Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course builds on analytical and critical thinking skills in a specialised field chosen by the individual student, enhancing communication and research skills and preparing for further postgraduate study.

About the course

After completion of the three-year degree program, students may undertake a fourth year of full-time study (or two years part-time) in Art History, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology or Sociology and graduate with Honours. Like the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is available in both on campus and by distance education. A mid-year intake is also available.

The Honours program is available to applicants who have been awarded or who are eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from CSU and, in certain circumstances, to applicants who have a comparable degree from CSU or another institution.

Applicants will normally be required to have a major in their proposed Honours disciplinary area and to have attained grades of credit or better in the second and third level subjects of the major (or have what is deemed to be the equivalent from another institution).

Students qualified to enter the Honours program should consider its advantages, particularly the development of higher level analytical skills and enhanced expertise in research and communication. Completion of an Honours degree is also a prerequisite for admission to a postgraduate research degree.

Your course is recognised by industry

In Psychology, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is an APAC-accredited fourth year psychology course, which satisfies the academic requirements for provisional registration as a Psychologist in Australia.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Where it will take you

In Psychology, graduates will be able to apply for provisional registration as a Psychologist and work as a psychologist under supervision.

Graduates with a good academic record will also be eligible to apply for entry to a research higher degree, such as the Doctor of Philosophy.

Honours are offered in the disciplines of Art History, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology.

Honours are offered in the disciplines of Art History, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology. Students are required to complete three subjects (64 points) in their chosen strand.

Honours in Art History

ART401 Theories of Criticism (16 points)
ART402 Reading Subject (16 points)
ART403 Art History Honours Project/Dissertation (32 points)

Honours in English

LIT401 English Honours Project/Dissertation (32 points)
LIT411 Literary Criticism (16 points)
LIT414 Literature Reading Subject (16 points)

Honours in History

HST401 History Honours Project/Dissertation (32 points)
HST411 Theory and Method of History (16 points)
HST412 Reading Subject (16 points)

Honours in Philosophy

PHL405 Philosophy Honours Project/Dissertation (32 points)
PHL406 Metaphysics (16 points)

and two from:

PHL403 Social Justice^
PHL407 Philosophy of Psychology
PHL408 Reading Subject
PHL409 Theories of Justice^

^Students may not enrol in both PHL403 Social Justice and PHL409 Theories of Justice.

Honours in Psychology

Students must complete:
• two core coursework subjects (16 points)
• two elective subjects (16 Points)
• Dissertation (32 points)


PSY404 Psychological Assessment *
PSY420 Ethics and Current Issues in Psychology *
PSY421 Clinical Psychology Treatment
PSY422 Forensic Psychology
PSY423 Industrial / Organisational Psychology
PSY424 Psychology Honours Dissertation (32 points)*
PSY425 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY427 Issues in Health Psychology
PSY429 Psychology Advanced Topics
* Core subject

Honours in Sociology

SOC411 Advanced Sociological Theory
SOC413 Reading Subject (16 points)
SOC421 Sociology Honours Project/Dissertation (32 points)
SRM500 Social Research Methods

Enrolment pattern

Students should contact their course coordinator for further information.

For Psychology:

Subjects within the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours) are offered either through the Bathurst campus or the Wagga Wagga campus. The suggested enrolment patterns below are for students who complete the course either through Bathurst or through Wagga Wagga. However, it is possible for students to alter this pattern by choosing to enrol in subjects at different campuses, some at Bathurst and some at Wagga Wagga. The consequence of this is that students may need to attend different campuses for residential schools.


Part Time Bathurst

Session 1 (Year 1)
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY420 Ethics and Current Issues in Psychology

Session 2 (Year 1)
and two from:
PSY421 Clinical Psychology Treatment
PSY422 Forensic Psychology
PSY425 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY429 Psychology Advanced Topics

Session 1 (Year 2)
PSY424 Psychology Honours Dissertation (32 points) (commenced)
Session 2 (Year 2)
PSY424 Psychology Honours Dissertation (32 points) (completed)

Part Time Wagga Wagga

Session 1 (Year 1)
Two from
PSY421 Clinical Psychology Treatment
PSY423 Industrial / Organisational Psychology
PSY427 Issues in Health Psychology

Session 2 (Year 2)
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY420 Ethics and Current Issues in Psychology

Session 1 (Year 2)
PSY424 Psychology Honours Dissertation (32 points) (commenced)

Session 2 (Year 2)
PSY424 Psychology Honours Dissertation (32 points) (completed)

Full time enrolment is subject to approval by the course coordinator.
All subjects in this course require attendance at compulsory residential schools, which may be scheduled at either Bathurst or Wagga Wagga campus. More information is available from psychadmin@csu.edu.au.

Admission requirements

This program is available to applicants who have been awarded or who are eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Charles Sturt University and, in certain circumstances, to applicants who have a comparable degree from this or another institution. Applicants will normally be required to have a major in their proposed Honours disciplinary area and to have attained grades of credit or better in the second and third level subjects of the major (or to have what is deemed to be the equivalent from another institution).

Minimum admission requirements for the Psychology major are:

  • completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited undergraduate psychology course within the previous five years
  • a Grade Point Average of 6.0 or better in the core psychology level 2 and 3 subjects
  • the successful completion of PSY301 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

or

  • to have what is deemed to be the equivalent of the above three requirements from another institution

Applicants must also complete the additional information supplementary form.

Acceptance into the Honours program is subject to the approval of the discipline Coordinator and is at the discretion of the Head of School in which the discipline is located.

Previous studies

Previous studies for this course are:

  • an undergraduate degree (Australian or the accredited overseas equivalent) with a major sequence of subjects in the area in which honours is sought
  • the achievement of grades in that degree as specified for the honours program
  • any other specified criteria as required by the School for the honours program

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

  • have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
  • were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
  • have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
    or
  • have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

  • an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
  • a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
  • a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
  • a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
  • a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
  • a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
  • completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
  • a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
  • completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
  • completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
  • successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
  • a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
  • a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
  • IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

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Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2

Australian and New Zealand students

Apply online

Admission code:

  • Distance education - EALZ
  • On campus - KALZ

International Students

Apply online

Admission code:

  • On campus - IALZ
  • Distance education - JALZ

Recruitment agent

Contact a Recruitment agent in your country who can answer your questions about CSU as well as help with the student visa application process.

More information:

Consider also:

info.csu

Prospective Student Inquiries

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