Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Australia

New technology and social media platforms continue to change the way companies connect with their customers. The demand is growing for business leaders with up-to-the-minute marketing knowledge and skills.

La Trobe's Master of Marketing puts you at the forefront of marketing in the digital era. You'll develop your business and leadership talents, while building an advanced marketing skillset.

Gain hands-on experience using new digital technologies and undertaking market research and data analysis. Discover how these tools can be employed to maximise an organisation's impact.

Enhance your human skills alongside your technical expertise and learn ways to successfully engage with customers. Gain valuable insights into the customer experience by examining the psychological, sociological and anthropological drivers behind purchasing decisions.

Develop an advanced understanding of digital marketing, while building a strong understanding of industry best practice. Learn how to successfully leverage social media, content marketing and digital platforms in multi-channel marketing campaigns.

The Master of Marketing lets you tailor your degree to your career aspirations. Choose from a wide range of specialisations, including entrepreneurship and innovation, data analytics and project management.

As automation, digitisation and data analytics transform how we live, businesses are looking for forward-thinking graduates who can create new solutions and provide a competitive edge.

Get the transferable and technical skills you need to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of business with La Trobe's Bachelor of Commerce.

Co-designed with industry leaders, including Deloitte, PwC and Ernst & Young, you'll build strong foundations in the technical business knowledge and enterprise skills you'll need for the careers of the future.

Discover the power of contemporary digital business tools and work with industry-standard software. You'll prepare to meet the challenges of automation, the power of big data and analytics, and the rapid evolution of business and consumer technologies with this flexible degree.

In our core commerce subjects, you'll cover areas like analytics, sustainability, finance and economics – and develop valuable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving and change management. You'll also build important knowledge about business and company law, and have the opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning project in your final year.

Then, to become a true business specialist, you can tailor your degree by pursuing majors, minors or a double degree.

Accounting

Accounting is the language of business. It measures business activities, processes data, reports and analyses financial information. Accounting information is vital for business decision making. This major offers you a direct path to becoming a qualified accountant and receiving professional body accreditation. It also opens a range of careers in the world. You will be able to develop accounting technical and professional competencies and apply the knowledge to real world business environment.

The rapid globalisation of our society means international relations are more important – and more complex – than ever. Want to be a leader in this evolving world? Combine a global perspective with in-depth legal expertise.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Global Studies is an immersive and flexible double degree giving you the skills and knowledge to succeed.

Become a legal expert with valuable expertise in global affairs. You'll develop your legal knowledge and skills as you build a deep understanding of global issues, diplomacy, politics, and international trade.

Your law degree will introduce you to the fundamentals of legal practice and build your skills in advocacy, negotiation, and dispute resolution – all highly valued by employers across a range of industries.

At the same time, your global studies degree will immerse you in a wide range of global issues, including international relations and geopolitics, contemporary security issues, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and contemporary armed conflict and terrorism. Tailor your studies to your interests with a choice of five curated majors – international relations, conflict and negotiation, Asian politics and security, government and policy, and human rights.

When it comes to learning, there's no substitute for hands-on experience. You'll have the opportunity to take on real-world work placements in settings such as community legal centres, law firms, government agencies, and with judges and magistrates (subject to availability) and bolster your education with a practical global studies placement subject. You could also put your legal skills to the test in law competitions, both locally and internationally.

Human rights

The Human Rights major will train you to analyse the social and political dynamics of human rights struggles across the world. In this major you will explore the extent to which states institutionalise human rights norms and how different movements seek justice using the power of human rights discourse. Across a variety of countries and issues including social justice, gender, sexuality, and Indigenous politics, you will learn to evaluate various human rights situations and develop responses to improve them.

Undertaking a Human Rights major at La Trobe will connect you to experts in democracy and democratisation, political theory, the international politics of human rights, gender, sexuality and diversity, human trafficking, and the history of Australian Aboriginal struggles.

Due to the global effects of population growth and the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people living with chronic conditions is on the rise. As a result, the demand for nurses in all specialised fields is expected to rapidly increase.*

La Trobe's Master of Nursing lets you match your study to your career aspirations. Enhance your knowledge and skills in specialist areas by choosing from a range of clinical and non-clinical subjects.

