Humanities

One of our longest-standing degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) is increasingly relevant in today's agile, dynamic world. It equips you with the creative, critical and analytical skills in demand by employers, and is transferable across a range of workplaces. When you study a BA at UNE, you have the freedom to become a specialist in the discipline of your choice.

The field of language studies is increasingly important in our interconnected world. The Bachelor of Language Studies at UNE offers you the opportunity to become proficient in two different languages within just three years. You can also focus on a single language and take elective units from across the UNE catalogue, following your interests and designing your own future fit degree. Whether you're passionate about communicating across cultures, pursuing a career in international relations, or wish to enhance your cognitive abilities, this program provides you with the necessary knowledge and expertise to succeed.

By studying UNE’s Bachelor of Social Science degree you will develop a comprehensive and valuable understanding of human societies and social thought, behaviour and relationships in their varied social, psychological and political manifestations, with potential for a rewarding career in social science related areas. You will get a thorough grounding in sociology and psychology, plus you can choose from a broad range of majors to graduate with specialised knowledge. With skills in research, critical analysis and evaluation that are transferable across a range of employment opportunities, you can ensure your career is future fit for life.

Do you love delving into our rich past? Is history your passion? The Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice is designed for people who want to make history their profession, those who already work in a historical context and want to upskill, or for people planning a career that would benefit from a strong background in history.

Professions that graduates of the Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice can consider include historical fiction and writing, social history and criminology, family history and sociology, national history and languages, cultural history and music, to name a few. Gain a solid grounding in history, its meaning and impacts, and the importance to communities of the role of the historian, and learn how to effectively research and apply history in a professional context.

What could be more exciting than landing in a foreign country and immediately being able to speak the language and connect with the local culture? In an ever-changing world, the study of languages has never been more relevant, and our Bachelor of Languages is designed to help you develop proficiency in two or more languages.

This degree caters to anyone with a passion for languages, whether you studied a language at school or not, and includes majors in Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese and Spanish. The degree is interactive and immersive, and includes two trimesters studying in the country or countries of your chosen language/s.

Criminology is the study of crime and our responses to crime. UNE's Bachelor of Criminology investigates factors that cause criminal behaviour and how crime can be prevented within wider society. The course offers a variety of key topics and issues including policing and punishment, rural crime, victimology and how crimes may be prevented in practice and solved through criminal profiling and forensic science. You will get to hone your skills in critical thinking, problem solving and analysis to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The UNE Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws provides you with the opportunity to combine your study of law with an area of interest drawn from a wide variety of the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a double degree for the future, it has been developed in response to the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplaces and a growing employer demand for double degree graduates.

Your choice of arts major allows you to become an expert in a discipline of your choice. The legal knowledge and practical skills will also enable you to pursue many pathways in law, benefiting from UNE’s deep expertise in regional, rural and remote legal issues.

By studying law and criminology at UNE, you will gain a broad portfolio of knowledge and skills to future proof your career in a wide variety of professions. In this comprehensive program of study, you will develop contemporary skills in how to write for, research, argue and apply the law, combined with an advanced understanding and capabilities in contemporary criminology topics and issues. Benefiting from UNE’s regional, rural and remote legal and criminology expertise, you will graduate with broad knowledge and specialist skills for greater career flexibility.

Workplaces value employees who have a broad range of real-world skills, and this combined degree will equip you to excel in today’s dynamic working environment. In our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, you’ll gain business knowledge and learn to think like an entrepreneur. You’ll develop creative and socio-cultural knowledge, and vital skills in critical thinking and communication.

Our degree fosters the accumulation of knowledge and the acquisition of a diverse set of skills, essential to helping you be an independent thinker, and empowering you to create a new future, new career prospects and the ability to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing modern workplace.

Do you dream of a career where you’re helping to address the big issues facing humanity? Or perhaps you crave the excitement of being at the forefront of scientific discovery? Maybe you wish to instil your passion for the environment into future generations? Our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science is uniquely positioned to help you reach your goals, with wide-spanning knowledge and a diverse set of skills to be adaptable in a rapidly changing world. This combined degree will help lay the foundation for you to acquire the ability to innovate and problem-solve — attributes that are in demand more than ever by employers in Australia and internationally.

