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Bachelor's degree or equivalent in any field.
The courses offered in the Diploma in Arts are set out in the course list. Each course is allocated a certain number of units (#).
Courses Program RulesThe Program Rules explain what is required to complete the Diploma in Arts. These requirements include the total number of units you need to complete in order to graduate.
Program RulesTo have your degree conferred, you also need to comply with UQ’s policies and rules.
The following is a list of majors and minors available in the Diploma in Arts.
When you graduate, any majors, dual majors and extended majors you have completed will be listed on your degree certificate. Minors are only listed on academic transcripts.
This major will help you appreciate the unique way that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people see the world. You will gain a deep understanding of Indigenous perspectives on everyday life in Australia today as well as on the major social, economic and political events and processes in Australia's history. You will gain knowledge from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers first-hand as well as from non-Indigenous staff who work closely with Indigenous communities.
The early Mediterranean cultures provide the foundations of Western civilisation and so their study is highly relevant today. You will learn about the history, literature, religion, philosophy, social customs, art and architecture of ancient peoples as diverse as the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. Courses span a huge period from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity and focus on a variety of important individuals, ideas and achievements, e.g. Alexander the Great, Greek democracy, and the rise of Imperial Rome. Since their achievements continue to influence modern ideas and institutions, the study of Ancient History is a good way to understand the modern world.
This major offers students a wide spectrum of courses dealing with the ancient and modern worlds. Ancient History allows you to examine the early Mediterranean cultures, including their art, literature, religion, philosophy and social customs. You will be able to examine early Mediterranean cultures through to cultures of the Middle Ages and beyond, including modern Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. Given the lasting influence of ancient ideas and institutions, the study of Ancient History helps to provide a basis for deeper understanding of modern society. History teaches you how to interrogate the past and enter into dialogue with forces that have shaped a variety of cultures of the modern world.
Anthropology is the study of human life and experience and teaches people how to understand cultural difference. Graduates contribute such expertise to government, industry or community organisations working with people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. In Australia, this could mean work on migrant or ethnic issues, on how and why people may be prepared to adopt new technologies, or on resolution of Aboriginal native title claims and negotiation of resource developments like mining, tourism and fishing. International work might involve economic and social development in Pacific Island countries, attitudes to environmental conservation across the globe, or corporate and consumer activities.
Archaeology is the scientific study of our human past and archaeologists search out and excavate ancient sites and examine artefacts to gain clues about how various peoples and cultures developed and changed through the ages. Archaeologists at UQ undertake research of international importance and their varied interests take them into the field in Australasia, the Pacific (Hawaii, Easter Island), the Mediterranean and Near East (Pompeii, Turkey), the Maya region of Central America, India and France. Students in this major can study topics, such as: the Archaeology of Australasia, Archaeology of the Pacific Islands, the Archaeology of Turkey or Egyptian Archaeology: Past, present and future
From the Renaissance to the contemporary, studying Art History enables students to explore in detail the ongoing significance of art as a platform for shaping and interpreting the worlds in which we live. The Art History major enables access to a diverse range of courses with vocational, cross-disciplinary applications. Students acquire practical skills in visual literacy and communication, critical thinking, academic research and writing, exhibition curating and design, and historical analysis, opening doors to a variety of employment pathways in the visual arts industries. The major includes courses on contemporary art and critical theory, curatorship, aesthetics, art and science, Modernism, photography, and Renaissance and Baroque Art. Specific emphasis is given to pre- and post-colonial histories of Australian art, Aboriginal art, arts of the Asia-Pacific and methodologies of art history. Art History students at the University of Queensland further benefit from a range of substantive curatorial internship and professional development opportunities across Australia and internationally, as well as intensive fieldwork courses and placements with The University of Queensland Art Museum, St Lucia.
Learning Chinese at UQ opens a window to understanding Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life. A rapidly changing society with a history dating back to the 17th Century BC, China is also a multiethnic society consisting of 56 ethnic groups with a rich heritage of cultural diversity. In recent decades China has played an increasingly active and significant role in world culture, economy, and politics. The Chinese language is a key to understanding the redistribution of power in the Asia-Pacific region. There are separate majors for native speakers of Mandarin and other Chinese dialects. You can undertake specialist courses in literature, culture, translation, business and language teaching.
The major provides students with knowledge of:
One fascinating way to explore the depths of another culture is to familiarise yourself with the languages in which those ideas were originally presented. Classical Greek and Latin provide students with a basis to further their reading and writing skills in two of the oldest languages in the world. These two classical languages have traditionally held a central position in Western education, and they remain important for the study not only of the Greco-Roman world, but also of the languages, ideas and literatures (including English) of societies that grew out of the classical world. This major is ideal for students studying a dual program, as it will enhance studies in law, science or languages.