If you're a registered nurse working in Australia, you'll have access to a wide variety of specialisations. Enjoy a flexible, blended learning approach that combines face-to-face workshops with online study that you can fit around your work commitments and access from anywhere. For a clinical specialisation you will also undertake advanced clinical training in your own hospital's relevant work setting.

If you're looking to pursue a career as nursing educator, academic or manager, you'll have access to our online non-clinical specialisations. Develop advanced knowledge of nursing research along with the critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills you need to thrive as a nursing researcher, educator or leader.

The media landscape is evolving, and we need new legal frameworks. In our digital age, journalists and members of the public often find themselves navigating with laws designed for an analogue world. A double degree in law and media and communication prepares you to stay one step ahead.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication gives you the skills and experience to navigate media as it is now – and as it evolves in the future.

In your law studies, you'll cover key areas of legal practice and build transferable skills that you can take into a range of workplaces – such as advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also build expertise in media and communication as you build your understanding of contract management, media regulation and representation.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Get to work in our student-run media outlet, Upstart. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake placements in a range of legal settings, including community legal centres, law firms, government agencies and with judges and magistrates (subject to availability). If you want to take things further, you can put your legal skills to the test with both local and international law competitions.

Graduate ready to take your place in the exciting and ever-changing world of media.

Sports media

Sports media prepares students for careers in both sports media, and media roles in sports organisations. Students complete both the journalism major, which delivers important industry-standard technical skills, but also core sports journalism subjects that focus on specific skills like sports commentary and broadcasting. They also complete a stream of core subjects from sport management, to gain an insight on the unique business structure of sports organisations. They will be prepared to work for news organisations, independent publishers or sporting organisations.

Explore what you’re passionate about and build a rewarding career.

The world is complex. And while we’re making serious inroads, many aspects of the human mind, behaviour and health are still beyond our understanding. There’s still so much to discover. As culture and technology continue to rapidly transform, we need skilled, empathetic and creative professionals who are passionate about broadening our understanding of both the world and our bodies – intelligent and caring people who want to create healthier communities in Australia, and around the globe.

If you're curious about the world, and passionate about making it a healthier and fairer place, La Trobe's Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences will give you everything you need to pursue your passion and your profession. Choose from an incredible array of majors and shape your future with this interdisciplinary degree.

Create your own path by combining majors from a wide range of areas. Pair psychological science with public health, or health promotion with sociology. Learn how to help victims of crime by combining rehabilitation counselling with crime, justice and legal studies. Or find inspiration in the human mind by pairing psychological science with creative and professional writing. You're in charge of your future and we're here to help you build your dream career. No matter which path you choose, you'll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

Develop essential skills that you'll use for the rest of your life. Creative thinking. Critical analysis. The ability to understand and communicate with a wide range of people. And the knowledge you'll acquire – across both arts and health – will set you up for a successful career in a wide range of industries across both sectors. Once you've graduated, you may also have the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study in health and science, including clinical programs, or any one of our humanities and social sciences postgraduate programs.

The health sciences majors include both theory and lab practice units. For example, if you major in public health, you'll learn about environmental health issues, global health initiatives and health care systems. Or if you major in rehabilitation counselling, you'll explore the psychosocial perspective of health and illness, the issues related to living with chronic health problems, and sports and exercise psychology. You could even take your fascination with the human mind further by majoring in psychological science or study the complex inner workings of the body through the field of human physiological sciences.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement in a range of workplaces, including hospitals, regional health organisations or community organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.[1] Many of our exchange programs are financially supported. Your dedicated course adviser will help you to find your path and explore new opportunities.