Add an area of expertise to your CV and gain an undergraduate qualification — without committing to a full bachelor's degree. You will develop research, critical thinking, and writing skills in the core units. With the minor and elective units, you tailor the course to your specific interests and career objectives by choosing from an extensive selection of arts, humanities and social science units.

With our Advanced Diploma in Arts you have the freedom to explore related subjects, or a range of different topics. With this flexibility, your advanced diploma can be customised to your aspirational and practical needs. It will also qualify you to go on to a Bachelor of Arts if you're keen to continue your studies. Become future fit with these advanced studies. 

Have you traced your family tree and been bitten by the history bug? You’re not alone. With so many online resources now available, interest in local and family research has exploded. Turn your hard-earned research skills into a formal qualification with an Advanced Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History.

This course provides you with the specific skills and knowledge required to investigate, interpret and present histories to a professional standard, utilise different sources and media, and engage a variety of different audiences.

When you successfully complete the advanced diploma you will receive credit towards higher qualifications, such as the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice, if you wish to pursue further studies.

Are you looking to add an additional area of expertise to your CV to enhance your career prospects without committing to a full degree? Perhaps you just want to dip a toe into university study, with the option of continuing on to an advanced diploma or even a bachelor's degree? Well, our Diploma in Arts is the perfect way to achieve both goals. This course will equip you with a variety of fundamental skills and knowledge in a range of subjects in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Did your arts degree prompt a burning question or a passion for independent research? If so, consider applying for an honours year. A capstone to your formal education, honours is an opportunity to drill deeper into a specialised area, to extend your intellectual range, and sharpen your research capabilities. It will enable advanced communication techniques and deep subject knowledge, to hone your analytical abilities, and gain high-level personal and professional skills. These are valuable attributes that provide a solid foundation for postgraduate study, give you a competitive edge in the job market, and help future proof your career in a rapidly changing world.

UNE’s Master of Arts is designed to equip you with specialised knowledge as well as a wide range of transferrable skills that employers highly value, such as communication and critical thinking. This course is also a focused pathway to higher degree research.

With a master's degree, you can make a switch to a new career field or gain additional expertise to enhance your existing path. At UNE, you can select a major from 17 specialty areas, dive into research and tailor the program to your interests and career goals. Explore history, linguistics, theatre and digital performance, philosophy, sociology and more.

Are you looking to extend your skills in history for professional or personal interest? When you study our Master of History degree you can gain and polish your research, analysis and writing skills, whether you already have a history qualification or are new to the discipline.

Gain advanced knowledge of history as a discipline, specialised knowledge of historical periods of your choice, and the skills required to write history. Immerse yourself in historical research by completing two research projects, a minor and a major project. Hone your skills in critical thinking, problem solving and analysis and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

In an evolving criminal justice landscape, neuroscience is increasingly recognised for its role in understanding human behaviour, including criminal actions. As the first course of its kind in Australia, UNE's Master of Neuroscience and Criminology provides a unique, multidisciplinary approach, equipping you to explore the neurobiological processes that underlie criminal behaviours—a field of study with vast potential for advancing crime prevention, policy, and rehabilitation efforts.

Whether you're safeguarding a career in criminal justice, law enforcement, mental health, or policy-making, or are a newcomer to the field, this course will immerse you in the interdisciplinary field of neurocriminology, offering insights into the neural underpinnings of criminal behaviour and its broader social implications.

With the advent of globalisation, issues relating to language and intercultural communication have never been more relevant. UNE's fully online Master of Applied Linguistics will give you the ability to understand the design of language, nuances and context of language and intercultural communication – invaluable skills in an increasingly interconnected world, and especially important when Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

In a rapidly changing world, our Master of Applied Linguistics can help to ensure your career is future fit for life.

Design a bespoke course and prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace with the UNE Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice. Whether you want to advance your career, hone your skills or embark on a new career direction, we'll work with you to design a course to match your skills and aspirations.

You will have the freedom to assemble your course from a full breadth of subjects, play to your strengths and draw from your experience to achieve your goals. Learn in a way that suits your timeframe and do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor — with one-on-one guidance from start to finish. You'll be paving your pathway to the next stage of your career.

Have you traced your family tree and been bitten by the history bug? Or perhaps you are a graduate looking to add new skills to your CV, to help future proof your career? With so many online resources now available, interest in local and family research has exploded. With the Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History, you can add a formal history qualification to your CV.

