Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts at Adelaide University is a three-year degree built around choice. You pick a major from the social sciences and psychology area — think psychology, sociology, politics, international relations, criminology or gender studies — and then build the rest of your degree from a wide list of electives and a second major or minor if you want one. The first year gives you the grounding: research methods, critical reading, academic writing and an introduction to the key ideas in your chosen field. By second year you are into units that go deeper — social theory, data analysis, psychological assessment, policy analysis — and by third year you are choosing advanced units and, in many cases, a capstone unit that pulls your learning together.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to complete a certain total — usually 144 credit points for a three-year degree — and the rules about how many units come from your major, your electives and any minor are set out in the course handbook. Adelaide University runs on semesters, so you will typically take four units per semester, eight per year. Some majors include a capstone project in the final year, which might be a research report, a group project or a professional placement depending on what you choose. If you do well, an honours year is available as a fourth year; that is a separate qualification and usually involves a supervised research thesis.

What you actually study

In psychology, for example, you will cover developmental, social, cognitive and abnormal psychology, plus research methods and statistics. Sociology units look at class, inequality, migration and urban life. Politics and international relations units cover Australian government, public policy, security studies and global governance. Criminology covers policing, punishment and youth justice. Across all of them you learn to read research critically, write clearly, analyse data and argue a case. Assessment is a mix of essays, exams, presentations and research projects. Work-integrated learning is not compulsory for every major, but many students take an internship unit, a community project or a placement with a government department, NGO or research centre in their final year.

Who it suits

This degree suits people who are curious about how societies work and want flexibility rather than a narrow professional training. It is a good fit if you are not sure yet whether you want to be a psychologist, a policy analyst, a journalist or a teacher — you can try subjects before you commit. It also suits students who want to combine social science with a language, a business subject or a science minor. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall for most applicants, though teaching, nursing, medicine, law and social work ask for 7.0–7.5. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after graduation. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register — check the official page for the current figure and for full admission details.

• Policy analyst or adviser — work in federal or state government departments, local councils, or think tanks on social policy, health, education or immigration.
• Community services or case worker — roles in NGOs, charities and community legal centres, often with a focus on youth, housing or family support.
• Human resources or recruitment — use your understanding of people and organisations in private companies or the public sector.
• Market research or data analyst — social science graduates are hired for their research and statistics skills in consulting firms, banks and marketing agencies.
• Journalist or communications officer — media organisations, universities, government departments and corporations need people who can write and analyse.
• Psychology assistant or support worker — with further study, you can become a registered psychologist; the bachelor degree is the first step.
• Teaching — a postgraduate teaching qualification after this degree leads to registration as a teacher in Australia.
• Further study — honours, a master's in social work, policy, psychology or a doctorate for research and academic careers.