Bachelor of Arts in Visual cultures

at La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Australia

To understand the big issues of our age, we need to examine social and economic issues from a range of different angles. Because of this, tomorrow’s leaders will benefit from legal expertise*, while successful lawyers will require emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills.**

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics gives you a practical, progressive and multi-disciplinary education with a unique social and ethical perspective on how the law operates. Gain a comprehensive legal skillset, then put it to work in real-world environments through placement opportunities.

Enhance your political expertise by learning how governments manage their economies and achieve important social objectives. Study the interaction between inflation, unemployment, economic growth and foreign debt, along with the effects on social wellbeing. From there, you'll examine competing theories of political economy, including institutional, feminist, post-Keynesian, behavioural and ecological economics.

Learn skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution and how to apply these in both legal and non-legal settings. You'll also have the opportunity to put your skills to the test in Law School competitions, and even international ones in Vienna, Hong Kong and Washington DC.

Develop sought-after skills in critical thinking, research, communication and teamwork. Pursue placement opportunities and gain firsthand experience in community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. You'll also be able to forge mentor relationships with judges, magistrates and coroners.

Graduate ready to tackle real-world problems, including climate change, the need for sustainable innovation, and the unequal distribution of wealth, opportunity and power.

Political economy

The major in Political Economy can only be taken by students in either the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics or the double degree with Law (LLB (hons)/ PPE). The goal of the Political Economy major is two-fold. First, in conjunction with PPE degree cores, the major’s core units ensure that students cover a minimum amount of Economics, Politics and Philosophy in the degree overall. Second, core-choice in the major then allows students to specialise in one of three different types of political economy, cultivating the knowledge and skills that you can later employ in specific types of jobs. Students may choose to hone the skills that study the political economy of inequality (analysing how economic marginalisation occurs along axes of gender, race, religion, class, and other identity categories). Or students can analyse the political economy of global institutions (analysing the impact of the behaviour of states and other global actors on the organisation of our economies). Or students can study the political economy of climate crisis (analysing how power and business interests undermine our ability to solve collective action problems, and what opportunities might exist to overcome this). This major will equip you with skills and knowledge to understand how economies might be reoriented, and how the behaviour of consumers and producers might be modified (through incentives and institutions) to achieve particular social objectives.

Undertaking a major in Political Economy will connect you with experts in economics, politics, political theory, ethics, development studies, sociology, public health, and environmental humanities. It will also prepare you for a variety of jobs (concerned with various types of inequality, global institutions, and the  climate crisis) which will require intersecting and interdisciplinary skills.

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.

Italian studies intermediate

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.

More than ever, employers are searching for professionals with advanced STEM skills.* With job growth expected in this area* – including in areas that don’t even exist yet – there’s no better time to build the scientific skills you need to create a successful, interesting and satisfying career.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Science offers you foundational skills in science and the freedom to delve into your passions. Whether it's protecting endangered animals, developing new ways to treat disease or fighting climate change, you'll be ready to pursue your dream journey in science by tailoring your degree with a mix of majors and minors.

As you learn from leading academics and researchers, you'll take a deep dive into science – not only scientific concepts, but also how scientists think, work and share their findings.

Build skills in problem-solving, communication and collaboration – all highly sought after by employers – then use these skills to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Personalise your learning so you can spend time focusing on the areas that really interest you. Choose from majors in a range of fields, including botany, statistics, microbiology, genetics, data science and more, and learn from academics who are leaders in their fields.

You'll have opportunities to put theory into practice through work placements with our industry partners. Previous students have undertaken placements with CSIRO, Bayer Crop Science and various State and Federal Government departments.

Microbiology

Discover the invisible world of microorganisms and how they affect our lives. You’ll learn how bacteria and other microbes influence global warming, maintain the environment, help produce food and also impact our health through disease, drug resistance and waste control.

Students commencing their studies at Albury-Wodonga campus are required to transfer to the Melbourne campus from second year to complete this major.

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.

A Chinese studies major will enable you to understand and use an increasingly significant world language. Chinese is spoken by nearly one-fifth of the global population, predominantly in the world’s second-largest economy, China. The Chinese Studies major will give you the opportunity to develop skills in oral and written Chinese (Mandarin), and enhance your understanding in China’s past (culture and tradition) and present (economy and technology). At more advanced levels, specialist subjects are available in Chinese for academic and professional purposes—these will help you develop your integrated communication skills to a professional level. Studying Chinese language and culture will give you an advantage in a range of industries and area of government, given that China has been Australia’s largest trading partner since 2007. You will have the opportunity to enrol in overseas programs to extend your language skills in-country. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) The major offers four entry-levels to cater to your standard in the Chinese language. You may enrol at beginners, intermediate, advanced or extension levels depending on your background and experience.