In this course, you will have the opportunity to acquire the specific skills and knowledge required to investigate, interpret and present histories to a professional standard, utilise different sources and media, and engage a variety of different audiences.

This first-of-its-kind course offers an innovative approach to understanding criminal behaviour through the lens of neuroscience. As one of the fastest-growing fields in human physiology and behaviour, neuroscience provides critical insights into how the brain functions, what can go wrong in neurobiological processes, and how these factors can influence criminal behaviour. This course allows you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between biological, psychological and social elements that contribute to criminal actions.

Whether you are a seasoned professional in criminology looking to enhance your expertise or you are completely new to the field, this fully online postgraduate degree caters to all levels of experience.

Are you a graduate looking to add new skills to your CV to reinforce or redirect your career? Perhaps you are keen to pursue a personal interest in the arts or humanities. Or maybe you are interested in completing a master's but aren't sure if you can commit to a full degree. If any of the above fits your situation, the Graduate Certificate in Arts is the perfect course for you.

Your choice of majors include, but are not limited to, history, philosophy, media and communications, English literature, classical languages, writing, and a range of modern cultural studies. In addition, you will be trained to discover and process information, think independently, and communicate effectively.

Adapt to an evolving workplace and open the door to new career opportunities with UNE's Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice. Whether you want to create more career choices, hone your specialist skills, or take a new career direction, we will work with you to customise a course to match your skills and aspirations.

Choose from a full breadth of subjects. Avoid getting bogged down in a lengthy, traditional course, and instead, play to your natural strengths, refine your skills and draw on your experience to prepare for the future. And do it all with the support of an expert academic success advisor with 1:1 guidance from start to finish.

Applied linguistics explores how language shapes communication, learning, and social interaction in our increasingly globalised world. The ability to understand and work with linguistic and cultural diversity is now essential across education, business, health, social services, and law. Demand is growing for professionals who can apply advanced language and communication skills in these diverse contexts.

Our Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics is a flexible, globally relevant qualification that can be completed fully online from anywhere in the world. Tailor your learning to focus on general linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or intercultural communication for business and services, preparing you for advanced roles or further study in applied linguistics.

Criminology and neuroscience are rapidly evolving fields, with growing recognition of the role that neuroscience plays in understanding human behaviour, including criminal actions. The first course of its kind in Australia, our Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience and Criminology investigates the intricate relationships between brain functions and criminal behaviour, contributing to the emerging field of neurocriminology, a discipline with immense potential for future research and applications.

Whether you're already working in criminal justice, law enforcement or mental health and want to upskill, or you're looking to enter the field for the first time, our flexible introductory course equips you with the knowledge and tools to understand crime through a neurological lens.

Practice-based research drives better decisions, stronger services and measurable outcomes. UNE’s Professional Doctorate provides foundational research training with a research thesis, supporting experienced professionals to contribute to the development of original knowledge that improves professional practice in their fields.

Co-design a workplace-embedded project with your UNE supervision team and your organisation, aligning rigorous methods with real-world challenges. Your examinable output is tailored to your discipline — for example, a thesis, a dissertation with artefacts, or an exegesis with a portfolio of creative, technical or performance works.

A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession.

When you complete your PhD at UNE, you will be recognised as an expert in your area of study. Your original discoveries and innovations will be applied to benefit society and industry in Australia and worldwide.

High quality research and analysis allows us to better understand the complex issues we face in industry and society. With UNE's Master of Philosophy by research, your original findings and insights will add to the body of knowledge and inform decision-making in your specialist area.

You will work independently, with personalised support from recognised experts in your area of study every step of the way. Expand your expertise, hone your research skills, and immediately apply your knowledge in a research topic of your choice.

The world is full of possibilities, with so much to discover and learn. There are endless opportunities to enrich your knowledge to prepare for the future, but what if you don’t want to undertake a full degree? And how can you zero-in on the subjects that matter most to you? That’s what a Non-Award unit with UNE will help you to achieve.

Non-Award study means you can learn without the need to complete entire course requirements or take on a full course load. Whether it’s a language you want to learn, a business unit to enhance your career, an improvement of your IT skills, an update on education principles or developing your management style, Non-Award study gives you the flexibility and control to explore what matters to you.

If you are enrolled at another university, you can choose to study subjects at UNE that will count towards your course. Apply as a cross-institutional student directly and complete one or several individual subjects (units) from the full scope of UNE's discipline areas.