Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.
Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 135 (or a score of 145 if prior to May 2010).
Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
IELTS Academic Module: A minimum overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0.
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): A minimum overall score of 169, with no skill below 169.
Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency. A minimum overall grade of B2.
Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards)
A minimum overall pass and 55% in Academic English 3. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards).
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module: A minimum overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50.
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT): A minimum overall score of 60 and a minimum writing score of 21.
The Bachelor of Arts is a highly flexible, new-age degree featuring a choice of nine majors, each offering a unique perspective on the world around you and your role in it. You'll learn how to improve your decision making, generate new ideas, and think critically and creatively. At a time when some jobs are disappearing, others are evolving and new jobs are emerging, these are the transferable skills that will future proof your career.
CDU's Bachelor of Arts develops both the breadth and depth of your knowledge. It gives you the freedom to focus on your area of interest, while also studying other subjects from a wide range of fields. At CDU, you'll benefit from a unique focus on Indigenous leadership and the issues and opportunities facing Northern Australia and South-East Asia.
You'll also have the flexibility to study online, on campus or a mix of both, part time or full time. With 24/7 access to learning materials and online collaboration tools, you can study when it suits you.
Choose from nine majors:
Communications, Literature and Digital Media: Explore how the digital age is changing communication, interaction and the way information is shared. Learn about social media, media ethics, creative and professional writing, and multi-screen communication.
Society and Culture: Learn how philosophy, sociology and Indigenous perspectives influence the way we think about the world and make decisions. You'll explore the social issues facing Northern Australia and Southeast Asia and the cultural drivers that impact change.
Global Humanities in a Digital Age: Examine the impact of today's digital environment on politics, public policy and government decision making in Australia and South-East Asia, and understand how lessons learned from the past can inform the government decisions of the future.
Indigenous Governance and Policy: Develop the knowledge and skills to develop meaningful policy and implement change for Australia's Indigenous peoples. You'll learn about the sociological, economic, historical and cultural drivers that impact Australia's Indigenous policy making and governance.
Contemporary Indigenous Australia: Gain the skills and knowledge to work with Indigenous cultures and communities in a culturally-competent way. This major focuses on developing your inter-cultural practice, with an emphasis on the role of Indigenous languages, cultural sites, land rights and resources, community engagement and advocacy.
Languages and Linguistics: Learn a new language and examine the role of language and linguistics in our communities - Chinese, Greek, Indonesian or one of three Indigenous languages (Yolngu, Arrernte or Bininj Kunwok). Explore how languages are written and preserved, and offers opportunities to advance your language skills with an in-country study program.
Creative and Digital Arts: Gain the skills, knowledge and portfolio to succeed in the creative and digital arts industries. Learn about creative theory and business practices and complete a range of creative projects using new and emerging design technologies.
Music Making, Production and Performance: Learn to make, produce and perform music using an instrument of your choice. You'll complete a combination of theory-based and hands-on subjects using new and emerging technologies, and gain industry experience through community-based projects.
Architectural Design: Explore the concepts and theories of architectural design, focusing on Australia's north, the tropics and South-East Asia. Learn how to represent your ideas, understand space and the built form, and use industry-standard tools, technologies and architectural techniques.
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Specific requirements
Compulsory Core units totalling 40 credit points as detailed below:
IAS101Indigenous Australia
IAS102Northern Exposure
IAS201Cultural Capabilities
IAS202Northern Futures
Specialist Elective units selected from one of the Majors as detailed below:
COMMUNICATIONS, LITERATURE AND DIGITAL MEDIA
Complete 80-160cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS111Introduction to Australasian Literature
IAS112Creative Practice in a Digital Context
IAS113Introducing Communications Studies
IAS114Introduction to Screen Media
IAS211Media and Professional Writing
IAS212Media and Culture in Global Communications
IAS213Guilty Reading: Topics in Popular Genres
IAS214Contemporary Literature and Writing
IAS215Screen Media and Production 1
IAS216Screen Media and Production 2
IAS311Writing, Journalism and Media Ethics
IAS312Communication Studies Research Project
IAS313Workshop in Creative Writing
IAS314Research in Literary Studies
IAS315Digital Sound Recording and Design
IAS316Digital Media Research Project
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Complete 80-160cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS121Critical and Creative Thinking
IAS122Ethics and Decision Theory
IAS123Sociological Perspectives
IAS124Contested Knowledges
IAS221Social Identities and Relationships
IAS222Global Sociology
IAS223Representing and Recording Country
IAS224Philosophy of Arts and Culture
IAS225Cultural Resource and Site Management
IAS245Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives
IAS321Indigenous Sovereignty and Challenges of Reconciliation
IAS322Research with Indigenous People
IAS323Modern Sociological Perspectives
IAS324Sociology of Crime and Deviance
IAS325Cognition and Philosophy of Science
IAS326Social Cognition and Power in the Digital Age
GLOBAL HUMANITIES IN A DIGITAL AGE
Complete 80-160cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS131Colonising Australia
IAS132Colonial Rule in South-East Asia
IAS133Introduction to International Relations
IAS124Contested Knowledges
IAS231Colonial North Australia
IAS232Themes in Global History
IAS233Foundations of Western Civilisation
IAS234Indonesia: State and Society
IAS236Indonesia and the World
IAS243Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics
IAS331South-East Asia in the 20th Century
IAS332North Australia in the 20th Century
