Program Overview

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Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business

Overview

Combine the diverse, transferable skills of an arts degree with the practical knowledge of business studies to build a critical understanding of life and work in the Tropics. Develop a solid foundation of sociocultural contexts to underpin your learning in business operations and strategies, making you a well-rounded professional. Graduate with advanced communication and research skills to stand out in any field.

Fast Facts

• Location: JCU campuses or study centres where you can study this course. 'Online' means the course can be studied off-campus using a combination of online resources, printed material or other technologies. Some online courses include on-campus workshops and travel for professional placements.
  • Online
  • Townsville
  • Cairns
• Commencing: The month(s) you can start the course. For courses offered at JCU Singapore and JCU Brisbane, see 'How to Apply'.
  • Online: January, May, September
  • Townsville: January, May, September
  • Cairns: January, May, September
• Fees: Indicative, annual cost of your course. Some courses are supported by the Australian Government with the government paying some of your fees. This is the Commonwealth Supported fee. The tuition fee is the fee payable if Commonwealth Support does not apply. You can defer your fees if eligible with HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. The Student Services & Amenities Fee is a required payment from most students.
  • $15,560.00+ (estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load)
  • Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
  • Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
• Duration: The time it will take you to complete the course as a full-time student. Also specifies if the course is available part-time. This section will indicate if some online courses may have a longer duration due to their different delivery method.
  • 4 years full-time
• Entry Requirements: This is usually a score given to Year 12 students upon completion of their studies. Non-school leavers can have their qualifications and work experience assessed to obtain an equivalent score. The score displayed is the minimum adjusted ATAR/rank that was required for entry. Some subjects are required for entry into a course. Whereas assumed knowledge indicates a minimum level of knowledge.
  • ATAR 59
  • English (Units 3/4,C)
  • Alternate Pathways

Course Detail

What to Expect

Discover the interconnections between the humanities and enterprise as you consider the principles of arts and business. This flexible four-year joint degree covers study areas across business, the social sciences and humanities, giving you a well-rounded perspective on how businesses operate in different societies — from within the Tropics to throughout Australia and around the world.

In your first year, you will study core subjects relevant to all business and arts majors, building a foundation for the rest of your studies. You can also tailor your degree to suit your interests by selecting your preferred major and various combinations of a second major, or a maximum of two minors. Choose from a range of majors including Anthropology, History, Human Resources Management, Politics and International Relations and Marketing for the Digital Age.

No matter what business major you select, you will be equipped for your future career through the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component of the Bachelor of Business degree. In your second and third years of study, you will put your knowledge and skills to the test in real-world scenarios during short-term WIL experiences, which can include internships with an industry partner. Each of these experiences prepare you for your final-year placement within a local business, where your career development will have you ready to take on whatever your post-graduation career may hold.

Expand your understanding of the nuances of business through an in-depth consideration of humanity. In the Bachelor of Arts degree, each major is designed to give you the tools to understand the world and the people around you. With the ability to identify the underlying factors of social settings, contracts and transactions, you will be able to do better business — with empathy, understanding and strategy. The knowledge you’ll gain in history, politics, economics and social systems and the skills you’ll obtain in research, observation and communication will position you to stand out from the crowd in the worlds of enterprise and the arts.

Combining a knowledge of business and enterprise with knowledge in your chosen area of the arts opens doors of opportunities in your future career. Deepen your understanding of human behaviour as you identify how business and economics influence social changes. The mix of transferrable skills that you gain with a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Arts will enhance your employability. You’ll have the ability to pursue your chosen field with greater independence, using your capacity for entrepreneurship to develop your own business in the area of your arts study, such as using your network to effectively market and sell your artistic creations, becoming a consultant in the area of your expertise, or innovating new ways to make work in your field profitable.

You can choose from 3 business majors and 11 arts majors. Not all majors are available at every campus.

View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Majors

Arts

JCU’s Bachelor of Arts offers 11 majors for you to choose from. Each major provides you with in-depth knowledge in that area.

