Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences - Ethics and Social Justice (Dual Degree)

at La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Australia

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 Spanish studies major you will learn the Spanish language and about Spanish and Latin American history and cultures. Spanish is one of the world's major languages and the first language of more than 400 million people. As well as developing your language skills, you can take subjects in Spanish and Latin American culture, linguistics, translation, literature and film. Learning Spanish will give you highly employable communication skills in a competitive globalised labour market. It is also important in international development and diplomatic contexts as an official language of the United Nations and the World Bank. As part of this major, you are encouraged to apply to do in-country study programs in Spanish through the University’s exchange programs. These are available in Spain and in various Latin American countries. (Please note overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) You can major in Spanish Studies whatever your skill level. Depending on your prior knowledge of and/or qualifications in the Spanish language you will start at Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced level or Extended.

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.

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 Spanish studies major you will learn the Spanish language and about Spanish and Latin American history and cultures. Spanish is one of the world's major languages and the first language of more than 400 million people. As well as developing your language skills, you can take subjects in Spanish and Latin American culture, linguistics, translation, literature and film. Learning Spanish will give you highly employable communication skills in a competitive globalised labour market. It is also important in international development and diplomatic contexts as an official language of the United Nations and the World Bank. As part of this major, you are encouraged to apply to do in-country study programs in Spanish through the University’s exchange programs. These are available in Spain and in various Latin American countries. (Please note overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) You can major in Spanish Studies whatever your skill level. Depending on your prior knowledge of and/or qualifications in the Spanish language you will start at Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced level or Extended.

Understanding human behaviour is core to running a successful business, an impactful organisation or an effective government. As rapidly changing technology disrupts the way we live, work and study, employers are searching for empathetic and socially minded professionals who can provide insights into our deepest needs and desires, and create new business solutions to match them.

Learn how to innovate business and shape behaviour with La Trobe's accredited Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Psychological Science. Carefully designed to give you sound commercial knowledge and skills, as well as a deep understanding of the human mind, it will help you become a highly valued professional in both the health and business sectors.

Understand what drives our choices, what makes us tick, and how businesses can meet our needs. You'll establish a grounding in psychology, exploring theories on individuals, groups and whole societies. You'll dig deep into how our brains affect our behaviour and how this develops over time. And you'll explore our commercial environment and learn how to create better systems and solutions for the humans and planet it serves.

Grow as a leader and a thinker. Challenge your ideas and preconceptions. Expand your networks and your horizons. You'll prepare for the rapidly evolving world of international business, developing the creative and analytical skills to work across a wide range of industries and the resilience to face real-world challenges.

Shape your own future when you choose between a diverse range of commerce majors, including economics, marketing, management and more. You'll also have the opportunity to get out of the classroom and build both your skills and your professional network through an internship, either in Australia or overseas, that's tailored to your career goals.

Graduates will have the prerequisites to apply for honours in psychology, with the potential to pursue postgraduate study and registration as a psychologist.

Through your studies of both humans and their commercial systems, you'll understand how to deliver empathetic insights and how to make a positive difference in both your local community and on the global stage.

Management

Good management practices are critical to the success of modern businesses. Well-managed organisations typically have higher levels of productivity and growth, cultivate highly committed and productive workforces, and are better equipped to survive an often disruptive and turbulent business environment. The Management major offered by the La Trobe Business School provides an understanding of the theories, concepts and processes that drive the management of contemporary organisations. You will explore areas in the key management principles of planning, leading, organising and controlling. In addition, you will investigate critical elements involved in the management of modern businesses, including ethical business practices; the management of effective organisational change; the development of strategies and competitive advantage; the management of international businesses and the impact of globalisation on business practices. You will develop your entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership skills, and promote the application of the UN’s Principles of Responsible Management.

Rapid evolutions in science and technology mean our advancements sometimes outpace the law. Get the skills to stay ahead.

In La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws(Honours)/Bachelor of Science, you can pursue multiple interests and gain a powerful combination of legal skills and cutting-edge scientific knowledge.

From stem cell research to how personal information is collected, stored and shared, advances in science and technology have real human impacts. This double degree uniquely prepares you to address contemporary challenges from a scientific, legal and ethical perspective.

Benefit from our progressive approach to legal education with a law degree you can shape to your own career goals. You'll get a solid grounding in the basics of law and hone your expertise in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution – skills valued by employers across industries.

Your science degree offers you huge flexibility, with an extensive range of majors to choose from. Follow your interests in emerging areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science or traditional fields including chemistry, botany and genetics. Bring knowledge to life in world-class facilities, including the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), and learn from academics who are leaders in their fields.

Take your skills into the real world while you study. You'll have the opportunity to do placements in a range of legal settings, including community legal centres, law firms, government agencies, and judges and magistrates (subject to availability). On the science side, you could complete a placement with one of our industry partners – previous students have worked with CSIRO, Bayer Crop Science, and various government departments.

