Guidelines for Bachelor and Double Bachelor Programs

These Guidelines are governed by the Structuring Coursework Programs Policy.

These Guidelines provide the basis for structuring Bachelor and Double Bachelor degrees and the general conditions for their award.

The terms used in these guidelines are consistent with the Glossary of Terms.

Entry to Bachelor and Double Bachelor degrees are subject to the provisions of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

5.1 Components

All Bachelor and Double Bachelor degrees require the inclusion of:

1. the Core Curriculum;
2. compulsory discipline units;
3. elective units; and
4. any professional experience units as required by external accreditation agencies.

5.2 Core curriculum

The Core Curriculum must comprise three units (30 cp in total):

1. two University Core Curriculum (UNCC) units (20 cp in total) that are common to all Bachelor and Double Bachelor programs; and
2. a Core Curriculum Community Engagement unit (10 cp), also specific to each program that must be identified as part of the course approval process.

5.3 Electives

Any elective choice must be specified in the course rules and can either be:

1. a set of units defined in the course rules from which students are required to choose a specified number to fulfil the requirements of the program; or
2. students are permitted to select a specified number of units which are not defined in the course rules but which may be drawn from other ACU programs to fulfil the requirements of the program.

5.4 Exemptions

Any exemption from the standard Bachelor and Double Bachelor degree structure must be approved in accordance with the Policy on Course Approval, Amendment and Review and will only be made where:

1. accreditation by external agencies precludes their inclusion; and/or
2. where there are exceptional circumstances under an educational partnership agreement. 

The learning outcomes and compulsory requirements of each component Bachelor Degree must be satisfied in a Double Bachelor degree including:

1. the Core Curriculum of three units (30 cp in total) which may be undertaken in either Bachelor degree or spread across the Double Bachelor degree;
2. the compulsory discipline units; and
3. any external accreditation requirements.

6.1 Cross-crediting

Consistent with the credit provisions of the Academic Regulations, a maximum of 80cp may be cross-credited from each single Bachelor Degree towards the requirements of the Double Bachelor Degree.

6.2 Reversion from a Double Bachelor Degree to a Bachelor Degree

Students who revert from a Double Bachelor Degree to one of the component Bachelor Degrees are required to meet the requirements of that Bachelor Degree including completion of the Core Curriculum. Students might therefore not receive credit for all of the units completed in the Double Bachelor program and as a result may require extra time to complete the award.

Each Bachelor degree course must include:

1. a maximum of one half of the total cp in introductory units at 100-level; and
2. at least one half of the total cp in advanced level units at 200-level or above, including at least 40 cp of 300-level and/or 400-level units.

7.1 Restrictions

1. No Bachelor or Double Bachelor degree may contain 500-level units or above.

A specialisation or major is a sequence of units that follow a coherent plan which culminates with advanced level units deepening the understanding of a discipline or field of study in a Bachelor Degree.

8.1 Specialisation

A specialisation must:

1. be defined in the course completion requirements;
2. be an area of special or focused study or sub-discipline within a course, which will be recognised in accordance with the Policy on Nomenclature of Awards; and
3. consist of not less than one-half of the total credit points required for the award.

8.2 Major

A major must:

1. be defined in the course completion requirements;
2. include 80 cp in prescribed units in one discipline or approved interdisciplinary area; and
3. normally includes at least 10 cp at 100-level, at least 40 cp at 200-level and at least 20 cp from 300-level.

8.3 Minor

A minor must comprise:

1. 40 cp in prescribed units in one discipline; and
2. normally includes at least 10 cp at 100-level and at least 20 cp at advanced level.