Criminology is an interdisciplinary field in the social and behavioural sciences, drawing on the areas of sociology, psychology and psychiatry, anthropology and law. The criminology major at UQ is distinguished by its theoretical and methodological focus on crime and public policy. The major is strongly underpinned by sociological theories, and students undertaking this major become highly trained in social research methods and critical thinking, and learn to examine crime and its regulation within the context of social, economic and political shifts in contemporary society. The major is strongly cross-disciplinary and enables students to combine criminology with other fields of study such as sociology, political science, law, psychology, history and philosophy.
Seeing and critiquing professional performance, reading plays from around the world and throughout the past 2000 years, honing your performance skills: These are all part of the UQ Drama major. You will learn how to interpret theatre through time and across cultures, but you will also be challenged to think about what constitutes performance, not only on the stage, but on the page and in everyday life. You will develop an understanding of the theatrical and literary aspects of drama, from ancient Greek classics to medieval theatre to the most recent Australian, Asian-Pacific, American and European plays. You do not have to audition but there are practical performance options at advanced level.
Economics is the science of decision making. As individuals, communities, companies and governments, we face choices every day, weighing up the costs and benefits of our decisions. With the ongoing momentum of globalisation, development, economic/financial/cultural integration and increasing pressure for ecological sustainability, economics remains the key element. Economics determines much of today's social and political landscape, and students trained in this field are exceptionally well-positioned to play a leading part in the future direction of business, government and society.
English is the medium of communication, business and entertainment for millions of people around the world. From witty plays and elegant films to pungent protest songs and complex novels, it allows people to formulate and convey their particular vision of the world and their often urgent desire to celebrate or improve it. Students will examine examples of English at work in different circumstances, ranging from poetry to television and the Internet.
The English literature major introduces students to one of the world's key literary traditions as well as to contemporary global English-language literary culture. Undertaking the formal study of English literature from its beginnings to the present day is to be introduced to a vast intellectual and cultural history--one that records the almost infinitely different ways in which men and women, from a great variety of different times and places, have lived, thought, argued, felt and imagined. Many of the novels, poems, plays and non-fictional works students encounter in this program rank amongst the greatest products of the human mind. The major also introduces students to some influential ways of thinking about literature.
Film and Television Studies at UQ introduces the language of screen media and the principal ways in which they are written about and analysed. The major focus is on popular film and television and the contexts within which they are produced and received. This includes studying contemporary and historical film movements, various film and television genres, Hollywood texts, Australian screen media, and films from a range of national cinemas. Students will develop practical skills through assignments involving film reviewing, storyboarding, screenwriting, pitching, digital video production and creating film trailers in addition to academic writing, research, critique and analysis.
The French language is still today one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is estimated that it is used by 77 million people as their first language and that it is spoken by a total of 128 million people. In this major you will study both French language and culture concurrently. Whether you wish to study French because it is one of the major diplomatic languages of the world; or simply because it is the language of love; you will need to understand something about French and Francophone culture. You are able to study French without any prior knowledge or having done French at high school.
Further plan information will be available soon.
Geography has never been more relevant or important to society and its future. With the Earth's population set to expand from seven billion to nine billion in the next 50 years, humans will be influenced by the environment more than ever before. The world will need professionals who are able to monitor and assess changes. Geographers study patterns and processes of natural and built environments and of human activities, and their causes and consequences. They collect, analyse and report this information to enable informed decision making to take place. Geographers are actively involved in addressing many of today's big issues such as climate change and population growth.
German is one of the most widely spoken languages on earth, and a major community language in Australia. The German-speaking countries lie at the heart of Europe, and Australia welcomes tens of thousands of tourists from those countries every year. Germany has one of the strongest economies in the world, and is a leader in many areas of technology and culture. German language skills are an asset in many careers, including international relations, international business, tourism, interpreting/translation, teaching and the sciences. Whether you have studied German at high school or never studied it at all, it is possible for you to study German at UQ.
History provides an essential framework for all the humanities and social sciences. It is an on-going dialogue between the present and the past: about how the past should be understood and interpreted, and about the meanings we should assign to the past. An informed understanding of the present and our expectations for the future go hand-in-hand with knowledge of history. The study of history further promotes the acquisition of important professional skills such as the ability to initiate an original inquiry, conduct archival research and documentary analysis and interpret evidence. At UQ, topics within this major include: Great Empires, Genocide, Global History, The Foundations of Europe and Islamic Civilisation.
Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia, the fourth most populous and largest Muslim majority nation. With more than 300 million speakers, Indonesian is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. The Indonesian major covers Indonesian history, politics, culture and society are offered through the Indonesian studies major. Indonesian is also commonly studied together with majors in Asian Studies, International Relations, Business, Law and Development. In the federal governments 2012 White Paper on `Australia in the Asian Century', Indonesian was identified as one of the crucial language skills areas for development. Indonesian at UQ is available for beginning, immediate and advanced students.
