You are here: Home / Science / Undergraduate / Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science

 

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science


These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Course resolutions

1 Course codes

Code

Course title

LH056

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science

AH042

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Honours)

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Admission to candidature

Admission to undergraduate courses at the University of Sydney is either on the basis of completion of secondary study via the NSW Higher School Certificate, leading to the award of an Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) or equivalent (and subject to special admissions provisions as set out in the Coursework Rule), or on the basis of Mature Age Admission as set out in the Admissions chapter of the Coursework Rule.

4 Requirements for award

(1)
The units of study available for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science are set out in:
(a)
the Table of Liberal Studies units for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science;
(b)
Table 1 for the Bachelor of Science;
(c)
Table A from the Faculty of Arts; and
(d)
Table B from the Faculty of Arts.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a student must successfully complete 144 credit points, comprising:
(a)
36 credit points from the Table of Liberal Studies units for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, including at least one unit of study from each of the three areas: Analytical Thinking, Communication and Ethics, as specified in the Table; and either
(b)
a major in Science from Table 1 together with a minimum of 36 credit points of units of study from Table A, which must include at least 12 credit points at Arts senior level (2000 or 3000 level); or
(c)
a major in Arts from Table A together with a minimum of 36 credit points of units of study from Table 1, which must include at least 12 credit points at intermediate or senior level (2000 or 3000 level).
(3)
In addition, ensure:
(a)
no more than 84 junior credit points; and
(b)
units of study chosen to satisfy the Liberal Studies requirement can not count towards the Science or Arts requirements.

5 Majors

(1)
Completion of a major is a requirement of the course. Units of study counted towards one major may not count toward any other major.
(2)
The list of Science majors available is specified in the course resolutions for the Bachelor of Science.
(3)
The list of Table A Arts majors available is specified in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts.

6 Requirements for the Honours degree

(1)
Honours is available to meritorious candidates who complete an additional year of full time study in either Science or Arts at the completion of the degree.
(2)
Admission and award requirements for honours in Science are described in the resolutions of the Faculty of Science. Admission and award requirements for honours in the Bachelor of Arts are described in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts.

7 Award of the degree

(1)
The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science is awarded as either Pass or Honours. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts.
(2)
Candidates for the award of the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree.

8 Transitional provisions

(1)
These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016, or later date as the Faculty may, in special circumstances, approve.

Sample Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science Plans

BLAS: General plan for ARTS Major, with one Liberal Studies (LS) unit per semester. Note that other arrangements are also possible.

 

Sem

Unit of study 1
(credit points)

Unit of study 2
(credit points)

Unit of study 3
(credit points)

Unit of study 4
(credit points)

Total

Year 1

1

Arts Junior unit

(6)

 

Arts Junior unit (6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Analytical Thinking

ATHK1001

(6)

24

2

Arts Junior unit (6)

Arts Junior unit (6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Academic English

WRIT1001

(6)

24

Year 2

1

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

 

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

Science unit (6)

LS unit from Ethics area

(6)

24

2

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

 

Elective unit

(6)

Science unit

(6)

LS elective

(6)

24

Year 3

1

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

 

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

Science unit (6)

LS elective

(6)

24

2

Arts Major

Senior unit

(6)

 

Elective unit (6)

Science unit (6)

LS elective

(6)

24

144

Students intending to major in an Arts area should consult the Faculty of Arts Handbook for information.

 

SAMPLE BLAS PATHWAY: History Major. Note that other arrangements are also possible.

Sem

Unit of study 1
& credit points

Unit of study 2
& credit points

Unit of study 3
& credit points

Unit of study 4
& credit points

Total

Year 1

1

History

Junior unit (6)

Anthropology

Junior unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC1001

(6)

Analytical Thinking

ATHK1001

(6)

24

2

History

Junior unit (6)

Anthropology

Junior unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC1002

(6)

Academic English

WRIT1001

(6)

24

Year 2

1

History Major

Senior unit (6)

History Major

Senior unit (6)

Psychology

Intermediate unit (6)

 

Bioethics

HPSC1000

(6)

24

2

History Major

Senior unit (6)

 

Anthropology

Senior unit (6)

Psychology

Intermediate unit (6)

Foundations of IT

INFO1003

(6)

24

Year 3

1

History Major

Senior unit (6)

History Major

Senior unit (6)

Psychology

Intermediate unit (6)

Earth Environment and Society

GEOS1001

(6)

24

2

History Major

Senior unit (6)

Anthropology unit

(6)

Psychology

Intermediate unit (6)

Critical Thinking PHIL2642

(6)

24

144

Students intending to major in an Arts area should consult the Faculty of Arts Handbook for information.

 

BLAS: General plan for SCIENCE Major, with one Liberal Studies (LS) unit per semester. Note that other arrangements are also possible.