In the Italian Studies major you will combine the study of the language with the study of Italian culture, literature, cinema, history and translation. The primary focus of this major is on contemporary Italy, but you can explore aspects of early modern, Renaissance and twentieth-century Italy in selected subjects. A major in Italian Studies provides you with the opportunity to develop your written, spoken and comprehension skills in Italian to a high level, while enhancing your critical thinking skills, and becoming proficient at analysing texts and at presenting reasoned arguments. Studying Italian will equip you with valuable communication skills. Recent graduates of Italian studies have found employment in teaching, diplomacy, government, social work, art history and restoration, international business, publishing, journalism, tourism, and translating and interpreting. Students of Italian are encouraged to consider spending one or two semesters studying at an Italian university as part of an approved exchange program. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) Italian is taught at a number of levels starting from beginners. For those with prior knowledge of and/or qualifications in the language, a placement test and interview may be used to determine the appropriate stream for a student.

Dreaming of a career in science? Understand the world around you and discover a career of choice and versatility.

La Trobe's Diploma of Science is a supported pathway into the Bachelor of Science – or the qualification you need to kickstart a career in entry-level roles in the science industry.

Explore basic scientific concepts and learn how to harness collaboration in the laboratory. Consolidate your new knowledge and skills through practical, laboratory-based classes where you'll have opportunities for hands-on experience. And build skills in scientific communication – an essential skill for sharing outcomes with different audiences.

Already know where you want to steer your career? Our wide range of electives allow you to take specialist subjects right away. Depending on your campus, choose from biochemistry, zoology, physics, molecular biology, data science and more.

You'll learn alongside Bachelor's students in the same subjects, while you map out your transition to further university study. Depending on your subject selection, after successfully completing your Diploma you can transfer directly into the second year of La Trobe's Bachelor of Science. That's all thanks to the one year's worth of course credit (also called advanced standing) you could receive for the subjects you study in your Diploma.

We'll be with you every step of the way. Receive tailored advice from a dedicated Senior Support Adviser and connect with discipline-based peer mentors. We'll help you enrol, choose your subjects and navigate university systems and requirements. You can also access La Trobe's Careers Service to help you shape your future.

You'll learn:

• Core scientific skills - Understand science fundamentals and the basic concepts of how science works.
• Communicating as a scientist - Learn how to communicate basic scientific ideas in written and verbal formats to various audiences.
• Collaboration and teamwork - Discover how to collaborate and work effectively in teams to solve problems and achieve shared goals.

Explore your passions and build a rewarding career.

Today’s workplaces are rapidly evolving. Governments, businesses and law firms need passionate professionals who not only have advanced legal expertise, but also the ability to think critically, analytically and creatively.*

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts lets you enrich your legal education by pursuing your interests and passions. Open doors to a diverse range of rewarding careers, while exploring how to make a difference in your community.

Learn the fundamentals of criminal, constitutional, property and company law. Explore the legal system and understand how it can be used as a powerful and positive force in society. Develop key skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also choose from our list of arts majors and explore your area of interest. Broaden your knowledge and experience by studying areas like politics, languages, sociology, history, philosophy and media studies. Learn how to communicate effectively and think critically, analytically and creatively.

You can also choose to complete law electives that complement your arts specialisation. For example, a politics major can be matched with related subjects like public international law and human rights law. While a language or philosophy major could be augmented by subjects in areas like Indigenous Australians and the law, intellectual property law or family, society and law.

In the English major you will encounter a variety of literary forms, from the short story to the novel, plays, poetry and memoir and read a wide range of texts spanning some 500 years of literary history from Shakespeare to Alexis Wright. The subjects available to you in this major will help you develop ideas in literary history, literary theory and contemporary critical approaches while also providing a focused study of literary genres, periods and regions. Critical and creative practices are often linked in the English discipline, with understanding gained through one mode sustaining the other. By delving deeply into texts, you will discover some of the complexities of language and the ways in which culture, thought and writing have shaped and continue to shape each other.

In this major you will be taught to analyse literature in English from around the world, addressing key issues of identity, representation, conflict, desire, authorship and ethics. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own reading habits and to travel beyond the limits of lived experience, extending the capacity for empathy or learning to sit with difference. Reading in this way is a vital means of knowing ourselves as individuals and as part of our wider community.

If you can't let go of unanswered questions. If you love learning. If you're passionate about the world around you. Then it's time to start your journey at La Trobe.

With our flexible Bachelor of Arts, you can choose from an incredible array of majors and minors. You'll have access to around 50 majors and minors from humanities, social sciences, business, health and science, keeping your career options open. Pursue your passion and your profession.