You will graduate ready to start your career as an expert legal practitioner, with an advanced understanding of scientific concepts or a science professional with a solid understanding of regulatory environments and how they impact scientific work.

Psychological science

Discover psychology using a scientific approach. In this fascinating major, you’ll deepen your understanding of how people think, behave and relate to one another. Expand your understanding of psychological health and illness, while learning how to assess psychological functioning in individuals.

Explore how culture and society can shape our experiences and health choices. You’ll investigate how our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by other people and you’ll learn how to use statistical techniques to understand the differences between groups of people.

Investigate a range of evidence-based psychological interventions and develop your research skills by conducting an in-depth investigation into an area of psychology. Throughout your studies, you’ll build practical skills in analysis, evaluation and communication. Learn how to apply psychological theory and research to real-world individuals and their communities.

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.

Ethics is the study of how we should live, what we should value, and how we can identify the right way to act. Social justice asks us to consider how the benefits, burdens, and opportunities involved in living together in societies should be distributed, to ensure fairness while appropriately respecting individual rights and liberties. In the Ethics and Social Justice major you will acquire a firm foundation in theoretical approaches to these important questions. Frameworks and theories from philosophy, social sciences, politics, gender studies, development studies, and law will provide you with ways to analyse inequalities and understand how they are created and reinforced, and to explore the roles of power structures and social coding of various axes of difference. In examining social justice issues from a range of theoretical perspectives, you will gain a robust conceptual understanding along with experience applying concepts in different areas – a skill increasingly important in a rapidly changing world. These skills and areas of knowledge will ultimately allow you to question, and seek to improve, social practices and institutions.

We live in one vast, interconnected world. While nation states and local economies still dominate the overall playing field, there’s an ever-increasing flow between countries – of trade, capital, information and people. And it’s irreversibly transforming our lives. In this time of unprecedented change, there are more global challenges and they need urgent solutions. While we can’t predict the future, we do know this – we need more highly skilled professionals who can help us navigate this complex and delicate environment, and ensure we build a better world for all.

If you're keen to address the biggest global challenges of our time, La Trobe's Master of International Relations will give you the interdisciplinary skillset to make a real difference. Develop a solid grounding in international political theory and learn how to navigate the complex power dynamics between governments, multilateral organisations, international businesses and international NGOs. You'll graduate with the skills to work on current global issues and create positive change across cultures and societies.

In this comprehensive degree, you'll focus on public policy that promotes social justice and explore key themes of poverty, gender, inequality and the threat of war. Understand how foreign policy is made and build your knowledge of international law. Examine the role of international institutions in humanitarian law, international environmental law, refugee law and the laws of war. Then explore the sprawling networks of global economic interdependence, while investigating both the harms and benefits of globalisation. You'll understand the issues from a meta perspective, so you can create policies for governments and intergovernmental organisations such as the World Bank, ASEAN and the United Nations.

Learn from high-profile academic staff with extensive research and teaching experience. Outstanding educators who are passionate and deeply knowledgeable about their subject matter, they also have vast professional networks which students can access via placements and research. You'll learn from renowned commentators who are frequently quoted in local and international media, and whose expertise is sought by government committees.

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.

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.

Asian politics and security

Examine the different political systems in Asia and analyse security issues at the domestic and international levels. In this major you will explore how Asian states and societies have developed, and the relationships and institutions that have been used to manage security inside and outside the region.

Across a range of countries, you will learn about the political and cultural underpinnings of Asian societies, understand their security problems, and formulate appropriate responses them.

This major will connect you to experts in China and India, SE Asia, international security, nationalism, social movements, democracy and democratisation, and Asian cities.

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.

Environmental Humanities is an interdisciplinary major that allows you to explore the relationship between nature and culture, environmental values and ethics, and how humans might respond creatively, collaboratively and ethically to address global environmental crises. The Environmental Humanities, as an area of scholarship, has emerged in response to world-wide environmental crises, and brings together disciplines including Aboriginal studies, history, philosophy, literature, creative arts, geography, politics and law, in conjunction with the natural and social sciences. Rapid environmental change has become a hallmark of our contemporary world. It is accompanied by threats to global ecosystems, species extinction, and unsustainable rates of consumption of the earth’s resources. Scientists may have diagnosed these problems, but their causes are human and their solutions will also be human.

In the Environmental Humanities major, you will be taught to understand the ways in which humans are entangled in environmental change. You will also learn how to respond to climate injustices and the complex social and ecological challenges. You will also be exposed to a variety of approaches that help understand and address environmental and climate change. Throughout the major you will explore historical, cultural, political, creative, philosophical, scientific and legal understandings of environmental change and can tailor your subject selection to focus in greater depth on the historical, legal or creative disciplines. When you graduate you will have a deep and critical understanding of the contexts within which environmental crises have arisen and have the tools to evaluate and respond to environmental issues and create new ways of living with our environment.