Arts FAQs

Most students in the Arts Faculty are enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts. An important change to the BA is the introduction of MAJORS – or areas of specialisation. A major will correspond to an area within a particular discipline – each discipline area has an Academic Adviser who can give you more detailed information about your area of specialisation. Importantly, with the new degrees, your major will appear on your testamur (the certificate which the University gives you upon graduation). Check the 2010 Handbook

Other Faculty of Arts degrees will be affected by some changes in their programs. You should speak to an Academic Adviser in your discipline for details.

All new degrees require students commencing in 2010 to do People and Planet units. ( Check People and Planet Units in the 2010 Handbook)

Some older degrees are no longer offered from 2010, but most have equivalents in the new program. In the Arts Faculty, these are as follows:

2009 Offering	2010 Offering
Bachelor of Arts	Bachelor of Arts (with major)
Bachelor of Creative Arts	BA in Creative Arts
Bachelor of Creative Arts (International)	BA in Creative Arts
Bachelor of Media	BA in Media
Bachelor of International Communication	BA in International Communication
BA in Media and Cultural Studies	BA in Media and Cultural Studies (double major)
BMedia LLB	BA (Media) LLB
Bachelor of Development Studies	BA in Development Studies
These Degrees continue to be offered
Bachelor of International Studies	Bachelor of International Studies (new program)
Bachelor of Ancient History (Honours)	Bachelor of Ancient History (Honours)
Bachelor of Social Science	Bachelor of Social Science
Bachelor of Community Management	Bachelor of Community Management

You should speak to an Academic Adviser from the Macquarie Law School. The changes to Law are quite specific and are listed here: Law FAQs

All units of study have been reviewed for 2010 offerings. Many have changed and most undergraduate units now have a value of 3 credit points. From 2011, all undergraduate units at Macquarie will be worth 3 credit points. Speak to an Academic Adviser in your discipline to get the details.

Yes, students currently enrolled can complete the program in which they are enrolled, but because some units of study have changed for 2010, you should see an Academic Adviser to ensure that you enrol in the appropriate units required to graduate. You have until 31 Dec 2012 to complete under the old rules. After 2012 you will be transitioned by default to a Program of Study under the new rules. Transitions will only take place from an existing program to an equivalent program under the new rules, e.g. from BMediaLLB (old degree) to BA(Media)LLB (new degree).

No. From 1 January 2010, students will only be able to enter the new program (either as new students or transferring students). The old programs (and rules) will only apply to students currently enrolled in those programs.

No. Pre-2010 students have an exemption from PEOPLE and PLANET units until 31 Dec 2013.

Note that pre-2010 students who have not qualified to graduate by 31 December 2013 will be required to complete People and Planet units if their Program of Study stipulates that requirement.

Yes, all students enrolling in one of the new degree programs from 1 January 2010 will be required to include a 300-level Capstone unit in their studies. If you are close to finishing your degree in 2009, you should check before you decide to change to a new program that there will be a suitable Capstone unit available in your major area in 2010 as not all Departments will be offering one at that stage. Speak to an Academic Adviser in your area.

No, only students who first enrol in 2012 (and after) need to do a Participation Unit. If you are a currently enrolled Macquarie student in 2009, you will not be required to complete a Participation unit to finish your degree.

Participation Units have not yet been officially designated, and therefore any unit you study before 2012, even though the content may appear to be appropriate for a participation unit, it will not be able to be credited retrospectively as a participation unit.

If you remain in the old program, you will follow the old graduation requirements – as per the 2009 handbook, or the handbook from your first year of enrolment. If you transition to a BA in the new program, you will need to select a major. This can occur at the beginning of the degree, or closer to graduation. Seek Academic Advice.

If you continue with your existing program (under the old rules), then your credit point requirement is as published in the 2009 handbook for your existing degree (or the handbook in your first year of enrolment in that degree).

For new (2010 and beyond) programs:

• A Bachelor of Arts and most other named undergraduate degrees under the new rules require 68 cp overall, with a maximum 30cp at 100 level, and at least 18 cp at 300 level.
• A Bachelor of Ancient History (Honours) requires 96 credit points.
• The Law component of the combined Law degrees is 74 credit points.
• For other specific degrees, consult your Academic Adviser if you have questions.

YES. You will do more units, but you should be doing the same amount of work. Unit convenors have revised the content of their units, and it should reflect the change in credit points with fewer contact hours, and shorter assessment tasks. You should contact the Academic Adviser in your discipline if you want to know more.

You should speak to an Academic Adviser in your discipline.

As is the case now, you will need to meet the criteria for your program of choice. Be aware that if you do change, it will be to a new program under the new rules , and you will have to meet all the requirements for that degree to graduate, excluding People and Planet units (until 31 Dec 2013) but including completing the Capstone unit. You should seek Academic Advice as early as possible.

Yes, if you want. You can apply before 31 st Dec 2012 to transition to a new Program of Study but only to a program which is equivalent to the one you are currently enrolled in. This option should be available to you using e-student. You will take all your previous credit points with you. If you decide to change to the new version, you will have to meet all the requirements for that degree to graduate, including completing the Capstone unit. There are no transfer criteria, such as a specified Grade Point Average (GPA) to make this changeover, but you will need to check carefully what changing over will mean for your study program. You should consult with an Academic Adviser in your Department as early as possible.

Once you have changed to the new degree, you will not be able to go back to your old degree if you change your mind. However, you will be exempt from any People and Planet unit requirements as long as you complete the degree before 31 December 2013.

You can apply using e-student. You should consult an Academic Adviser first.

Transitions will only be made from an existing program to an equivalent program under the new rules, e.g. from BMediaLLB (old degree) to BA(Media)LLB (new degree).

No. Pre-2010 students have an exemption from PEOPLE and PLANET units until 31 Dec 2013.

Note that pre-2010 students who have not qualified to graduate by 31 December 2013 will be required to complete People and Planet units if their Program of Study stipulates that requirement.

No, you will have to return under the new rules.

The Honours programs are currently under review. For the moment, existing rules continue for Honours. Speak to your Academic Adviser for guidance.

No. A review of postgraduate programs is beginning now, but there are no changes for current students at the moment.

All students in LLB degree programs (including all combined, distance and graduate law students) admitted from 2010 onwards are required to complete one of three PACE (Participation and Community Engagement) units with a LAW designation.  Students can choose from LAW 488 (Access to Justice), LAW 551 (Professional and Community Engagement) or LAW 599 (Legal Governance and Professional Leadership).  These units must be completed in 2012 or later in order to qualify as a Participation unit.  
    [Note:  This information will not appear in the Program of Study details under the 2010 and 2011 Handbooks, which cannot be altered for archival reasons.  Previously, students were restricted to LAW 551.  This change was implemented retrospectively in 2011.]

Students in all programs are only required to complete a single set of People and Planet units (unless their program of study specifically exempts them). So if you are doing an LLB Combined, you still only do 1 People and 1 Planet unit across the two degrees.

No.

No.

All students in Combined LLB programs are required to complete a designated People and a designated Planet unit.  These units must be from two different Faculties.  Students can count either of LEX 101 (Law, Institutions and People - A Global Perspective) or LEX 102 (Sustainability, Science and the Law) towards their People or Planet requirements, but not both.  Also, if a student elects to count either of LEX 101 or LEX 102, then they may not also count a further unit offered by the Faculty of Arts towards their People/Planet requirement.

No.  Only units with at LAW prefix count towards your LLB degree. The LEX People and Planet units offered by the Law School may, however, qualify for your People and Planet requirement for your combined degree (see above).