• Anthropology
  • Study history, languages, politics, economics and social systems. Understand cultural and ethnic differences and analyse how people’s beliefs fit into a wider social, political and economic context.
  • Learn the research, observation and interview techniques that will equip you to work with those from diverse cultural backgrounds. Develop skills critical in decision making for governments, corporations and not-profit organisations.
• Archaeology
  • Develop skills in archaeological site recording and conservation. Participate in field trips to investigate heritage site excavations and Aboriginal Australian rock art sites.
  • You may also have the opportunity to travel on South-East Asian excursions. You will learn the fundamentals of archaeology, then expand on this knowledge with more specialised offerings in Evolutionary, Forensic, Asian, Australian and European Archaeology.
• Criminology
  • Learn why people are motivated to commit crime and explore strategies to prevent law-breaking and rehabilitate offenders. Throughout your studies, you can participate in a wide range of extracurricular criminology student activities.
  • This course equips you with skills to help make a difference in your community. It combines subjects from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Social Work and Law.
• English
  • Gain critical communication and reasoning skills and develop your understanding of the English language, while growing your passion for reading and writing. JCU English major students examine a wide range of literary periods and genres that provide a comprehensive source of historical and cultural understanding.
  • Grow your passion for written and visual literature as you study the talents of Shakespeare, diverse forms of cinema, Australian literature, children’s literature and more.
• History
  • Gain an intimate knowledge of humanity by examining past societies and cultures. You will study the history of North Queensland and develop your understanding of Australian history.
  • Analyse major historical events in a global context and investigate how political, economic and environmental events shaped different communities. Graduates have the skills needed for careers that demand strong research and communication abilities.
• Human Geography
  • Explore the interrelationship between people and their natural and built environments. Develop specialist skills including urban planning and design, regional sustainability, and social and environmental impact assessment.
  • Become proficient in identifying problems, communicating explanations, analysing data, and relevant computing techniques. Graduates develop recommendations to assist in solving major social and environmental problems.
• Human Services
  • Develop skills that will prepare you to work with marginalised and vulnerable people. Study social policy, community planning and development, education and capacity building, organisational practice and social responsibility.
  • Benefit from JCU’s research culture and working relationships with government agencies and local community groups. You will gain practical skills and experience through field trips and project work.
• Indigenous Studies
  • Expand your understanding of the complex interface between Indigenous and Western knowledge, perspectives and practices in Australia today. Explore Indigenous knowledge and traditions, colonial disruptions, and Indigenous re-assertion in the current era, from the local to the global.
  • Some subjects include field trips, and one includes an optional international trip to an Indigenous community. Graduates are prepared to engage thoughtfully with Indigenous Australians and Indigenous issues in professional and community spaces.
• Politics and International Relations
  • Take a deep dive into the people, institutions and issues involved in Australian and international politics. Explore political processes, policy, diplomacy, political economy, and globalisation of Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
  • You will examine Australia's global position and role, economic and social policies, traditional and non-traditional threats to security, poverty and other topics relevant to our modern society.
• Psychology Studies
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the biological, social and cultural factors that influence how humans think, feel and behave. Explore the history of psychology, the nervous system, memory, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, health psychology, personality and psychological disorders.
  • This major is not accredited. If you want to become a Registered Psychologist, find out more about the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours). This major is not available at Cairns campus.
• Sociology
  • Develop the analytical skills to learn how society is organised and how we interact with each other. Study social trends and understand why and how societies and institutions have developed through history.
  • Gain social science research tools and explore a diverse range of topics. Examine the societal issues of the Tropics, including race, gender identity, poverty and wealth.

Business

A major is your chosen area of subject specialisation. JCU’s Bachelor of Business degree has three majors for you to choose from. You can choose to add a second major to your preferred major or a maximum of two minors. However, when studying a joint degree such as the Bachelor of Arts — Bachelor of Business, it is recommended to choose one major from each degree to ensure a manageable workload.

• Human Resources Management
  • Discover what motivates employees and how you can boost performance and productivity in organisations. Learn how to effectively communicate, develop positive employment relations and create environments that help people thrive. Your passion for human resources can take you across industries within Australia and around the world.
• Management
  • Use your love of innovation, entrepreneurship and people-management to strengthen your employability. Learn how to lead businesses in highly competitive environments, solve complex organisational problems, plan effectively and hire the right employees. Managing finances, resources, and direct business operations with confidence in a fast-paced setting. You will learn a variety of transferable skills, important in managing a business or team in any industry.
• Marketing for the Digital Age
  • Gain the skills to speak directly to your customers through traditional advertising, digital marketing and social media. Your creativity and understanding of people will help you to become an effective marketer, fulfilling the needs of your customers or growing a new customer base. Develop industry knowledge by creating sustainable marketing strategies for real-world businesses. Transfer your skills across organisations in private, public, and non-profit sectors and stand out in a competitive marketplace.

Career Prospects for a Business-Arts Double Degree

Thanks to the versatility of this joint degree, your career prospects are almost limitless. Your interest can head more towards business or the arts; regardless, one discipline will scaffold the other throughout your career. With so many majors and minors to combine and choose from, this Bachelor of Business and Arts in Queensland allows you to prepare for your future how you want. More importantly, this degree allows you to effect the changes you believe society needs.

