Future Students

Arts

The Humanities explore human civilisation and culture, while the Social Sciences take a more scientific approach to the study of human behaviour and organisation.

One of the best things about studying Arts is that it’s fun! With a selection of more than 30 subjects, you can design your course to suit your interests. Arts subjects provide the opportunity to learn and practise critical, analytical and creative thinking. These things are valued by many employers as one of the greatest benefits of a university education.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences offers a three-year Bachelor of Arts degree for students who wish to specialise in the humanities and social sciences.

For those who wish to pursue other careers it is possible to enrol concurrently in either a Diploma in Arts, Diploma in Modern Languages or Diploma of Music while studying for a different degree at UWA. The Faculty also offers three-year degrees in Asian Studies, European Studies and Communication Studies.

First level of the Bachelor of Arts usually consists of the study of four different subjects, each for the full year. In subsequent levels you will specialise more, usually concentrating on two or three subjects. You must specialise in at least one subject and study it for the full three levels to form a major.

The subjects available as majors are:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Asian Studies
• Chinese
• Classics (Latin, Greek) and Ancient History
• Economics
• English
• European Studies
• Fine Arts
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Indonesian
• Industrial Relations
• Italian
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Mathematics
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Women's Studies

Units in computer science, economic history, German studies, Japanese studies and human biology are available but do not form part of a major sequence. It is also possible to study some units in physics, chemistry, environmental geoscience, geology, botany and zoology.

Adding value to your Arts degree. An Arts Practicum unit as an upper level unit provides you with the opportunity to put into practice in the workplace the knowledge you have gained during your course.Placements are offered in more than 50 organisations, ranging from the ABC to the Yamatji Land and Sea Council, from the Art Gallery of WA and the Black Swan Theatre company to the WACA.

All Arts students may also apply through the Student Exchange Programme to travel to a number of different countries for a semester of study. You may choose from over a dozen countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, China and Indonesia.

Career opportunities

Arts graduates have flexible, generic, portable and internationally recognised skills. In a constantly changing global environment, the ability to question received wisdom and be open to new ideas is crucial.

Arts graduates are innovative and creative. They can research, develop, analyse and communicate ideas in a world of technological, economic, political and social change. These are skills which are highly valued by employers worldwide.

Some UWA Arts graduates have become:

• Documentary Producer for Pay-TV Discovery Channel (English)
• General Manager, ABC (Italian)
• Reuters Asia On-Line (Asian Studies)
• Head of Proctor and Gamble, Venezuela (European Language and Studies)
• Working with the Native Title Tribunal (Anthropology)
• Director, Refugee Counselling Agency (Social Work)
• Marketing Manager, New York Hard Rock Café (Political Science)
• Forensic consultant in Bosnia (Archaeology)
• Landscape architect, Museum of Australia (Architecture)
• Journalist, The Times, UK (History)