The Arts and Social and Behavioural Sciences faculties are popular destinations for mature-aged students attending the University of Queensland.
In 1999, the Arts Faculty will offer a new course, the bachelor of contemporary studies, through the University of Queensland Ipswich campus.
The course is structured around five focus areas: media; communication and change; language and culture; contemporary Australia and the world; ethics and future studies; and culture and nature.
According to Faculty executive dean Professor Alan Rix, the course's emphasis on understanding cultural change in society in addition to the substantial skills development component and project work would be of assistance to mature-aged students wanting to return to university study.
Prospective students without Year 12 matriculation were encouraged to apply on the basis of a STAT test result, work experience and suitability for tertiary study, he said.
The Social and Behavioural Sciences Faculty entices many mature-aged students because of the attractive variety of their professional and general degrees.
According to the executive dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Professor Linda Rosenman, the bachelor of social science provides students with a range of social science knowledge and skills that are invaluable in the workplace, opening opportunities in the public and private sectors involving community development, human services, research, media and information services, national and international aid agencies and public relations.
The course contains four major areas of concentration of which two, applied communication and development studies, will be offered through the UQ-Ipswich campus. In 1999, when the new campus opens, course intake will expand and the bachelor of social science will be delivered in flexible mode.
The Faculty also offers the bachelor of education (graduate entry) degree. Designed for graduates seeking a teaching career, flexibility is a key component. In addition, the course provides students with unique training and teaching experience in diverse communities.
The graduate bachelor of education degree would provide the opportunity for a career direction change, Professor Rosenman said. A person who already had a degree which fulfilled the criteria of having a first and second teaching area could do a graduate bachelor of education and enter the teaching profession.
Once at the University, mature-aged students can access study and other assistance through Student Support Services.
Student Support Services run a workshop entitled Mature Age covering areas such as changes to finances, relationships and time management brought about by beginning University study.
Workshop co-ordinator Laura Duggan said the course took the form of an informal discussion group providing an opportunity for students to air their views, form support networks and talk about common experiences and concerns.
She said Student Support Services offered many other workshops appropriate for mature-aged students covering areas such as time management, stress management, effective study skills, returning to study, coping with part-time study and memory skills.
For more information, contact Mrs Bowen (telephone 07 3365 4977) or Student Support Services (telephone 07 3365 1704).
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