Studies in International Relations equip you with the necessary theoretical and practical tools to analyse and evaluate events and issues both domestically and internationally. They are designed to introduce you to the significant trends shaping the world around you, to train you in ways to conceptualise and help you make sense of and situate current events in the proper analytical, historical and global context. Students are encouraged to incorporate such training into the development of practical skills designed to enhance professional opportunities. In an era of unprecedented social and political upheaval the study of international politics and all it encompasses is highly relevant.
Japanese is a key world language used to facilitate economic pursuits, research and government interaction. It is particularly useful if you are seeking a career in business, tourism, technology, the media, art, literature or education. Learning to use Japanese broadens the scope of your personal, social and professional networks giving you the potential to travel, live and work in Japan and to engage with speakers of Japanese in Australia, Japan and elsewhere. More than 20 exchange programs with prestigious Japanese universities are available to allow students to advance their linguistic skills and cultural understanding through in-country experience.
In this major, you can study in the areas of global journalism, mass communication, digital media. It prepares graduates for jobs where critical understanding, flexibility, research, analytical and communication skills are required (including careers in journalism, digital media strategy, the media and entertainment industry, and mass communication. The Journalism and Mass Communication major provides a broader basis for careers in mass communication, journalism and the media as well as a wide range of other occupations where critical understanding, flexibility, research, analytical and communication skills and proficiency in communication are required.
Students who study and use the Korean language will gain a profound appreciation of different ways of thinking, a diverse history and rich cultural traditions. Students will experience contemporary Korean popular culture such as K-Pop, and Korean films. Korean skills will give you a competitive edge in the job market, for example in law, business, tourism, teaching, finance, diplomacy, journalism, science, information technology, manufacturing, and any area with an international focus. Currently in Korea there are many English, and Chinese teaching positions available, from kindergarten to university level.
The Minor provides students with:
Linguistics explores the structure of language, its uses and applications in society, connecting theoretical, descriptive and applied studies which address problems and issues in human communication. Courses in the structure of language examine its sounds (phonetics and phonology), words (morphology), sentences (syntax) and meaning (semantics), and the complex interactions between these properties. Students also study the way languages change across time (historical linguistics), how different regional, social or occupational varieties develop (sociolinguistics), and how language is used in discourse (pragmatics).
Demand is at an all-time high for trained mathematicians. Statistics, operations research and financial mathematics are the areas of mathematics most often used in industry and there has been a particular upsurge in the number of mathematicians employed in banking, finance, insurance and risk management. Graduates with a degree in any area of mathematics are respected for their excellent quantitative and problem- solving abilities and gain a wide range of rewarding positions in the public and private sectors. UQ offers a wide range of courses in mathematics and its applications. In first year, students study essential topics in calculus, linear algebra and differential equations. In later years, there is an emphasis new ideas in mathematics and include recent applications in coding and cryptology.
The Media and Digital Cultures major offers a distinctive critical engagement with the role of media in cultural life and the exercise of power. The major places particular emphasis on cultural practices characterised by the ubiquity of digital media technologies in everyday life. Courses cover important forms of media like television and news, the emergence of digital media industries and technologies, and the cultural formations characteristic of media-dense digital societies.
Music is one of the most powerful and evocative of arts forms. The music major will help you to understand music's diverse social and historical meanings and well as providing you with a key to its written and aural complexities. You will approach the study of Western art music in a challenging and engaging way, incorporating critical perspectives and historical knowledge along with written and aural skills. Students contemplating the extended major will have a choice of two streams: a musicological stream which further develops the aspects described above, and a professional stream designed for students interested in the professional field of Music Education.
Peace and Conflict Studies are assuming increasing importance both internationally and within nations as governments and non-government organisations struggle to find ways of resolving conflicts without recourse to violence. Peace and Conflict Studies examine a number of social and political issues including international conflict, peacekeeping, indigenous politics, ethics and justice and development politics. The objective of the this major is to provide you with an understanding of the causes of political conflict and the possibilities of finding peaceful solutions to them. This requires development of diagnostic tools for the analysis of social and political situations, a capacity to engage in and understand the evaluation of alternative courses of action and political analysis skills.
Philosophy examines fundamental problems such as the scope and limits of human knowledge, the ultimate constituents of reality, the sources of value and obligation and the nature of correct reasoning. All this began with attempts to answer two deceptively simple questions: What can we know? And how should we live? Philosophy aims not to teach you what to think, but how to think. UQ not only offers students the only accredited philosophy major in Queensland but also provides students with opportunities to study with internationally recognised philosophers in a research-intensive environment, across the breadth of the discipline. Emphasizing the key role that critical thinking plays in a healthy society, the major equips students to participate more fully in leadership roles in the broader community.
