL1100, POLS1002. 

• You can take a maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses within the single degree, or 6 x 1000-level courses if taking a Bachelor of Arts within a double degree. Most of these courses will be taken in your first year. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses. 

There is room in your first year to pick and choose courses depending on your interests but, you must also ensure that you select the 1000-level courses that are prerequisites for 2000 and 3000 level courses. When selecting your courses, please pay close attention to the semester in which it is offered. This is particularly important if you have a preferred major in mind. The 1000- level course that are prerequisites for each major can be found in the Programs and Courses entry for each major or each individual course. 

Details of the semester/s in which courses are offered can be found in the individual course entries on the Programs and Course website on the Class tab. 

Majors and Minors

See available majors and minors for this program

What is a major? 
A major is a sequence of 48-units (i.e. 8 x 6 unit courses). The major has been structured to develop relevant skills and knowledge in the discipline and to prepare you for further study or entry to the workforce. The majors that contribute towards the core requirements of the Bachelor of Arts are listed in the “Program Requirements” on the “Study” tab. 

What is a minor? 
Minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses). Minors can bring structured breadth to your degree. You do not need to take a second major or a minor towards your degree. But you may have enough electives to do this if you wish. This is optional not compulsory. Majors and minors if taken together must have different names.

Advanced minors in a selection of language studies is offered in the Bachelor of Arts. Advanced minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses) which offer structured depth to your degree and are aimed at students who have prior knowledge or experience in the discipline area.  

Electives

Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc). 

In the Bachelor of Arts you can select 24 units from courses offered within the Bachelor of Arts majors, or from other Colleges at the University.  You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-arts subject, such computing, science or marketing. The choice is yours. 

In your first year, we recommend taking some electives from a range of discipline areas in the Bachelor of Arts to help you get a feel for which major could be the best fit for you. This will give you some flexibility to change plans if you find your preferred subject area isn’t what you expected it to be. 

We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree. 

You may have noticed that the Bachelor of Arts does not have any specified “compulsory” courses. There are lists of majors, but no specific course that absolutely must be taken. A major in the Bachelor of Arts might have compulsory courses, but the program itself does not. 

Study Options

Study Options - FDD

For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plans

Study Options

Disciplines

Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD) 

Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.  

In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine. 
 
You can satisfy this requirement through a course/s listed in the program or through the ANU electives it all depends on how you structure your degree and your other enrolment choices. 

Academic Advice

Course credit 

If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office. 

For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can: 

• Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or 

• Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here