Sem

Unit of study 1
& credit points

Unit of study 2
& credit points

Unit of study 3
& credit points

Unit of study 4
& credit points

Total

Year 1

1

Arts Junior unit

(6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Analytical Thinking

ATHK1001

(6)

24

2

Arts Junior unit

(6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Science Junior unit

(6)

Academic English WRIT1001

(6)

24

Year 2

1

Arts unit

(6)

Science Intermediate unit (in major area)

(6)

Elective

(6)

LS unit from Ethics area

(6)

24

2

Arts unit (6)

 

Science Intermediate unit (in major area)

(6)

Elective

(6)

LS Elective

(6)

24

Year 3

1

Arts unit (6)

Science

Major Senior unit

(6)

Science

Major Senior unit

(6)

LS Elective

(6)

24

2

Arts unit (6)

Science

Major Senior unit

(6)

Science

Major Senior unit

(6)

LS Elective

(6)

24

144

Students intending to major in a Science subject area should enrol in the appropriate junior level of units of study. For more information, refer to the Faculty of Science Handbook, Chapter 3: Enrolment Guide by Major for the Bachelor of Science degree.

SAMPLE BLAS PATHWAY: Psychology Major. Note that other arrangements are also possible.

Sem

Unit of study 1
& credit points

Unit of study 2
& credit points

Unit of study 3
& credit points

Unit of study 4
& credit points

Total

Year 1

1

Sociology

Junior Unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC1001(6)

Mathematics

Junior Units(6)

Analytical Thinking

ATHK1001

(6)

24

2

Sociology

Junior Unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC1002(6)

Mathematics

Junior Units (6)

Academic English

WRIT1001

(6)

24

Year 2

1

Sociology

Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC2011

(6)

Psychology

PSYC2012

(6)

Australian Texts: International Contexts

ENGL1008

(6)

24

2

Sociology

Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

PSYC2013

(6)

Psychology

PSYC2014 

(6)

Indigenous Australia: An Introduction

KOCR2600 (6)

24

Year 3

1

Sociology

Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

Major Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

Major Senior Unit (6)

Bioethics

HPSC1000( 6)

24

2

Sociology

Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

Major Senior Unit (6)

Psychology

Major Senior Unit (6)

HSTY1044

20th Century Politics and Culture (6)

24

144

Students intending to major in a Science subject area should enrol in the appropriate junior level of units of study. For more information, refer to the Faculty of Science Handbook, Chapter 3: Enrolment Guide by Major for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

Table of Liberal Studies Units for the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science
Candidates are required to complete 36 credit points from units listed in the Liberal Studies table. At least one 6 credit point unit of study from each of the three core areas Analytical Thinking, Communication and Ethics must be completed. The remaining 18 credit points of Liberal Studies units may be taken from any of the six areas of the table, A-F.

1. Compulsory Liberal Studies Units
From the Table of Liberal Studies Units below, students must complete ATHK1001 Analytical Thinking, and WRIT1001 Academic English, and one 6 credit point unit from the Ethics area, totalling 18 credit points. Note that ATHK1001 and WRIT1001 must be taken in the first year of the degree.

2. Table of Liberal Studies Units

A. Analytical Thinking
ATHK1001
Analytical Thinking 		6   

ATHK1001 is a compulsory unit within the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (BLAS) degree and will only be available to students enrolling the BLAS.
 Semester 1
LNGS1001
Structure of Language 		6    N LNGS1004, LNGS1005
Semester 1
PHIL1012
Introductory Logic 		6      Semester 1
Summer Late
STAT1021
General Statistical Methods 1
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    A HSC General Mathematics
N MATH1005, MATH1015, MATH1905, ECMT1010
Semester 1
PHIL2642
Critical Thinking 		6    P 12 Junior credit points in any units within the University
Semester 2
Winter Main
PHIL2650
Logic and Computation
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P PHIL1012 or PHIL2628 or permission of instructor
Semester 2
PHIL2615
Intermediate Logic 		6    P 12 Junior credit points in Philosophy and PHIL1012 or PHIL2203 or PHIL2628.
N PHIL2215, PHIL3215
Semester 2
STAT2012
Statistical Tests 		6    P MATH (1005 or 1905 or 1015)
N STAT2004, STAT2912
Semester 2
Any junior unit of study in Mathematics from the Faculty of Science Table 1.

B. Communication
ENGL1007
Language, Texts and Time 		6      Semester 2
ENGL1008
Australian Texts: International Contexts 		6      Semester 1
LNGS1002
Language and Social Context 		6      Semester 2
WRIT1001
Academic English 		6   

Upon registration for this unit students will be directed to an online diagnostic exercise.
 Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Late
Winter Main
WRIT1002
Academic Writing 		6    A WRIT1001 is not a prerequisite for WRIT1002, but successful completion of WRIT1001 would be advantageous to students undertaking WRIT1002
Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Late
Winter Main
LNGS2617
Cross-Cultural Communication 		6    P Either (two of LNGS1001, LNGS1002, LNGS1003, LNGS1004, LNGS1005) or (Credit average in 12 Senior credit points from one of the foreign languages (French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, German, Latin, Modern Greek, Ancient Greek, Indonesian, Malay, Korean, Thai, Yiddish, Hebrew, Syriac, Aramaic, Sanskrit)
N LNGS3903, LNGS3923


This unit is available as a designated 'Advanced' unit for students who are already enrolled in the BA (Advanced) degree program.
 Semester 2
Winter Main
ENGL2619
Semiotics of Language
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P 12 Junior credit points of English
N ENGL2019, SMTC2001, SMTC2002
Semester 1
Any junior unit of study in a language subject area other than English, from the Faculty of Arts Table A.