Political Science includes studies of political structures, processes and policies in Australia as well as other societies, the contemporary ideas, ideologies and theories that determine the framework for political decision-making, and the organisational and diplomatic approaches to cooperation and conflict resolution in the international system. Studies in political science provide you with detailed knowledge of the discipline's sub-strands and how they may be integrated into a broader understanding of key political processes.
Popular music has the power to uplift, stimulate, comfort, motivate and communicate. Its attractiveness lies in its ubiquity, openness and lack of convention. It helps you to understand your own response to music and the society in which you live. The courses help you express yourself in writing and in music production and equip you for changing music making environments by developing practical musical making skills and technical knowledge with mobile devices, digital audio workstations, and recording studio technologies.
Psychology is a broad ranging discipline that includes the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes, and the systematic application of this knowledge in specific contexts such as mental health (clinical psychology), work (organisational psychology), education or sport. Many people who study psychology will not go on to become psychologists, but will find their training in psychology to be highly relevant and useful in their lives and work. Those who do become psychologists may work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, government bodies, large corporations, or in private practice.
Studies in Public Policy are designed to help you come to grips with issues of and controversies within modern governance in general, and with the institutions and processes of public policy in particular. The main focus of studies in this area is on the political, institutional, economic, social and ideological forces that shape Australian governance and public policy. Students completing this program should be equipped with the analytical abilities necessary to embark on policymaking and advising careers within the public, private and community sectors.
With almost 200 million native speakers in Europe and Asia, Russian is truly an international language and at the same time a gateway to one of the world's great cultures. Your major will combine a comprehensive language acquisition program from beginners' level with studies in many other aspects of the Russians' world. Learning to understand how the Russian State has expanded and Russian society has evolved over the centuries or developing an appreciation of Russian literature, drama or film not only gives you insights into the wider context within which the language is used, but also encourages you to look beyond the stereotypes and clichés that often characterise our notions of other nations.
Sociologists analyse social change and investigate patterns of social behaviour. They use critical and analytical skills to discover the causes and consequences of social problems, to establish future directions of change, and to interpret the reasons for gender, ethnic, racial and class inequalities that have occurred in the past and are occurring in the present. Sociological study provides you with the intellectual tools to analyse and to build evidence-based findings on the pressing issues of our time. The Sociology major at UQ uncovers the heart of the disciplines underlying interest in inequality, power, cultural identity and the future of global society.
Spanish is the first language of more than 400 million people and the second language of millions more in Europe, the United States, Brazil, Asia and North Africa. Spanish is an official language in international bodies such as the United Nations and World Bank. With Australia's increased exposure to the world economy and competitive labour market, being fluent in a world language like Spanish will give you highly employable communication skills. There is also a strong tradition in the areas of Spanish and Latin American literature and culture, which this major will explore.
Sports studies provides you with an understanding of the sport and leisure industries from sociological, historical, economic and psychological perspectives. You will undertake courses in the social science and humanities areas of the study of sport as well as courses relating to the sociology of sport and the human body in society. The growth in the sport, physical activity and health industries over the past two decades has created a range of employment opportunities in the areas of social policy, journalism, management, marketing, planning and development, education, and psychology. Sports Studies graduates currently hold leadership positions with State and national sporting teams, the media and international sporting organisations.
Studies in Australian Culture introduces students to the varieties of Australian culture across a range of forms and media including film, literature, drama, television, the visual arts and popular cultural practices. In addition to gaining knowledge of the production, distribution and consumption of Australian culture in particular media, the program offers students the opportunity for comparative study across different forms and different historical periods. Students will gain an understanding of the key social and political issues influencing Australian cultural expressions and cultural institutions. In providing an understanding of the means by which national cultures are constituted the place of Australian culture within international structures will also be examined.
Religion and spiritual ideas have shaped and continue to shape many societies across the globe. You now have the opportunity to expand your religious and spiritual horizons, increase your knowledge of (some of) these traditions and ideas and to develop critical methods of evaluating them. Studies in Religion offers courses by professional and highly enthusiastic teachers in the areas of Western and Eastern religious traditions, spiritual practices and religious thought, in the psychology of religion, in new religious movements, and in the original languages of the sacred texts of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.
There's a knack to producing writing worth reading, and that's what this major will help you to achieve. You will develop a fundamental and substantial understanding of how language works at the word, sentence, paragraph, and document level. You will learn strategies for designing, structuring and writing, and revising on paper and online. Whether you are aiming to be a creative or a corporate writer, this major will train you to produce compelling, career-enhancing writing in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres.
You should refer to the Program Rules for more information. Full definitions of majors and minors are available in the Policies and Procedures Library.
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