Master of Arts
The MA – continuing a course of discovery
The Master of Arts at UNE offers you an opportunity to continue university study after completing an undergraduate degree. Reasons for continued study can range from a passionate interest in an old or new area, through to a specific need for further study relating to your career or professional aspirations.
Why study the Master of Arts at UNE?
You have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, but do any of the following apply to you?
- A personal interest in further study within one of 25 areas on offer, with the opportunity to include additional units from other areas within the university.
- The need for professional development.
- Looking for an avenue to a research degree, such as a research Masters or PhD.
If your response to any of these is yes, then UNE’s Master of Arts might provide the means to achieve it. You can complete the MA full-time in one year in most areas, or study at your own pace with a maximum part-time limit of four years.
Most masters degrees by coursework offered in Australia are specific to a particular area of study. An MA at UNE offers you the opportunity to combine a unique set of units into a study program that meets your specific needs, providing at least half of them are selected from one of 25 major sequences. If two-thirds of the units that you select are from a single major then you can be awarded a specific MA badged with that major; e.g., MA(History). So whether you want a non-specific or a specific masters degree, both are an option through the Master of Arts.
As well as over 170 postgraduate coursework units, there are also reading course and dissertation (research) units from which you can choose. Reading course units involve exploring the literature in a specific area of interest under the supervision of an appropriate academic member of staff, while a dissertation unit (double the weighting of a coursework or reading course unit) requires supervised research. A successful dissertation at an appropriate grade allows you to apply for candidature in a research degree. Up to three units from any other area of the university can be chosen, with permission of the course coordinator.
There are three schools within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences that provide the major subject areas for the MA. You may want to visit their websites for more information on specific units of study at the 400 and 500 level required for postgraduate study School of Humanities, School of Arts, and School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences. Alternatively, explore the lists of majors linked to the MA page in the Course and Unit Catalogue
UNE is renowned for the quality of its teaching, receiving a maximum five star rating from the good universities guide in 7 out of the past 8 years,a record not matched by any other university in Australia. UNE has also been recognised for its outstanding teaching performance by other agencies, such as the Carrick Institute, receiving the maximum of 10 citations in the last two consecutive years.
UNE is also the oldest provider of distance education in Australia. You can enrol in a MA as either an internal or external student, with a high quality education assured in both modes.
Summary Information
| Study Mode | On and Off Campus |
| Course Duration | 1 Year Full-time 2-4 Years Part-time |
| Commencement | Semester 1 and Semester 2 |
| Fees | Commonwealth Supported Place |
| Entry Requirements | Normal admission requirements apply |
Full details on this course can be found in the Course and Unit Catalogue.
Closing Dates and Advanced Standing
For enrolment closing dates, see Student centre admissions.
Units in degrees other than the undergraduate degree required for entry into this program can be submitted for up to 50% advanced standing in the MA, providing these units have a reasonable correspondence to coursework units in one of the MA majors.
Who should study the MA?
People undertake an MA for many different reasons. In considering a MA, you might want to think about the outcomes. Whether you are looking for a further degree to enhance your career prospects, or simply fulfilling a deeply held desire to learn more about things that interest you, the MA offers you an exciting and stimulating challenge.
Career Opportunities
A Master of Arts allows you to refine your professional skills, in a relatively unrestricted program of study. Examples of careers that can be assisted through an MA include management, public relations, foreign affairs, education, business, human resources, and research.
Employers often look for flexibility in their staff, expecting to retrain staff as work demands change. To meet this need, they tend to seek out people who are intellectually flexible, with analytical minds, and good communication skills. Students in an MA are trained to think for themselves, acquire and process information, communicate their thoughts effectively, and exercise initiative. These are skills that employers want.
Contacts
Inquiries specific to subject areas are to be directed to the Academic Coordinator in the most relevant of the three schools that contribute to the major sequences of study for the Master of Arts:
Ruth Machalias, Academic Coordinator
rmachali@une.edu.au
ph:+(61 2) 6773 2071
fax:+(61 2) 6773 2623
School of Behavioural, Cognitive & Social Sciences
Libby Fitzgerald, Academic Coordinator
libby.fitzgerald@une.edu.au
ph:+(61 2) 6773 3189
fax:+(61 2) 6773 3820
Trish Wright, Academic Coordinator
trish.wright@une.edu.au
ph:+(61 2) 6773 2067
fax:+(61 2) 6773 3520