Are you passionate about criminal justice but less interested in law? Your studies in a Criminology major can help you identify socioeconomic issues that lead to crime. You can combine that with a major or minor in Marketing for the Digital Age or Management to promote existing NGOs or start your own to begin healing communities and reducing crime.

With a mix of Psychology Studies and Human Resources Management, you can effectively mediate conflicts and resolve internal issues in any business you join. These are just some examples of what you can pursue, and they barely scratch the surface.

The possibilities abound with this Bachelor of Arts and Business at Queensland JCU.

Practical Experience Through Work Integrated Learning

At JCU, the benefits of interdisciplinary learning are not theoretical. You are not merely studying very different subjects concurrently and hoping to combine them eventually. This degree is set up to ensure every student receives practical experience before graduation. Regardless of your choice of combined majors, you’ll find a practical option for you in this degree. Every student requires their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component to graduate. The WIL involves short-term work in a real-world setting, which includes internships in the industry you plan to enter or a closely related one.

Application and Getting Started with Your Business & Arts Double Degree

For the best interdisciplinary education, choose JCU. You can begin your application for the Bachelor of Arts and Business using the Online Application Portal. You can also learn more about other double arts degrees, such as the Bachelor of Arts and Laws and the Bachelor of Arts and Science.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business.

Honours

Honours is available in each discipline as additional 24 credit points of study. Refer to either the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), or the Bachelor of Business (Honours) Handbook for eligibility information.

Career Opportunities

A JCU Arts-Business degree prepares you to work across a variety of occupations and industries.

Depending on your choice of majors, you could pursue a career in areas such as human resources, policy analysis or community planning and development.

JCU Arts-Business graduates are qualified to perform roles such as business manager, employee relations advisor, organisational psychologist, business analyst, or policy adviser.

Admissions Transparency Data

• Entry score threshold: These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2024. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
  • ATAR/Selection Rank: 59.00
• Entry score range: This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business for Semester 1, 2024. The table includes offers deferred to Semester 1, 2024 which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.
  • JCU Townsville
    • Without adjustments: Highest 90.40, Median 74.35, Lowest 66.80
    • With adjustments*: Highest 93.15, Median 77.35, Lowest 68.80
  • JCU Cairns
    • Without adjustments: Highest <5, Median <5, Lowest <5
    • With adjustments*: Highest <5, Median <5, Lowest <5
  • External
    • Without adjustments: Highest <5, Median <5, Lowest <5
    • With adjustments*: Highest <5, Median <5, Lowest <5

Adjustment Factors

James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.

Handbook

Visit the JCU Course and Subject Handbook.

Fees and Scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD15,560.00

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

JCU Prep provides a pathway into this course. Enrolling in this flexible program will enable you to meet entry requirements including subject pre-requisites and ATARs. Introductory academic subjects are also available to prepare you for tertiary study.

Successful completion of some Certificate III, a Certificate IV or AQF Diploma qualifications can also be used as a pathway into this course.

Explore our list of guaranteed entry courses to see if you are eligible through your prior qualification.*

Some courses require that additional subject prerequisites are met. These prerequisites may include subjects such as English, Mathematics or Science. Subject prerequisites are detailed in the Handbook above.

Contact our friendly JCU Future Students Team to find out more.

*Excludes entry into the Bachelor of Advanced Science, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Marine Science, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Nursing Science – Bachelor of Midwifery, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours).

How to Apply

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

Real Stories

• Student: Lillian MacGregor, Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Business
  • I chose this degree so that I would have the opportunity to study a diverse range of topics and have the variety to keep my studies exciting and motivating. JCU has a lot of awesome subjects available and this degree is a great opportunity to discover what you are truly passionate about.
• Alumni: Jared Power, Bachelor of Arts – Bachelor of Business
  • This course was a perfect combination of practical business skills and creativity. One of the highlights was the opportunity to travel to Malaysia for 6 weeks through the Work Integrated Learning placement. I met some amazing people and got closer to my workplace aspirations – it was an experience I’ll never forget.
• Lecturer: Professor Rosita Henry, Professional Chair, Anthropology Lecturer
  • For anyone who wants to prepare for the future, the Bachelor of Arts allows you to broaden yourself and develop understandings to deal with challenging questions facing humanity. You can tailor your degree in line with your interests. The Bachelor of Arts has the range and flexibility for you to be all you can be.

Real-World Experience

• Business studies: Helping the homeless A Multidisciplinary Project Learn More