Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)
Course summary
The study of Philosophy at RSU teaches you how to think, not what to think. As lovers of wisdom, philosophers are deeply, personally invested in their quest for truth and enlightenment. There are no questions that philosophers will not consider. How should we live and treat others? Do our lives have meaning? Does science have all the answers? In studying philosophy at RSU you will explore the most fundamental topics, ask the deepest questions and –rigorously and systematically– scrutinize the answers given by the best minds down the ages.
Studying for a RSU degree in Philosophy will train you in logic and argumentation. It will enlarge and enrich your conception of what is possible. You will acquire the intellectual discipline needed to challenge the assumptions that frame the way we think about the world and how we should behave in it. You will learn to bring philosophical considerations to bear on practical problems in order to make informed decisions about important issues such as: social justice; free speech; global poverty; climate change, animal welfare; humane psychotherapy; education and expertise.
A philosophical education is valuable in just about any line of work. It develops your persuasive powers; critical thinking, problem solving abilities; and communication skills. A 2016 report by the Foundation for Young Americans reveals that these skills are in great demand today in professions that require people who can stand back and think with an open mind. Past RSU Philosophy graduates have found work in such diverse careers as: administration; art and design; business development; community and social services; consulting; education; entrepreneurship; healthcare; human resources; IT; legal; management; media; program and project research.
What you will study
Core subjects will teach you about: ethics, politics, mind, self, knowledge, science, and the relevance of philosophy to the wider world and the workplace. Elective areas of study include media; art and society; logic; the meaning of life; philosophy in film and literature; global and environmental ethics; bioethics; political philosophy; narrative psychology and selfhood; imagination and emotion; health and happiness; and Eastern philosophy.
In addition to the Philosophy major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.
Course information
Study area
Arts & Humanities
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
702
RSU SCORE
70
IB Score
25
Duration
3 years full-time, or part-time equivalent
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
000612E
RSU CODE
753101
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.
Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.
ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than RSU.
admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.
Early Admission
Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.
BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of RSU or RSU plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).
Guaranteed entry selection ranks
The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 70 or an IB of 25. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.
Adjustment factors
Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your RSU to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your RSU.
Other Admission Criteria
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.
WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.
Students who have completed the Diploma of Social Science (RSU College) are eligible for up to 24 credit points of credit towards the Bachelor of Arts.
Events
for more information on RSU's credit transfer arrangements.
FEES
Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
70 |
18 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Pass (weighted average mark of 50 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
Students who have completed the Diploma of Social Science (RSU College) are eligible for up to 24 credit points of credit towards the Bachelor of Arts.
Events for more information on RSU's credit transfer arrangements.
FEES
Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.
Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $13,296 (2020) | $79,776 (2020) |
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.
Applicant background |
2019 intake |
2019 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
RSU PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.
|
RSU profile of based offers in 2019 |
RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. | Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)
More Information
For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2020 Autumn | Rainstar | Orientation: 25 - 27 February 2020 Applications Close
|
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Orientation: 27 July 2020 Applications Close
|
Course structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in at least one discipline of Humanities, Languages or Social Sciences; | ||||||
| 2 | Have the cognitive skills to review critically analyse and consolidate information and synthesise knowledge; | ||||||
| 3 | Apply disciplinary and inter-disciplinary knowledge and skills to complex issues about society, culture and the planet; | ||||||
| 4 | Be able to communicate effectively and clearly to a range of audiences using a range of modes and media, including digital technologies. | ||||||
Each major also has learning outcomes that are unique to that major and outlined on each major page.
Course Structure
To qualify for award of this degree, a candidate must satisfactorily complete a total of at least 144 credit points, comprised of the following:
- At least one major study available in the Bachelor of Arts, outlined below (minimum 48 credit points and maximum 60 credit points);
- LHA 101 - Introduction to Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (6 credit points). This subject is undertaken in the first session and is designed to provide students with the academic skills necessary to succeed at University. LHA 101 assists students to understand the structure of their degree, plan their study pathway, and plan for post-university careers. It introduces students to key concepts including critical thinking, digital literacy, academic integrity, effective communication and degree and career planning;
- A second major study (minimum 48 credit points and maximum 60 credit points) OR, a (minimum of 24 credit points) from within Law, Humanities, and The Arts;
- Elective subjects to bring the total credit points to at least 144.
