The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is internationally recognised as a flexible degree program that offers a wide choice of fascinating fields of enquiry. It attracts students interested in understanding the human condition in all its diversity, finding answers to important questions about human behaviour, cultures and history, and understanding the major social and political problems of our time.

The BA will provide you with broad skills that are highly valued by employers, such as critical thinking, problem solving, researching and analysing information, effective communication and building the capacity for lifelong learning. Equipped with these skills, BA graduates are ready to deal with different challenges and opportunities throughout their future careers in a range of exciting workplaces.

Study Abroad and Exchange Opportunities

The University has student exchange links with over 100 overseas institutions around the world. You can study overseas for one or two semesters which counts as credit towards your degree program at the University of Adelaide. In addition there are no extra tuition fees for this study. What better way to test out newly developed language skills or experience another culture as you learn?

During your degree you will explore new or existing interests from a wide range of disciplines across the university, and will specialise in at least one ‘major’ and a ‘minor’ from the Faculty. The BA includes the opportunity to learn one (or more!) of 8 languages, plus you can choose to build your cultural skills by studying a semester or two overseas from over 100 institutions around the world.

You have the chance to gain valuable experience relevant to your career goals, build networks and manage a research project by taking part in an internship with one of over 50 industry partners in the media, environment, parliament or the arts. Other benefits include regular career and employment forums and mentoring programs running throughout each year.

Students can specialise their studies by taking majors and minors in the following areas:

• Anthropology
• Asian Studies
• Asian Politics and Foreign Policy
• Chinese
• Classics
• Development Studies
• Economics
• English
• European Studies
• French Studies
• Gender, Work and Social Inquiry
• Geographical and Environmental Studies
• German Studies
• History
• Indonesian
• International Studies
• Italian
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Modern Greek
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology (not available as a minor)
• Spanish
  

As well as the selection above, students can also take minors from the following areas:

• Art Theory
• Australian Studies
• Film
• Globalisation
• Medieval and Renaissance Studies
• Popular Culture
• Religion and Ethics
• Writing Practice

Please note: All Majors and Minors are subject to Faculty confirmation in November.

A fundamental part of each degree is ensuring you develop and emerge with highly valued skills in areas such as communication, collaboration, decision making and problem solving using research, critical thinking, reasoning and creative intelligence. You will be challenged, encouraged and given comprehensive feedback to build confidence and multifaceted strengths that push you to perform at your peak and make the most of all your talents.

Our graduates have great versatility in shaping their careers and follow highly successful paths in different areas: advertising, administration, business, community engagement, corporate communication, defence, diplomatic service, environmental management and planning, foreign affairs, humanitarian work, human resources, industry liaison, management, marketing, media, policy development, project management, psychology, public relations, publishing, research, social planning, youth work, academia and teaching.

To see where our latest graduates have gone in their careers, visit www.hss.adelaide.edu.au/profiles/

In addition to renowned excellence in teaching and research, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences provides mentoring support and careers advice with employment forums and talks by key industry partners and organisations each year.

Your degree may inspire you to achieve far more than you currently imagine and the knowledge and skills gained will open up a number of possibilities for your future.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences facilitates an environment in which graduates are encouraged to take personal responsibility for developing the following attributes:

• Broad general knowledge.
• Specialised understanding in one or two chosen disciplines.
• An appreciation of their potential contribution to knowledge through engagement with the traditions and innovations in their fields of enquiry.
• The skills and discipline to research, synthesise, organise and present information, using a range of technologies as appropriate.
• Problem solving skills.
• Analytic and critical skills.
• The ability to argue from evidence.
• The ability to think creatively.
• The ability to communicate ideas effectively.
• The ability to set appropriate goals and to work independently and/or cooperatively.
• An understanding of the importance of lifelong learning.
• An understanding of ethical issues in their professional and intellectual contexts.
• An awareness of their potential leadership roles in the community of scholars and in the wider community.
• An awareness of social justice issues.
  

A very popular option for your third year is to take part in an internship in the arts, media, parliament or environment with over 50 industry partners. These include State Parliament and a range of public and business sector agencies, where you can use the knowledge from your university study in a practical work environment, building valuable networks and gaining experience that counts towards your degree program and prepares you for your future career. 

• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Undergraduate Scholarships
• University Contact Centre enquiry form