Skip to main content

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy
Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1  Course codes

Code Course title
BPLIARSC-02 Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science
BHLIARSH-01 Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Honours)

2  Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full-time or part-time according to student choice.

3 Cross-faculty management

(1) Students in the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science will be under the general supervision of the Faculty of Science.

(2) The Dean of the Faculty of Science shall exercise authority in any matter concerned with the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science not otherwise dealt with in these resolutions.

4  Admission to candidature

(1) Admission to this course is available on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including interstate and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program.

(i) English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.

(ii) Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

(iii) Applicants are ranked by merit according to the category of admission and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Policy.

(2) Admission to the Dalyell Stream requires achievement of a minimum tertiary admission rank (ATAR) set by joint agreement of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream, or equivalent.

5  Streams

(1)  The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science is available in the following streams:

(a) Advanced
(b) Dalyell

(2)  Completion of a stream is not a requirement of the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science.

(3)  The requirements for the completion of the Dalyell Stream are as specified in Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees and Part 6 of these resolutions; the requirements for the completion of the Advanced stream are specified in Table A for Science.

(4) Candidates who qualify for the Advanced stream and the Dalyell Stream may complete both.

6  Requirements for award

(1) To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a student must successfully complete 144 credit points of units of study, comprising:

(a) 36 credit points of units of study listed in the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science Units Table; including:

(i) ATHK1X01 and WRIT1001; and

(ii) A minimum of 6 credit points of units of study from Part C Ethics in the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science Units Table; and

(iii) 18 credit points of Liberal Studies units taken from any of the six areas of the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science Units Table, Parts A-F

(2)  All students must complete either:

(a) A Science Major from Table A from the Bachelor of Science; and a minimum of 36 credit points of units of study from Table A from the Bachelor of Arts, which must include at least 12 credit points of Arts 2000- or 3000-level units of study.

(b) An Arts Major from Table A from the Bachelor of Arts; and a minimum of 36 credit points of units of study from Table A from the Bachelor of Science, which must include at least 12 credit points of Science 2000- or 3000-level units of study.

(3) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell units of study as specified in Table D.

(4)  A maximum of 12 credit points of Elective units of study from outside of Table A from the Bachelor of Arts and Table A from the Bachelor of Science may be taken from the Table O or Table S Elective list.

(5) Students must complete no more than 84 credit points of 1000-level units of study.

7  Majors and programs

(1)  Completion of a major is a requirement of the course. 

(2)  The list of Bachelor of Science Table A majors available is specified in the course resolutions for the Bachelor of Science.

(a) Students choosing a Science major have the option of completing the Psychology Program (which contains the Psychological Sciences major).

(3)  The list of Bachelor of Arts Table A majors available is specified in the resolutions for the Bachelor of Arts.

(4)  Units of study counted towards a major may not count toward the Liberal Studies requirements.

8  Progression rules

(1)  Progress within a major, minor, stream, program, or Honours component:

Enrolment and satisfactory progress for each candidate for student towards a major, minor, stream, program, or Honours component is governed by progression rules specified in the relevant Table for the component.

(2) The Faculty will monitor for satisfactory progress towards the completion of their award course. In addition to the common triggers used to identify not meeting academic progression requirements (as set out in the provisions relating to progression in the Coursework Policy), students must pass the following units of study which are critical to progression through the course:

(a) Part A Analytical Thinking Core: ATHK1001 or ATHK1901

(b) Part B Communication Core: WRIT1001

(3)  Progress within the Dalyell Stream

(a) With the permission of the Dalyell coordinator, students in the Dalyell Stream may attempt units at higher levels than the usual sequence.

(b) Students must achieve a Cross-Semester Average Mark (CSAM) at a level determined by joint agreement of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream in each year of study or over each 48 credit point block to continue in the Dalyell Stream. 

(c) Students who do not maintain a CSAM at the level determined by joint agreement of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream may continue in any other major, minor, program or stream into which they were admitted, but will not remain in the Dalyell Stream.

(d) Students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Dalyell Stream but who otherwise meet requirements for the award course in which they are enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Dalyell Stream. 

(4) Progression within the Advanced Stream:

Students enrolled in the Advanced stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Advanced stream as specified in the Table A overview but otherwise meet requirements for the award enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Advanced stream.

9  Requirements for the Honours degree

(1)  Honours is available to meritorious students who complete an additional year of full-time study in either Science or Arts at the completion of the degree and who have achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of 65.0 or equivalent.

(2)  Admission and award requirements for Honours in Science are described in the Coursework Policy and in these course resolutions. Admission and award requirements for Honours in Arts are described in the Coursework Policy and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

(3)  General conditions of candidature include:

(a) Students must complete the requirements for the Honours course full-time over two consecutive semesters. If the Faculty is satisfied that a student is unable to attempt the Honours course on a full-time basis permission may be granted by the Associate Dean to undertake Honours part-time.

(b) A student may not re-attempt an Honours course.

(4)  To qualify for the award of Honours, a student must complete the required number of credit points of Honours undergraduate units of study, as described in the Arts or Science Honours Unit of Study Table (Table A).

(5)  The grade of Honours and the Honours mark are determined by the performance in only the units of study listed in the Arts or Science Honours Unit of Study Table.

(6)  Honours is awarded as outlined in the Coursework Policy.

10  Award of the degree

(1)  The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science is awarded as either Pass or Honours. The Honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the requirements of the Coursework Policy, these course resolutions and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science.

(2)  Students undertaking the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree.

11  Transitional provisions

(1)  These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2024 .

(2) Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2024 should complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.