What is/Why Arts? RE-IMAGINING THE HASS NARRATIVE FOR A 21ST CENTURY POST-SECONDARY COHORT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PETER KEEGAN Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Arts Macquarie University, New South Wales
Why?
What is? http://www.dassh.edu.au/ba_scoping_project Gannaway,D and Sheppard, K. (2012) Benchmarking the Australian Bachelor of Arts: A Summary of trends across the Australian Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs. Teaching & Educational Development Institute (TEDI), University of Queensland
Who? Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy Academic roles in teaching/research institutions A single mode only of content/concept delivery: “a discourse on a given subject before an audience for purposes of instruction,” (early 16th century) = Associate to Senior Lecturer Recognition of expertise in some branch of knowledge: “a person who professes to be expert in some art or science; a teacher of highest rank” (early 16th century) = ASPRO and Professor
What? Oxford English Dictionary 3. (arts) Subjects of study primarily concerned with human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects). 3. (humanities) Learning concerned with human culture, especially literature, history, art, music, and philosophy. 1. (social science) The scientific study of human society and social relationships. 1.1. A subject within the field of social science, such as economics or politics.
How? INSTITUTION FRONT-FACING (OFFICIAL WEBSITE) INFORMATION ANU “The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its more than forty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.” http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/BARTS Monash University “Arts at Monash is your comprehensive gateway to a wide range of fascinating and rewarding areas of study across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Taking an innovative approach in tackling world issues and fostering a global perspective, you will develop the research skills, advanced discipline knowledge and self reliance to acquire information, assess evidence and convey complex ideas in speech and writing in order to answer complicated questions. And with the scope to choose from almost 40 different major and minor areas of study, including languages, social studies, communications, politics, human rights, and international relations, you will develop an informed, critical awareness of the fields you're most passionate about, laying the groundwork for a wealth of exciting careers.” https://www.monash.edu/study/courses/find-a-course/2018/arts-a2000 Bold = content categories/fields of study + curriculum terminology = the AQF/HESF What? Italics = graduate experience skills (outcomes) = the “employability”/”work-ready” Why? Underline = touching on the intrinsic What is?
How? INSTITUTION FRONT-FACING (OFFICIAL WEBSITE) INFORMATION University of Adelaide “The Bachelor of Arts (BA) provides students with specialised and transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers. The skills students will develop include those in effective communication and creative thinking, adaptability, problem solving and analysis, teamwork, research, and professional and ethical conduct. The degree is designed to build a student's capacity for lifelong learning beyond graduation. Equipped with these skills, BA graduates consistently achieve positions of significance and influence in business, the community, and government and industry, and are ready to deal with different challenges and opportunities throughout their future careers in diverse workplaces.” http://www.adelaide.edu.au/degree-finder/barts_bart.html University of Queensland “Arts students understand the depth of complexity, beauty, power and history that exists in our world. By studying the arts and humanities, you'll learn how to think creatively and critically, examine your assumptions, and better understand yourself and the wider world.” https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/program/Bachelor-of-Arts-2000 Bold = content categories/fields of study + curriculum terminology = the AQF/HESF What? Italics = graduate experience skills (outcomes) = the “employability”/”work-ready” Why? Underline = touching on the intrinsic What is?
How? INSTITUTION FRONT-FACING (OFFICIAL WEBSITE) INFORMATION University of Melbourne “As a Bachelor of Arts student, you will build interdisciplinary knowledge, community leadership and cultural awareness, and graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in the rapidly changing global workplace.” http://ba.unimelb.edu.au University of Sydney “The Bachelor of Arts degree will hone your critical thinking skills to help you become an independent thinker, able to form and articulate judgements based on argument and evidence. Whether you wish to learn a new language, study the great works of literature or uncover archaeological remains, our courses will stretch and challenge you to think differently.” http://sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/uc/bachelor-of-arts.html Bold = content categories/fields of study + curriculum terminology = the AQF/HESF What? Italics = graduate experience skills (outcomes) = the “employability”/”work-ready” Why? Underline = touching on the intrinsic What is?
How? INSTITUTION FRONT-FACING (OFFICIAL WEBSITE) INFORMATION University of Western Australia “Explore what it means to be human. The Bachelor of Arts can include study of the humanities, social and cultural studies, languages and music.” https://study.uwa.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-arts UNSW “Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) is your licence to explore. The flexibility of this degree allows you to shape your program around your interests and career aspirations. Through your BA you will develop a broad range of highly transferable skills and in-depth knowledge in your chosen areas of study. The BA provides the tools you need to think critically, communicate effectively, and conduct independent research.” https://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/future- students/undergraduate/degrees/bachelor-of-arts/ Bold = content categories/fields of study + curriculum terminology = the AQF/HESF What? Italics = graduate experience skills (outcomes) = the “employability”/”work-ready” Why? Underline = touching on the intrinsic What is?
New Work Order
What is/Why? How clear is the HASS vision? Is it as simple as: the creative in Arts, the human in Humanities, the social in Social Science? How (well) do we market our BA? How clearly do we communicate our vision? How do we manage transitional/transformative change from inward- to outward-facing perspectives?