IAS333Political Ideas
IAS334Politics of Indonesia
IAS335War, Revolutions and Terror
IAS336Major Issues in Contemporary Indonesia
INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND POLICY
Complete 80-160cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS131Colonising Australia
IAS142Ethics and Protocols in Indigenous Contexts
IAS123Sociological Perspectives
IAS144Indigenous Land and Resources
IAS241Indigenous Policy Principles and Practice
IAS242Indigenous Governance and Leadership
IAS243Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics
IAS244Indigenous Knowledges, Property Rights and Economic Participation
IAS245Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives
IAS246Advocacy and Social Action
IAS321Indigenous Sovereignty and Challenges of Reconciliation
IAS322Research with Indigenous People
IAS341Indigenous Knowledges and Epistemologies
IAS342Neocolonialism, Advocacy and the Critique of Development
IAS343Race and Policy
IAS344Indigenous People and Social Justice
CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA
Complete 80-160cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS131Colonising Australia
IAS142Ethics and Protocols in Indigenous Contexts
IAS124Contested Knowledges
IAS144Indigenous Lands and Resources
IAS223Representing and Recording Country
IAS225Cultural Resource and Site Management
IAS245Indigenous Contemporary Perspectives
IAS246Advocacy and Social Action
IAS252Language Maintenance and Identity
IAS254Partnership and Engagement in Indigenous Land and Sea Management
IAS322Research with Indigenous People
IAS351Indigenous Networking and Collaboration
IAS352Practices and Skills in Indigenous Community Work
IAS353Indigenous Cultures and the Environment
IAS354Impact Assessment and Management of Cultural Sites
IAS355Indigenous Knowledges and Wellbeing
LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS
Complete 80-170cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS161Language Studies 1 (repeatable)
IAS162Language Studies 2 (repeatable)
IAS163Linguistics for Indigenous Languages 1
IAS164Linguistics for Indigenous Languages 2
IAS165Language in Society
IAS261Language Studies 3 (repeatable)
IAS262Language Studies 4 (repeatable)
IAS264Resource Production and Use
IAS265Semantics
IAS266Language Acquisition
IAS267Languages in Contact
IAS361Indigenous Language Maintenance and Revitalisation
IAS362Advanced Language Studies (repeatable)
IAS363Community Language Planning
IAS364Dictionary Making
IAS365Linguistic Applications in Indigenous Language Analysis
IAS366Language Centre Management
CREATIVE AND DIGITAL ARTS
Complete 120-170cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS171Creative Studio 1 (20cps)
IAS172Creative Studio 2 (20cps)
IAS271Creative Studio 3 (20cps)
IAS272Creative Studio 4 (20cps)
IAS371Creative Practice and Theory (20cps) (repeatable)
IAS173Drawing and Other Visual Representation Tools (repeatable)
IAS174Digital Media and Online Content Design
IAS273Sculptural Design (repeatable)
IAS274Digital Image Capture and Photographic Media (repeatable)
IAS372Business of Creative Industries
MUSIC MAKING, PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE
Complete 120-180cp from the following units.
At least 30cp at 300 level must be passed to complete the Major.
IAS184Digital Composition
IAS181Music Making and Theory 1 (20cp)
IAS182Music Making and Theory 2 (20cp)
IAS281Music Making and Theory 3 (20cp)
IAS282Music Making and Theory 4 (20cp)
IAS381Music Making, Production and Performance (20cp) (repeatable)
IAS283 Indigenous and Community Music (available from 2021)
IAS284Ensemble and Choral (repeatable)
IAS315Digital Sound Recording and Design
IAS382 Music for Playing and Wellbeing (available from 2021)
IAS383 Music and the Educator (available from 2021)
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Complete a minimum of 160cps from the following:
IAS191Architectural Design 1 (20cp)
IAS192Architectural Design 2 (20cp)
IAS291Architectural Design 3 (20cp)
IAS292Architectural Design 4 (20cp)
IAS391Architectural Design 5 (20cp)
IAS392Architectural Design 6 (20cp)
IAS193Design and Representation in Architecture
IAS194Architectural Technology and Environment 1
IAS293Architectural Technology and Environment 2
IAS294Architectural Technology and Environment 3
IAS393Architectural Theory and Practice (repeatable)
Professional Skills, Cross Cultural Awareness, Independent Study, In-Country and Placement Electives
You may, in consultation with the coordinator of your major, choose to undertake study from the capstone units listed below. These units are an invaluable opportunity to gain experience before entering the workforce or starting postgraduate study. They are designed to build on the particular strengths and skills you have acquired while studying your major.
Depending on the pathway you choose, the unit/s will need to be submitted to the Learning and Teaching Committee in the College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society and approved by the College’s Dean.
The units are only available for manual enrolment. To enrol, complete the Special Enrolment eForm, accessed via the eForms tile through theCDU Portal.
IAS401Foundations for Professional Practice and Skills (repeatable)
IAS402Intercultural Practice (repeatable)
IAS403Independent Study (repeatable)
IAS404In-Country Placement (repeatable)
IAS405Placement Experience (repeatable)
IAS406Language Translation and Protocols (repeatable)
Units totalling between 20 - 120 credit points may be selected from undergraduate units offered by the University.
You may take between 2 and 12 general elective units, which are selected from undergraduate units offered by CDU, including units offered within the Bachelor of Arts program that are not part of your major.
When selecting electives, choose units at a suitable level. The first number in each unit code indicates the year level at which the subject is taught. Undergraduate units are coded at 100 to 300 level, therefore units coded as IAS1xx, IAS2xx and IAS3xx would be first, second and third year units respectively.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a Bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline at Charles Darwin University. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Credit Transfer and Pathways
Credit Transfers
Advanced Standing
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in a wide range of fields. The knowledge and skills you acquire through this degree will prepare you for work in a range of government and statutory authorities such as land councils, museums, training and research organisations, diplomacy, policy advisor, communications, media, or consultancy particularly where these organisations engage with central and northern Australia and Asia. Study with a focus on creative endeavours will support your career as a artist, writer, designer or performer, particularly if you can combine your study with some work in entrepreneurship and business management.
