|
 |
|||
Arts Faculty
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
Honours School 2005The BA (Honours) degree is an advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than for the pass degree. It enhances students ability to acquire advanced skills of analysis, to develop original ideas, and to apply innovative solutions to complex problems. The BA (Honours) involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level. Students may specialise in one area of study (Pure Honours) or two (Combined Honours). Entry to the Honours degree must be approved by the department/s concerned and the Faculty of Arts.
 top of page
Honours EligibilityStudents wishing to undertake 4th Year Honours in Political Science, Sociology (Pure and Combined) or Public Policy and Management must have:
Commencement of Honours must occur within five years of the Completion of the BA degree. Students who do not meet the entry requirements for the BA (Honours) degree may be eligible to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts. This course also allows students to undertake a research project in a specialist field of study. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma requires the completion of an undergraduate degree with a major in an approved area of study usually with a grade average of at least H2B (70%) in the final year of the course. The course is similar in structure to the BA (Honours) and provides an alternative pathway to higher degree research. For more information on which areas of study are available please refer to the University's postgraduate course guide. top of page
Combined Degree StudentsIn most cases combined degree students can be admitted to an honours program. Before students are admitted to fourth-year level studies, however, they must complete the arts component as well as enough relevant subjects from their combining degree. Please consult the Faculty's honours course adviser for specific advice. top of page
Honours Grade RequirementStudents are required to achieve an honours grade (ie. H1, H2A, H2B, H3) for each component of assessment in fourth year, and an overall grade of at least H3. Students' overall grade will be based on the weighted average of their marks for each component of their fourth-year studies. This is known as the final examination (FE) result. If any of these requirements are not fulfilled, students will only be eligible for the BA pass degree. A pass (P) or fail (N) grade in any component of assessment will disqualify students from taking out the BA (Honours) degree. top of page
WorkloadFourth-year studies are usually taken full time. In exceptional circumstances (such as work commitments, ill-health etc.), and with both departmental and faculty approval, students may be permitted to take out their fourth-year studies part time over two years. Students will not usually be permitted to transfer to part-time studies after commencing fourth-year, nor will they be permitted to withdraw from fourth-year after the first two weeks of each semester without departmental and faculty approval. In all cases, the thesis must be completed over two consecutive semesters within a 12-month period of enrolment. Withdrawal from the thesis will only be permitted in very exceptional circumstances. top of page
Leave of AbsenceUniversity of Melbourne BA (Pass) degree graduates who have been accepted into honours may, with departmental approval, be granted a maximum of 12 months leave of absence before commencing their fourth-year studies. Once students have commenced study at fourth-year level, leave of absence will only be approved in exceptional circumstances and with the support of the relevant department/s. The maximum leave that will be granted is two semesters (12 months). If students are granted 12 months leave, they must still complete their studies within a maximum of three years of the original commencement date of their fourth-year studies. Resuming a Discontinued Fourth Year Honours DegreeStudents who wish to resume a discontinued University of Melbourne honours degree must lodge an application via the University of Melbourne On-Line application system at https://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/course-application.pl. Completed application forms must be lodged no later than 31st October (semester one entry) or 31st May (semester two entry). In all cases, the BA (Honours) degree must be recommenced within five years of the completion of the BA (Pass) degree. top of page
OverenrolmentOverenrolment in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is not permitted. Students wishing to complete more than 100 points of study at fourth-year level must apply to enroll through the Community Access Program (CAP). Please refer to CAP section in the Faculty of Arts handbook. top of page
CreditFirst, Second, Second/Third, or Third Year subjects may not be taken for credit towards Fourth Year. top of page
ScholarshipsPlease refer to the following web addresses for information on scholarships: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/ top of page
FeesPlease refer to the following web address for information on course fees: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/coursefees/index.html top of page
Application procedureStudents wishing to enter Fourth Year Political Science / Sociology / Public Policy Honours in 2005 will need to have completed a major with a minimum overall standard of H2A (refer to 'Eligibility' re. majors). These requirements apply to both Pure and Combined Honours. If you are currently enrolled in a BA Degree or have completed a BA Degree either at the University of Melbourne or any other University, you should apply for Honours via the University of Melbourne On-Line application system available at: https://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/course-application.pl Completed forms must be lodged by no later than 31st October (semester one entry) or 31st May (semester two entry). International StudentsInternational Students wishing to study BA Honours must submit an application via the University of Melbourne International Office. Details are at : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/apply/international/ug_apply.html. top of page
Honours course structureThe Honours degree consists of 100 points of study in subjects at fourth year level. Pure Honours usually consists of a thesis of 37.5 points and 62.5 points of coursework. Political ScienceFull-time students undertaking Pure Honours in Political Science are required to complete:
SociologyFull-time students undertaking Pure Sociology Honours are required to complete:
Public Policy and ManagementFull-time students undertaking Honours in Public Policy and Management are required to complete:
International StudiesFull-time students undertaking Honours in International Studies are required to complete:
Combined HonoursPolitical ScienceFull-time students undertaking Combined Honours AND completing their thesis in Political Science take the following units:
Full-time students doing Combined Honours BUT completing their thesis in the combining department take the following units:
SociologyFull-time students undertaking Combined Honours AND completing their thesis in Sociology take the following units:
Full-time students doing Combined Honours BUT completing their thesis in the combining department take the following units:
International StudiesFull-time students undertaking Combined Honours AND completing their thesis in Sociology take the following units:
Full-time students doing Combined Honours BUT completing their thesis in the combining department take the following units:
Part-time HonoursThe Honours Year is usually undertaken full-time, but can also be taken part-time (subject to Departmental and Faculty approval). Part-time students are normally expected to complete the coursework components of the degree in the first year and the Honours thesis in the second year. top of page
Fourth Year Honours SubjectsThe University's 2005 handbook lists subjects with descriptions offered at 4th year level for the Honours degree. top of page
SupervisionThe Department recommends that you maintain contact and have regular meetings with your supervisor. It is your responsibility to keep up these regular contacts; it is not the supervisor's responsibility to find you. They should keep a record of your meetings, and you should do the same, noting the date, main issues discussed, work submitted and task to complete by the next visit. Do not rely on being able to drop in to see your supervisor whenever you feel like it - a good supervisor will be busy with his/her own work, and often not available for several days at a time. It is a good idea to make the next appointment at the end of each meeting, probably for a month ahead. Agree with your supervisor on the work you will complete in the intervening period. They may want you to submit this a few days before the appointment so that when you meet they are already familiar with your latest work and better able to discuss it with you. Always keep copies of the work you submit. top of page
Honours Research EthicsAll Honours students should check before commencing research for their thesis that they are complying with the University's code of human research ethics. Please check the Ethics for Honours Students page for information about how to apply for ethics approval. top of page
DeadlinesThere are certain minimum requirements you must meet during the year in which you write your thesis. These five 'stages' will be recorded and closely monitored by the Honours Coordinator. 1. SupervisionYou must arrange to meet with your supervisor at least once during February-March 2006 (July-August 2006 for mid-year entry students). From then on, regular meetings with your supervisor are strongly recommended but their frequency can be negotiated with your supervisor according to your needs. 2. Topic Proposal FormTopic Proposal Forms must be completed and submitted to the politics office during the first week of Semester 1, 2006 (first week of Semester 2, 2006 for mid-year entry students). Your supervisor must sign this form. 3. Progress ReportYou must submit through the essay box outside the Political Science office a one-page progress report by the beginning of Second Semester 2006 (beginning of First Semester 2007 for mid-year entry students). No special form will be required for this report. It should be about one page in length and cover the following points:
Both you and your supervisor should sign the progress report. It should be handed in by the due date. Submission of the report is regarded as a 'hurdle requirement' for the completion of the thesis. 4. Thesis DraftYou must submit a more or less complete draft of the entire thesis directly to your supervisor by Friday, 8th September 2006 (Friday 27th April 2007 for mid-year entry students). Your draft can be submitted to the Politics office if your supervisor is unavailable. Your supervisor will respond to this draft within one week. If you do not submit your draft in time, the thesis will be deemed 'unsupervised' and designated as such by the absence of the form signed by the supervisor that would normally be inserted in the thesis when submitted. The Department has been very concerned that some students do not allow sufficient time towards the end of the Honours year for supervisors to provide adequate comment and feedback on the penultimate version of the thesis. Moreover, many students underestimate the amount of time needed to turn a respectable draft into the finished product. 5. ThesisThe thesis must be submitted by Monday 9th October 2006 (Monday 4th June 2007 for mid-year entry students). Please ensure that TWO copies of your thesis are submitted to the Political Science Office. top of page
Guidelines for Submission of Thesis
top of page
Style GuidesThe Department has been concerned that students working at this level frequently spoil their theses with an inordinate number of grammatical errors and idiosyncratic punctuation. The following publication is recommended for guidance. Kate L. Turabian, A Manual For Writers of term Papers, Theses, and Dissertation, latest edition (University of Chicago Press). For more detailed matters of style refer to the Australian Government's Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers. You may also look at past theses - the department has a full collection, and Natalie Reitmier can make some available for you to look at. Your supervisor can probably tell you one or two that were particularly successful in areas similar to your own. Looking at past theses will help you to familiarise yourself with standards required for such aspects as referencing, typeface, binding, etc. top of page
Return of theses and reportsAfter the examiners' meeting, normally held during the last few days in November (last few days in June for mid-year students), your thesis and the examiners' reports will be available for collection from the Political Science Office. If the examiners consider that the final version of the thesis is unsuitable (ie. too many mistakes) for cataloguing with the departmental collection, the thesis must be amended within 2 days. top of page
ExtensionsExtensions are only granted under very exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or the death of an immediate family member or partner; they are not granted to students who have underestimated the difficulties involved in putting together a 12,000-word thesis. The Fourth Year Coordinator can authorise an extension of time (the extension application must be endorsed by your supervisor) up to 31 December (30 June for mid-year students). For all other extensions you will require the written support of the Fourth Year Coordinator or Head of Department as well as the prior written approval of Prof. Steve James, Associate Dean, Academic Programs. Requests for extensions past 31 December or 30 June should be made in writing in the first instance to the Associate Dean. top of page
Penalties for LatenessCoursework:Written assessment in level 4/5 subjects that is submitted more than two weeks late will receive a maximum mark of 65% (H3). Work that is late, but less than two weeks late, will have 1% mark per working day deducted (provided that the penalty does not exceed that for students who are more than two weeks late). Thesis:Theses submitted more than two weeks late will receive a maximum mark of 70% (H2B). Theses, which are late, but less than two weeks late, will have 1% mark per working day deducted (provided that the penalty does not exceed that for students who are more than two weeks late). top of page
For more information contact:Natalie Reitmier |
|
John Medley building |
top of page
|
Contact the University : Disclaimer & Copyright : Privacy : Accessibility |
Date Created: 14
Sept 2004 |
The University of Melbourne ABN: 84 002 705 224 |
![The University of Melbourne [logo]](/template-assets-custom/images/custom_logo_crest_comb.gif){kind=logo}
