Bachelor of Arts

Learn to think creatively, analyse effectively and build the critical thinking skills necessary to work in today’s modern society. Gain the skills to become a digital disruptor and make a difference in the world.

You will be taught by world-class lecturers and experience small, friendly classes and personalised support. Practical work placements ensure you are work-ready when you graduate. Depending on your chosen major, you may also have the opportunity to experience an overseas placement.

This three-year full-time degree is highly flexible and allows you to explore areas of study that focus on your strengths while giving you opportunity to diversify. The course is also available part-time.

You will study a selection of core subjects and your preferred major. Each major provides you with in-depth knowledge in that study area. You can choose a second major, or select two minors, which can complement your studies, or broaden your area of expertise.

The JCU Bachelor of Arts offers fourteen majors to choose from. Not all majors are available at every campus. The handbook provides detail about the subjects you can study within each major.
Additional information

Study history, languages, politics, economics and social systems. Understand cultural and ethnic difference and analyse how people’s beliefs fit into a wider social, political and economic context.

Learn the research, observation and interview techniques that will equip you to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Develop skills critical in decision making for governments, corporations and not-profit organisations.

Develop skills in archaeological site recording and conservation. Participate in field trips to investigate heritage site excavations, and Aboriginal Australian rock art sites.

You may also have the opportunity to travel on South-East Asian excursions. You will learn the fundamentals of archaeology, then expand on this knowledge with more specialised offerings in Evolutionary, Forensic, Asian, Australian and European Archaeology.

Learn why people are motivated to commit crime, and explore strategies to prevent law-breaking and rehabilitate offenders. Throughout your studies, you can participate in a wide range of extracurricular criminology student activities.

This course equips you with skills to help make a difference in your community. It combines subjects from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Social Work and Law.

Amplify your creativity, learn how to think differently, and bring your ideas to life. Using technical equipment, software and programs, you will explore the creative world and cultivate strong individual design aesthetics.

Complement core subjects with one of two specialisations, which vary between campuses. Cairns students focus on the visual arts and digital imaging fields. Townsville students will study future-focussed design and innovation.

Investigate and explore the riches of literature across the ages. Study the talents of Shakespeare, diverse forms of cinema, children’s literature and the nature of, and methods used to analyse, literature.

Gain a high level of communication and reasoning skills while growing your passion for reading and writing. JCU English major students examine a wide range of literary periods and genres that provide a comprehensive source of historical and cultural understanding.

Gain an intimate knowledge of humanity by examining past societies and cultures. You will study the history of North Queensland, and develop your understanding of Australian history.

Analyse major historical events in a global context and investigate how political, economic and environmental events shaped different communities. Graduates have the skills needed for careers that demand strong research and communication abilities.

Explore the interactions between people, natural events and the environment. Develop specialist skills including environmental and town planning, land management, regional sustainability and environmental impact assessment.

Become proficient in identifying problems, evaluating explanations, analysing data, and computing techniques. Graduates understand how to develop recommendations to solve major ecological and environmental problems.

Develop skills that will prepare you to work with marginalised and vulnerable people. Study social policy, community planning and development, education and capacity building, organisational practice and social responsibility.

Benefit from JCU’s research culture and working relationships with government agencies and local community groups. You will gain practical skills and experience through field trips and project work.

Expand your understanding of the complex interface between Indigenous and Western knowledge, perspectives and practices in Australia today. Explore Indigenous knowledge and traditions, colonial disruptions, and Indigenous re-assertion in the current era, from the local to the global.

Some subjects include field trips and one includes an optional international trip to an Indigenous community. Graduates are prepared to engage thoughtfully with Indigenous Australians and Indigenous issues in professional and community spaces.

Become fluent in French, German, Italian or Japanese and gain valuable skills relevant to the globalisation of today’s society. In each language you will study listening, reading, speaking and writing skills through critiquing text, films and television programs.

Immerse yourself in the language with opportunities to study abroad for six months at one of JCU’s partner universities. You do not need prior knowledge of the language to undertake this major which offers foundation to advanced levels.

Gain the knowledge to succeed in the fast-paced creative and news media environments. Learn from published writers, researchers and journalists to write creatively about unique environments and complex topics.

Study topics like writing for multimedia, short story writing, media law and ethics, public relations campaigns, broadcast journalism, and the sociology of digital environments. Graduates are skilled in creative writing, editing, critical reading, filming, storyboarding, and effective writing.

Take a deep dive into the people, institutions and issues involved in Australian and international politics. Explore political processes, policy, diplomacy, political economy, and globalisation of Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

You will examine Australia's global position and role, economic and social policies, traditional and non-traditional threats to security, poverty, and other topics relevant to our modern society.

Gain a deeper understanding of the biological, social and cultural factors that influence how humans think, feel and behave. Explore the history of psychology, the nervous system, memory, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, health psychology, personality and psychological disorders.

This major is not accredited, if you want to become a Registered Psychologist, find out more about the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours). This major is not available at Cairns campus.

Develop the analytical tools to learn how society is organised and how we experience life with each other. Study social trends and understand why and how societies and institutions have developed through history.

Gain social science research skills and explore a diverse range of topics. Examine the societal issues of the Tropics choosing to study topics including race, gender identity, poverty and wealth.

Honours

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. Refer to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) for eligibility information. Students who have completed their degree with James Cook University or at other universities can apply.

Annual Tuition Fee: $6,684. (Estimate only)