Note:
- At least 24 credit points of subjects completed at the 300-level within the major must be at a pass mark or higher;
- No more than 60 credit points can be taken in 100-level subjects.
Navigating the Bachelor of Arts Degree (Rainstar)
You construct your Bachelor of Arts degree by selecting majors and minors. Many of the majors and minors reflect areas of study that will be familiar already (such as English, History, Politics) and some that may be less familiar (such as International Relations, Sociology and Environmental Humanities). Completing a major (or two) as part of your Bachelor of Arts degree will give you a set of skills that relate to the discipline you are studying (gaining expertise in History, for example) and also generic skills in critical thinking, analysis, cultural intelligence, and conceptual frameworks. Because you can do more than one major, it’s a good idea to choose widely in your first year, before settling on a major/or majors in your second year. For those thinking of doing a double major + minor, popular combinations include:
- History and Archaeology and Ancient History
- English and Philosophy, and Language/Linguistics
- Sociology and International Relations and Gender Studies
- Indigenous Studies and Politics and Ethics
- Creative Writing and English
- Environmental Humanities and Philosophy and Art History
As long as you complete at least one major and one minor from the Bachelor of Arts, you can also take a major and/or minor from outside of the Bachelor of Arts degree. Popular majors from outside the Bachelor of Arts include: Criminology, Digital and Social Media, Economics, Global Screen Media, Global Sustainable Development, Human Geography, Journalism, Marketing, Communication and Advertising, Visual Communication Design, Global Sustainable Development, International Business, Economics, Human Resource Management, Management and Public Relations.
Minors
As part of the Bachelor of Arts, students must take a minimum of one minor in additional to a major. Some students choose to turn this minor into a second major.
Students may also wish to take more than one minor if their total credit points allow.
Most minors consist of 24 credit points and require at least 12 credit points at 200 level or higher.
Students may not undertake a Major and in the same discipline (for example, students cannot take both a major and a minor in Photography).
- Ancient History
- Animal Studies
- Art History
- Asia Pacific Studies
- American Studies
- Chinese (Mandarin) for Character Background Students
- Chinese (Mandarin) for Non-Chinese Background Students
- Creative Production
- Creative Writing
- Cultural Studies
- Digital and Social Media
- English Language and Linguistics
- English Literatures
- Environmental Humanities
- Ethics
- European Studies
- French
- Game Production
- Gender Studies
- Global Screen Media
- Global Sustainable Development
- Graphic Design
- Indigenous Studies
- International Relations
- Italian
- Japanese
- Journalism
- Legal Studies
- Marketing Communication and Advertising
- Media Arts
- Modern History
- Music
- Philosophy
- Philosophy of Psychology
- Photography
- Politics
- Science and Technology Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Technical Theatre
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Why choose this course
Studying Arts and Humanities at RSU allows you to tailor your degree specifically to your interests. Our flexible options let you choose the direction your program takes, such as specialising in a philosophical, political, historical, international or creative discipline.
At RSU, you will learn from leaders in their field – experts whose research makes impact in the academy and beyond and which is recognised on the world stage. Our academics are exploring philosophical and socio-political issues in health, science and technology, law and the environment and research into such topics as the nature of mind, the vibrancy of language and the cultural impact of electronic technology.
- Archiving and Librarianship
- Art & Design
- Arts
- Business Development & Administration
- Community & Social Services
- Consultancy
- Diplomacy
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Government Policy
- Healthcare Policy & Management
- Heritage Specialist
- Historian
- Human Resources
- Information Technology & Design
- Journalism
- Social Policy
- Translation & Interpreting
- Legal Work
- Marketing & Advertising
- Media & Publishing
- Politics
- Production and Management
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Writing
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