The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course combines research skill acquisition and a dissertation to prepare you for entry into further research higher degrees or increase your competitive advantage for employment opportunities, particularly research-related employment. You will build on your undergraduate knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in a humanities or arts discipline by selecting a specific research topic consulting with an academic advisor. You will gain practical research skills as well as in-depth knowledge of your chosen research topic. You will also acquire advanced cognitive skills and be able to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and be able to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence.
An honours degree provides the opportunity to continue undergraduate studies at a higher level, specialising in a particular area of interest. An honours degree is a rigorous and scholarly course of further study, which develops a student's ability to generate new knowledge and distill new ideas out of existing knowledge. Candidates with honours are particularly sought after by employers and can choose from more interesting research and development positions because of their extra skills and proven abilities. It can also provide a pathway to research higher degree study. Completing an honours degree involves an additional full-time year of study (or the equivalent) following completion of a bachelor course, or alternatively additional study with a research element included in the final year or years of a bachelor course.
Duration | 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 48 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BBA (Hons) |
AQF Level | Level 8: Bachelor Honours Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course is open to students who have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution and who have achieved a GPA of at least 5 (or higher amount set by the School) in a relevant major as well as any specific discipline requirements such as selected perquisites in their undergraduate course.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of the study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
NIL
NIL
n/a
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Accreditation |
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No Residential School for this course.
Not applicable |
Year | Number of Students |
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2023 | 2 |
2022 | 3 |
2021 | 4 |
2020 | 3 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines and knowledge of research principles and methods | ||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence | ||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas | ||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding | ||||
5. SKILLS Have technical skills to design and use research in a project | ||||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||
10. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence | ||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 4 | Total credit points: 48 |
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The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) course is intentionally tailored to the interests of the student mentored by a research supervisor, primarily aligned with a Humanities or Arts discipline undertaken by the student at an undergraduate level. Subject to supervisor availability, Honours level research projects can be pursued in the following disciplines: English and Cultural studies, Creative Writing, Geography, History and Politics, Indigenous Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Visual Arts, Theatre Studies and Music.
The 48 credit point Honours course comprises:
(1) A 12 credit point unit titled Research Proposal;
(2) A 12 credit point unit titled Debates in the Discipline;
(3) HONS20005 Dissertation A; and
(4) HONS20006 Dissertation B.
Each of these units is 12 credit points. The output from Research Proposal is a detailed thesis proposal, and as such, can contribute to the thesis. The output of Debates in the Discipline is a discipline-specific knowledge synthesis document (for some a literature review, for others a reflective output suited to a particular discipline). The output will contribute content to the thesis. The dissertation output from HONS20005 / HONS20006 is 15-20,000 words.
Further details of each unit, including the specifics of the dissertation, are provided in associated Moodle sites. These Moodle sites provide a framework upon which the research project preparation and research methods are defined by the student’s research supervisor and the norms of the associated Humanities or Arts discipline.
Students are required to contact the Head of Course for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) prior to enrolment. In that conversation, students will be guided to consult with an academic in the relevant discipline and negotiate a suitable research topic. Students cannot commence the course without an appropriate supervisor and an agreed research topic. Once the research topic has been agreed, the Head of Course will confirm the student's enrolment.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HONS28001 | Research Proposal | |
HONS28002 | Debates in the Discipline |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HONS20005 | Dissertation A | |
HONS20006 | Dissertation B |
Mid-year Intake and External
Students normally enrol in Term 1 but in selected disciplines, students may enrol mid-year (Term 2). Students may also undertake their Honours course externally (subject to supervision and availability of resources).