Faculty of Arts
New Courses 2012
The University of Western Australia has entered upon the most significant changes to student courses since its foundation a century ago. Designed to give students the best possible preparation for life in the twenty-first century, this major overhaul, known as New Courses 2012, affects all current students as well as those enrolling from 2012. Although BA students will face fewer changes than those from some other Faculties, it is important that current students think now about what NC2012 will mean for them.
Continuing or transitioning to NC2012
In the first place, all currently enrolled students have the opportunity to complete the degree for which they have already enrolled. Indeed, the expectation is that most students will choose to do this, although in a few cases it will make more sense to move to the new course structure. Again, most students will have the opportunity to move to this if they wish.
The second point to note is that there will no longer be two sets of units on offer and beyond in the Faculty of Arts but only one. Students will be able to complete their current degrees, or (in most cases) transition to the new degree, but in both cases they will be taught using the same units. These units will in many cases be quite similar to units currently offered, although almost all of them have been changed to some extent to make them consistent with the general vision of NC2012. The differences faced by students continuing with their original degrees, and those beginning or transitioning to the new degrees, will be in the structure of the degrees - that is, in the number of units required at each level for the completion of the degree and of the student's major. For those continuing with their current degrees, the same rules as currently in force will generally apply (but see below on level 1 units).
Details of the NC2012 majors in the BA can be found at
http://www.studyat.uwa.edu.au/courses-and-careers/undergraduate/arts
NC2012 new unit prerequisites
An important consequence of the teaching of all BA degrees through the NC2012 units is that the new unit prerequisites will have to be observed by all who take them, whether as part of the old or the new BA. Please note that the new unit prerequisites are generally much more discipline-specific than those of the old units (although many of those, especially in the languages, have always had very specific requirements).
This change means that if you are planning to continue studies, you should think carefully about what units you wish to take and check if you will have the necessary prerequisites to do them.
In order to make it easier for current students to adjust to the new units, the Faculty will change the rules of the current BA so that students may complete up to 72 pts (vs the current 48 pts) of level 1 units out of the total of 144 pts required for the degree. This change was applied from the beginning of 2012, and will bring the old BA into line with the new BA, which will also permit up to 72 pts at level one. This arrangement will make it easier for current students to fit in the necessary prerequisites for following years, or else just to complete their degree using a greater number of level 1 units without prerequisites. Of course, you may choose to do fewer than 72 pts at level one if you wish, and will be able to do only 48 pts. A corollary of the change is that the number of points at upper level (i.e. level 2 & 3) required for the completion of the BA will vary between 96 (the current requirement) and 72.
Changes to current majors
With very few exceptions, the current majors available in the BA will form part of NC2012 and will continue to be available.
Ancient History, Latin and Greek, currently offered as three separate majors, will be combined into a new single major called Classics and Ancient History. Students currently planning to major in any of these three are strongly encouraged to transition to the new major.
The other exception is Women's Studies, which is no longer be offered as a major to new students under NC2012 (although individual units in Gender Studies will be available). Special arrangements has been made with current students to ensure that they can continue with this major.
The future of European Studies as a major available to NC2012 students is still under discussion, but individual units will continue to be available, and all current students will be able to complete their major.
Information sessions
The Faculty ran a number of lunchtime meetings in 2011 to explain these changes. A recording of the presentation is available.