2021 Changes for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Social Science

How can I view the course lists from previous years, and for 2021?

When viewing the 2020 BA course list on the Programs and Courses website, you can change which year you are viewing using the dropdown box near the top right of the list to compare the 2021 BA with the pre-2021 program.

My BA plan (Extended Major/Minor/Major) is no longer offered from 2021, can I still complete it?

Yes!  If you commenced your plan prior to 2021 in your dual program and you stay enrolled in your current program of study you can complete the plan, guided by the courses included on the pre-2021 course list. Please refer to section 3 to find completion planners for discontinued plans.

If you change into the 2021 BA/BSocSc dual (program code 2505), you will only be able to complete plans available in the 2021 dual program. Please refer to section 5.  

My plan (e.g. Studies in Australian Culture, French) now has a new title, how does this affect me?

If you remain enrolled in your current BA/BSocSc dual program (program code 2067), you will complete with the pre-2021 plan and title and you will not be able to declare the new plan title.

If you change to the 2021 BA/BSocSc dual (program code 2505), you will be able to declare the 2021 plan title (i.e. Advanced French or Ancient Greek etc) but will not be able to return to the previous plan title in the future if this plan is no longer offered (i.e. Classical Languages).

My BA plan course list has changed.  Do I follow the old or new course list?

You can choose courses from either list but you must ensure you are completing the required compulsory courses and sufficient level 2 and level 3 courses to satisfy the requirements of the program in which you are enrolled.  

How do new courses fit into my old plan course list?

If your plan has been discontinued, please see the detailed completion planners in section 3.  

If your plan is still offered in 2021 and it does not have a completion planner in section 4, you can fit new courses into your old course list if they are at the appropriate level.  For example, if you have space for 2 units of optional level 3 courses, you can choose to take a new Level 3 course to fill that requirement.  

A compulsory course/s in my plan is no longer offered, can I still complete my plan?

Yes. In the majority of situations we have listed the approved alternative course/s for compulsory courses that are no longer offered. Please refer to the table of discontinued courses and their replacements. 

The approved replacement course for my compulsory course/s does not work in my situation, what do I do now?

If the recommended replacement course/s do not work in your situation (e.g. it won’t be offered again before you are due to graduate, or you are unable to meet the prerequisites), so we can find an alternative solution for you (such as a variation request) please contact the Student Administration team.

What if there are ‘leftover’ courses when I try to fit my old courses in the new course list? 

If a course was listed into your pre-2021 course list, we will try to make sure it fits into your 2021 course list.  If it isn’t clear where a course should be counted, please contact the Student Administration team for assistance. 

There is a new course that seems very similar to a discontinued course, why is that?

Some courses that have been discontinued have been redesigned – perhaps to be offered at a different year level than before, or to incorporate content from another discontinued course.  If the old and new courses are very similar, they will be marked as incompatible (INC) meaning you cannot take both.  Sometimes the redesigned course is the approved replacement for the discontinued course, sometimes it is not. Please refer to the table of discontinued courses and their replacements

I was planning to complete a major and two minors and that combination of plans is not available in the 2021 dual program. What do I do?

As a continuing student, you can complete your chosen combination of a major and two minors if you remain in your current program and do not change to a 2021 program code.

I was planning to complete the BA component of my program with 8 units of electives. Can I still do that?

Yes, as long as you remain in your current program of study. Students commencing in a dual program in 2021 will need to take an 8-unit BA minor in combination with an Extended Major. However, students continuing in the BA/BSocSc dual (program code 2067) will be able to complete their program with an Extended Major and 8 units of electives.

I am completing a BA minor in an area where prior to 2021 there was no prescribed course list. How do I know what the requirements for my minor will be?

You can complete under the old rules: an approved combination of 8 units from a major, including a gateway course and a cornerstone course for that major, with at least 4 units in courses at level 2 or higher OR you can follow the 2021 Minor course list.

What kind of program design changes have been made? 

Some of the changes were made to standardise UQ programs, such as making sure a ‘major’ in all UQ undergraduate program always means 16 units and ensuring students were completing at least 8 units of Level 3 courses in a three year Bachelor program. You can read UQ’s Program Design Policy. 

Will any of the discontinued courses/plans ever be offered again? 

Possibly. The popularity of fields of study vary over time.  If demand for a particular study area or plan increases, the School that teaches in that area can propose to (re)introduce plans/courses.