Undergraduate
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)Humanities and Social Sciences
Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
About this program
The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)Humanities and Social Sciences is an undergraduate degree at the Australian National University in Canberra, run through the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, taken over 4 years full-time (192 Units). Coursework includes 6 units from completion of the 1000-level 6 unit PhB-specific Advanced Studies Course.. Graduates are expected to critically analyse the research literature from both specialist and interdisciplinary perspectives. ANU is a research-intensive, Group of Eight university based in Australia's capital, and international students in this program study alongside a large Canberra-based policy, research and public-service community.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified programsandcourses.anu.edu.au ↗
Course structure
Study plan in 255 parts
- The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)—Humanities and Social Sciences requires the completion of 192 units
- A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
- 144units of which:
- Minimum 6 units of 1000-level Social Science Disciplinary Approaches courses from the following list:
- ASIA1035
- Introduction to Asian Politics
- ASIA1999
- The Origins of Political Order in Asia
- CRIM1001
- Understanding Criminality
- CRIM1002
- Understanding Crime
- DEMO1001
- Global Population Challenges
- ECON1101
- Microeconomics 1
- ECON1102
- Macroeconomics 1
- ENVS1001
- Geography of Sustainability
- ENVS1008
- Sustainable Development
- HIST1214
- 1200to the Present
- INTR1021
- Understanding Peace and Conflict
- INTR1022
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
- POLS1002
- Introduction to Politics
- PSYC1003
- Psychology 1: Understanding Mind
- Brain and Behaviour
- PSYC1004
- Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context
- SOCR1001
- Foundations of Social Research
- SOCY1002
- Self and Society
- SOCY1004
- An Introduction to Social Psychology
- STST1001
- Introduction to International Security Studies
- Minimum 6 units of 1000-level Humanities Disciplinary Approaches courses from the following list:
- ANTH1002
- Introducing Anthropology
- ANTH1003
- Critical Foundations
- ENGL1200
- Imagined Worlds
- GEND1001
- Sex
- An Introduction to Gender Studies
- GEND1002
- An Introduction to Cultural Studies
- HUMN1001
- Being Human in the Information Age
- INDG1001
- Indigenous Peoples
- Populations and Communities
- INDG1002
- First Peoples' experiences and ways of being: resilience
- agency
- resurgence and rights
- LING1001
- Introduction to the Study of Language
- LING1002
- Language and Society
- MUSI1113
- Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- PHIL1004
- An Introduction
- PHIL1005
- Logic and Critical Thinking
- Minimum 6 units of Theory and Method courses from the following list:
- ANTH3059
- Practicum on Applied Anthropology
- ARCH2004
- Australian Archaeology
- DEMO2001
- Understanding Population Change
- ECON3152
- Game Theory
- ENVS2002
- Environmental Measurement
- Modelling and Monitoring
- HIST2110
- Approaches to History
- HUMN2000
- Introduction to Heritage and Museum Studies
- HUMN2001
- Introduction to Digital Humanities and Public Culture - Tools
- Theories and Methods
- INDG3006
- Practice
- Collaboration
- and Ethics
- LING3012
- Field Methods in Linguistics
- LING3038
- Corpus Linguistics
- POLS2017
- International Relations Theory
- POLS2044
- Contemporary Political Analysis
- POLS2137
- Interpretation
- Method and Critique
- PSYC2009
- Quantitative Methods in Psychology
- SOCY2161
- Contemporary Social Theory
- SOCY2169
- Online Research Methods
- STST2005
- The Causes of International Conflict
- Minimum 6 units of courses on Indigenous Themes from the following list:
- Any 1000
- 2000
- or 3000 level INDG course
- ANTH2005
- Traditional Australian Indigenous Cultures
- Societies
- and Environment
- ARTH2098
- Australian First Nations Art and Culture
- ASIA2301
- Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
- HIST2022
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History
- HIST3142
- on Page
- Stage
- and Screen
- HLTH3001
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
- LING2016
- Language and Society in Indigenous Australia
- Minimum 6 units of courses on Asia or the Pacific from the following list:
- Any 1000
- 2000
- or 3000 level on-campus ASIA or PASI course
- ARCH2005
- Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders
- ARTH2169
- Art
- Nation and World
- c.1860-1970
- BUSI2023
- Dynamics of Asian Business
- GEND2001
- Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
- INTR2010
- International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
- INTR2012
- Chinese Foreign and Security Policy
- INTR2018
- Japanese Foreign and Security Policy
- INTR2024
- Challenges and Opportunities
- PASI2007
- The Second World War in the Pacific
- POLS2055
- Pacific Politics
- STST2001
- Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific
- STST2003
- Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands
- Minimum 36 units of Advanced Studies Courses (ASCs)
- 6 units from completion of the 1000-level 6 unit PhB-specific Advanced Studies Course
- BPHB1114
- Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and Humanities 1
- Minimum 6 units from completion of the 2000-level 6 unit PhB-specific Advanced Studies Course
- BPHB2114
- Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and Humanities 2
- Minimum 24 units from repeat completion of the 3000-level 12 unit PhB-specific Advanced Studies Course
- BPHB3114
- Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and Humanities 3
- Minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
- Minimum 18 units of courses from the following Majors and/or Minors:
- Social Science Majors
- Anthropology Major
- Asia-Pacific Security Studies Major
- Criminology Major
- Demography Major
- Development Studies Major
- Economic Studies Major
- Environmental Studies Major
- Geography Major
- History Major
- International Business Major
- International Relations Major
- Linguistics Major
- Peace and Conflict Studies Major
- Political Science Major
- Sociology Major
- Humanities Majors
- Asian and Pacific Culture
- Media
- and Gender Major
- English Major
- Gender
- Sexuality and Culture Major
- Philosophy Major
- Area Studies Majors
- Asian History Major
- Australian Indigenous Studies Major
- Chinese Studies Major
- Contemporary Europe Major
- Indian and South Asian Studies Major
- Indonesian Studies Major
- Japanese Studies Major
- Korean Studies Major
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major
- Pacific Studies Major
- Southeast Asian Studies Major
- Languages Majors and Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Arabic
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- French Studies
- German Studies
- Hindi Language
- Indonesian Language
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Korean Language
- Latin
- Literary Chinese
- Mongolian Language
- Persian
- Russian
- Sanskrit Language
- Spanish Studies
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- 48 units from completion of one of the following Honours Specialisations:
- Anthropology Honours Specialisation
- Asia-Pacific Studies Honours Specialisation
- Australian Indigenous Studies Honours Specialisation
- Criminology Honours Specialisation
- Demography Honours Specialisation
- Development Studies Honours Specialisation
- Digital Humanities Honours Specialisation
- Economics Honours Specialisation (completion of this specialisation will require the student to take
- ECON2125
- and
- ECON3100
- as well as the relevant Economic Studies Major)
- English Honours Specialisation
- Environmental Studies Honours Specialisation
- Gender
- Sexuality and Culture Honours Specialisation
- History Honours Specialisation
- International Relations Honours Specialisation
- Language Studies Honours Specialisation
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Honours Specialisation
- Philosophy Honours Specialisation
- Political Science Honours Specialisation
- Psychology Honours Specialisation (students should consult PhB Convenor if interested in this pathway)
- Security Studies Honours Specialisation
- Sociology Honours Specialisation
- Maximum 48 units of free electives of 1000
- 2000
- or 3000 level courses offered by ANU
Admissions
Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications and including any eligible adjustments: - Completion of the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (AQF) or equivalent; OR - A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR - At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR - An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken. Entry requirements Domestic School-leavers Domestic students completing the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (AQF) or equivalent or the IB program (November session) in Australia in 2026 apply directly to The Australian National University by submitting an Admission, Scholarships and Accommodation application . All students will still need to meet the published entry requirements for the program they have applied for. You will be directed to the appropriate application system when you select ‘Apply’. Domestic Non-School leavers Domestic non-school leavers (including students transferring to ANU, mature age applicants and students who are otherwise not a school-leaver) can apply to ANU via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). You will be directed to the appropriate application system when you select ‘Apply’ International applicant entry requirements International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants. Additional Information for applicants More information about ATAR requirements for individual programs can be found on the ANU website. The The The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required. The admission requirements listed on this page are a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at the time of offer. ATAR: 99 International Baccalaureate: 43
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