The modern business world is changing at breakneck speed. Ongoing digital and operational disruption present unique challenges – as well as opportunities. We need new leaders who are agile, entrepreneurial and, above all, able to innovate under the toughest of conditions.

Develop solid foundations in modern business with La Trobe's Bachelor of Business. Prepare to thrive in a digitally disrupted world with this highly flexible degree and start building your dream career in business.

You'll explore multiple business disciplines in your first year and develop foundational knowledge and enterprise skills in areas such as management, organisational structures, data analytics and ethical business practices.

You'll choose from a wide range of majors, minors and optional second majors. You can also pair your major with complementary study from another discipline.

No matter how you specialise, you'll get hands-on experience and learn the latest digital skills while developing essential leadership, communication and critical-thinking skills.

You'll develop your professional business skills as you work in diverse teams, present business strategies and use the software that's essential in modern business.

You'll graduate with the perfect blend of business fundamentals and technical expertise so you can change the business world.

Tourism and hospitality

Globalisation has changed the way businesses operate. There is a need to understand the power of new technologies and how to leverage them in the tourism and hospitality industry. Our Tourism and Hospitality Major has been designed by industry leaders to equip you with both the confidence and practical skills you will need to succeed. The major will provide you with the foundations in accounting, marketing, project management, data analysis and entrepreneurship. You will develop the service skills and understanding of digital disruption that are required by employers. By learning from industry experts you will develop professional skills that would give you a leading edge. In addition, you will be able to explore hands-on business challenges by participating in a hotel management computer simulation and gain hands-on experience using front-of-house and travel management booking systems.

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.

Enhance your classroom learning by taking advantage of optional internships, work experience, and our study abroad program*. Gain hands-on experience working with community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. Find out what it takes to interview clients, prepare legal advice and work with senior lawyers to develop legal solutions.

Graduate ready to make a positive difference. With combined expertise in law and arts, you can build a career as a solicitor or barrister, in-house counsel or corporate consultant, working in commercial law firms or community legal centres. You could also work in the public service as a government lawyer or support social justice initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.

The Hindi studies major introduces you to one of the most widely spoken languages in the world—a language with around half a billion speakers, the language of Bollywood cinema, and one of the fastest growing languages in Australia. Hindi is the ideal subject for students who want to study Indian culture, religion, media or politics. Hindi also gives you access to the larger linguistic world of South Asia, including competence in Urdu. Knowledge of Hindi is welcome in many professional fields, including media, diplomacy, and healthcare. India is Australia’s 5th largest trading partner, and one of the world’s fastest growing economies, making Hindi crucial for international trade and business. Opportunities are available for you to study in India, where you take courses on Indian politics, society, and history, as well as improve your language skills. Students with no prior knowledge of the language should enrol in beginners Hindi, where they develop competence in speaking, reading, writing and understanding Hindi in everyday social contexts. Students with prior knowledge of Hindi should consult with the instructor to determine which of the intermediate or advanced subjects are appropriate.

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.

Journalism

Quality journalism is more important than ever. Learn to tell stories that matter through a myriad of platforms, including social media, digital news channels, podcasts and television. You’ll graduate with practical experience and a portfolio of work to show future employers.

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.

Enhance your classroom learning by taking advantage of optional internships, work experience, and our study abroad program*. Gain hands-on experience working with community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. Find out what it takes to interview clients, prepare legal advice and work with senior lawyers to develop legal solutions.

Graduate ready to make a positive difference. With combined expertise in law and arts, you can build a career as a solicitor or barrister, in-house counsel or corporate consultant, working in commercial law firms or community legal centres. You could also work in the public service as a government lawyer or support social justice initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.

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.

Hacking, cybercrime and defence strategies; welcome to the world of cybersecurity. Now and in the years to come, cybersecurity experts will be in high demand.

La Trobe's Master of Cybersecurity prepares you for a successful career in this fast-growing field, whether you have an IT background or not.

The degree has been carefully designed by industry leaders to first give you a strong foundation in cybersecurity, then invite you to specialise in either computer science, business operations or artificial intelligence.

Build fundamental skills in system design, implementation, testing and documentation. Develop technical expertise in pen testing, blockchain and cyber forensics, and get hands-on experience applying your knowledge in our state-of-the-art Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless labs. You'll also get to hone your networking skills in our CISCO networking and security labs.

Cybersecurity is about so much more than just technology. This degree explores the psychology of hacking and cybercrime, the legal and ethical frameworks you'll be working within, and approaches to governance and risk management.

Begin building your career while you study. Industry-based learning opportunities embedded throughout this degree give you the change to not only build practical experience, but also start developing your professional network. You'll work on a real industry project alongside our industry partners, undertake a professional placement, or, if you're working towards a research career, complete a thesis on emerging topics in cybersecurity.

Early exit points mean that every part of your degree contributes to your future career. Exit after six months with a Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Fundamentals, or after one year with a Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity.

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.

Italian studies beginners

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.