C. Ethics
HPSC1000
Bioethics 		6    N HPSC1900


This Junior unit of study is highly recommended to Intermediate and Senior Life Sciences students.
 Semester 1
HPSC1900
Bioethics (Advanced) 		6    N HPSC1000

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

 Semester 1
HPSC3024
Science and Ethics 		6    P At least 24 credit points of Intermediate or Senior units of study; HPSC1000
N HPSC3007
Semester 2
INFO2315
Introduction to IT Security 		6    A Computer literacy
N NETS3305, NETS3605, NETS3016, NETS3916, ELEC5610, ELEC5616
Semester 2
PHIL2623
Moral Psychology 		6    P 12 Junior credit points in Philosophy.
N PHIL2513, PHIL3513
Semester 1
Winter Main
PHIL2617
Practical Ethics 		6    P 12 junior credit points
N PHIL2517
Semester 1
Summer Late

D. Culture, Society and Global Citizenship
ANTH1002
Anthropology and the Global 		6    N ANTH1004
Semester 2
ASNS1601
Introduction to Asian Cultures 		6      Semester 1
ASNS1602
Modernity in Asia 		6      Semester 2
GEOS1001
Earth, Environment and Society 		6    N GEOS1901, GEOG1001, GEOG1002, GEOL1001, GEOL1002, GEOL1902
Semester 1
GEOS1901
Earth, Environment and Society Advanced 		6    P Departmental permission is required for enrolment. An ATAR above 93 is normally required for admission. This requirement may be varied and students should consult the unit of study coordinator.
N GEOS1001, GEOG1001, GEOG1002, GEOL1001, GEOL1002, GEOL1902

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

 Semester 1
GEOS1002
Introductory Geography 		6    N GEOS1902, GEOG1001, GEOG1002
Semester 2
GEOS1902
Introductory Geography (Advanced) 		6    P Departmental permission is required for enrolment. A UAI (or ATAR equivalent) above 93 is normally required for admission. This requirement may be varied and students should consult the unit of study coordinator.
N GEOS1002, GEOG1001, GEOG1002

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

 Semester 2
GOVT1101
Australian Politics 		6      Semester 1
HSTY1044
Twentieth Century Europe 		6    N HSTY1043
Semester 2
Summer Late
JCTC1001
Palestine: Roman Rule to Islam 		6      Semester 1
ANTH2625
Culture and Development 		6    P 12 Junior credit points from Anthropology
Semester 1
ANTH2626
The City: Global Flows and Local Forms
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P 12 Junior credit points of Anthropology
N ANTH2026
Semester 2
ASTR2601
Australia: Land and Nation
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P 18 junior credit points
N ASTR2001


May be cross listed to a major in Australian Literature. This unit is available as a designated 'Advanced' unit for students who are already enrolled in the BA (Advanced) degree program.
 Semester 1
KOCR2600
Indigenous Australia: An Introduction 		6    P 18 Junior credit points
N KOCR2100
Semester 1
Semester 2
EUST2611
European & Middle Eastern Myth & Legend 		6    P At least 18 junior credit points from Part A of the Table of Units of Study, of which 12 credit points are from one subject
Semester 1
HSTY2604
Popular Culture in Australia 1850-1945
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P 12 credit points of Junior History, Ancient History, or Asian Studies
N HSTY2004
Semester 1
Winter Main
HSTY2605
Contemporary Europe
This unit of study is not available in2011

 6    P 12 credit points of Junior History, Ancient History, or Asian Studies
N HSTY2005
Semester 1
Winter Main
PACS2002
History and Politics of War and Peace 		6    P 18 junior credit points, of which 6 must normally be in either HSTY, GOVT, SCLG or LAWS


this unit is taught jointly with the Department of History and can be counted towards a History major
Semester 2

E. Scientific Enquiry
PHYS1500
Astronomy 		6    A No assumed knowledge of Physics.
 Semester 2
HPSC2101
What Is This Thing Called Science? 		6    P 24 credit points of Junior units of study
N HPSC2001, HPSC2901
Semester 2
Summer Main
HPSC2100
The Birth of Modern Science 		6    P 24 credit points of Junior units of study
N HPSC2002, HPSC2900
Semester 1
Summer Main

F. Technological Literacy
INFO1003
Foundations of Information Technology 		6    N INFO1000 or INFS1000
Semester 1
Semester 2
INFO1903
Informatics (Advanced) 		6    A HSC Mathematics
P ATAR sufficient to enter BCST(Adv), BIT or BSc(Adv), or portfolio of work suitable for entry

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

 Semester 1
ARIN2600
Technocultures 		6    P 18 junior credit points
N ARIN3000
Semester 1
ARIN2620
Cyberworlds 		6    P 18 junior credit points
N ARIN2200


May be cross-listed for a Sociology major
Semester 2
ARIN2610
Web Production 		6    P 18 junior credit points
N ARIN2100
Semester 2
Summer Main
Back to top