Shape your own future with this interdisciplinary degree. You'll choose one arts major, then explore your interests or build an essential skill when you choose secondary majors, minors and electives from across the university. You'll graduate with your primary major on your academic transcript, so future employers can recognise your expertise.

Create your own path. Want to major in sociology, with a second major in psychology, then take Chinese as an elective? Go for it. Or perhaps you'd like to pair economics and English. Or crime, justice and legal studies with linguistics. Build your own future – we're here to help you achieve your dream. No matter which path you choose, you'll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

In your first year, you'll explore your interests and passions. Try a language; or get a taste for history, English, politics or creative writing. In your second and third years, you'll delve deeper while also choosing electives and minors that broaden your skills and knowledge. You may also choose to develop professional skillsets in areas like psychology, public health, marketing, science, sport management and more.

This flexible degree also offers a range of study options. You can choose to study face-to-face at our Melbourne Campus and enjoy our on-campus facilities, or you can study online – knowing your experience will mirror on-campus students, with tutorials delivered in a synchronous manner. Unlike many other online degrees, at La Trobe you can login to live sessions and engage directly with academics and your fellow students in real time.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement at organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.* Many of our exchange programs are financially supported. Your dedicated course advisor will help you to find your path and explore new opportunities.

The world is waiting for you. Step into it.

In the Asian Studies major you will examine Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia from interdisciplinary perspectives, including sociology, anthropology, politics, history, linguistics and literary studies. You can choose from a wide range of subjects, taught in English, that explore different aspects of the diverse societies, histories, popular cultures and traditions of the Asian region. You will also have the option to study an Asian language alongside this major. As part of the Asian Studies major, you are encouraged to undertake in-country study via one of the exchange programs with La Trobe’s partner universities in Asia (e.g., China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam).

By learning about Asia, you will be well equipped to interact with Asia and Asian cultures and communities, which is an asset for Australians in the 21st century and can lead to a wide range of employment opportunities.

In the era of globalisation, having advanced language skills is becoming increasingly valuable. Organisations need professionals who not only communicate effectively, but also have the multilingual and cross-cultural knowledge that can help them thrive on an international scale.*

La Trobe's Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics introduces you to the foundations of human communication. Learn about the structure and history of languages, while examining how communication skills are acquired and developed. You'll also select from a range of language majors and explore the culture from which your chosen language emerged.

Develop an advanced understanding of linguistics, investigating the sound systems used for communication, how sentences are structured, and the ways we use language and interpret meaning.

Focus on the language you're passionate about by selecting from Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Japanese or Hindi. You'll also be able to select a starting point that suits your language proficiency, including beginner, intermediate and advanced studies.

From there, you'll investigate a variety of other languages, examining their evolution, structure and use. Explore the nuances of linguistic variation in communities, looking at the social, ethnic and age factors that influence the variation.

Enhance your language proficiency by taking advantage of our study abroad opportunities.* Immerse yourself in your chosen language and build a greater understanding of its everyday application.

Build your communication, team-working, problem-solving and analytical skills, which experts suggest will be highly sought after by the workplaces of tomorrow.**

Through optional minors, you'll also have the chance to explore further languages, including Auslan, or broaden your studies into complementary areas such as psychology, philosophy and history.

Graduate with the advanced languages skills to boost your global career.

Japanese studies advanced

With a Japanese studies major, you'll build competence in the modern Japanese language and study Japanese society, civilisation and culture.  You will learn to see the world from multiple perspectives through the study of language and culture. You will be taught by enthusiastic staff who specialise in sociology and anthropology of education, minorities, Koreans in Japan, gender, literary studies and popular culture. Japanese Studies major graduates have found employment in teaching, hospitality industry, diplomacy, government, international business, publishing, tourism, and translating, both in Japan and Australia. Japanese is one of the major LOTE subjects in Australian schools. You are encouraged to participate in an exchange program (one or two semesters) at one of the many universities with which La Trobe has exchange agreement. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) Japanese is taught at a number of levels, from beginners through to advanced. A placement test and interview may be used to determine a student’s suitability for entry level.