Faculty oF humanities and social sciences 2013 - Victoria University ...

Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) equips students with a number of
important life skills. These include an ability to communicate
clearly, an ability to think critically and creatively, an ability to
solve problems across a wide range of domains and general
leadership abilities.
What makes the Victoria BA degree distinctive is its strong
emphasis on the humanities, creative arts, languages and
social sciences, its flexible structure and its broad range of
opportunities for exploring a variety of disciplines.
The humanities include subjects where we explore what it
means to be human; for example, languages, History, English
Literature, Media Studies, Film, Theatre and Music. Social
sciences include subjects where we explore how humans
interact with each other, such as Cultural Anthropology,
Criminology and Sociology.
Key features
͠ Three years of full-time study.
͠ A strong emphasis on the humanities, creative arts,
languages and social sciences.
͠ 240 points must be in subjects taught by the Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS). These are the nonstarred
subjects and majors listed opposite.
͠ The exception is if you choose a starred major opposite
(listed in the BA Statute, but not taught by FHSS). In this
case, you only need to take 180 points in FHSS subjects.
͠ Students may include a second major in their BA from any
Victoria undergraduate degree so long as your first major
is a non-starred major. You must confirm the requirements
with your Student Adviser.
To enrol in a BA you will need Victoria’s Guaranteed Entry Score
or equivalent. In some areas it is advisable to have previously
studied subjects relevant to your programme of study;
otherwise you will have to enrol in additional courses to catch
up with others who have the appropriate background.
4 Victoria University of Wellington
Students doing a BA must meet the requirements of a major in
at least one subject. However, most students choose to major
in two subjects. Each subject area has specific courses you
need to take to meet the requirements of the major. If you are
not sure about which subjects to major in, you can include a
number of different options in your first year of study, and make
a more considered choice in your second year.
You may also include a second major from subject areas
administered by another faculty if not already included in
the listed majors opposite. Students who exercise this option
often choose to major in subjects like Information Systems
or Statistics. These majors nicely complement traditional
humanities and social science subjects, which students are
required to take to complete their degree.
There are interdisciplinary possibilities open to students doing
a BA here that are not options at most other universities in
New Zealand. Students interested in the evolution/creationism
debates can take a double major in both Religious Studies and
Biology; students interested in the fundamental mysteries of
the universe can take a double major in Philosophy and Physics;
students interested in working in a foreign country can take
a major in French or Chinese and a minor in Marketing. All of
these combinations—and a vast array of others—are perfectly
natural, depending on a student’s particular interests.
Students may also select up to two minors in any
undergraduate subject areas offered by the University for the
BA, BAS, BDI, BSc and BCom degrees and not taken as major
subjects or from additional minor subjects areas listed in these
degree statutes.* A minor comprises at least 60 points from the
relevant subject area at 200 level or above, of which at least 15
points must be at 300 level and not counted towards a major
or another minor.
*Subject to approval.
For further information, see www.victoria.ac.nz/ba