Breadth studies in the New Generation Degrees
This page is an introduction to Breadth studies which are an important component of the New Generation degrees.
Further
detailed information about selection and detail of Breadth subjects can be found under the Coures and Programs section of this site.
What are breadth studies?
Melbourne's New Generation degrees are designed to give all students depth and breadth of learning.
Depth is reflected in the expertise you gain by studying a core program in a major discipline. Breadth is a result of choosing additional subjects from outside your major area of study, to develop other kinds of expertise.
Breadth studies are a feature of Melbourne’s New Generation undergraduate degrees, making up at least 25 percent of your program.
There are several types of breadth subjects available:
- Subjects taken from other New Generation degrees in disciplines different to a student’s major area of focus
- Specially designed University breadth subjects which explore broad topics (such as climate change) by drawing together the expertise of many different disciplines
- Select subjects offered by other faculties (including Arts, Education, Law, Land and Food Resources and Music) can also be taken as breadth, provided they're outside a student's main area of study
Why is breadth important?
Breadth subjects are a feature of Melbourne’s New Generation undergraduate degrees. Making up at least 25 percent of your program, they will enable you to tap other bodies of knowledge, methods of enquiry, personal and professional skills, and ways of knowing. The ability to do this will be critical in the global knowledge era.
This is a future where technologies keep changing, knowledge is renewed and extended rapidly, and innovative and professional work relies on an international outlook, and the ability to collaborate across wide and diverse networks.
To succeed and make lasting contributions, tomorrow’s leaders will be those who can appreciate and orchestrate the efforts of experts from many different fields, stay current with new technologies, and be attuned to different cultures and contexts.
Employers have endorsed the Melbourne Model approach, explaining that while graduates still require a profound understanding of their discipline, they must appreciate the broader context in which their skills will be employed and be ready to apply their knowledge to an increasingly wide range of situations.
How does breadth work?
An undergraduate degree at Melbourne requires 100 points of study at each year level, usually over three years of full-time study. In most cases, this will include at least 25 points of breadth studies each year.
Most subjects offered in New Generation Bachelors degrees in Arts, Environments, Commerce, Music and Science can be taken as breadth studies if drawn from a discipline outside the core program.
Most breadth subjects are worth 12.5 points. Most students will study two breadth subjects to gain 25 points per year. However in some degrees you may choose to study breadth subjects to a total of 37.5 points at first year level, followed by 25 points at second year and 12.5 points at third year.
In many cases your choice of breadth subjects at third year level will require prerequisite study at first and/or second year level.
Whichever option you choose, you must accumulate at least 75 points over the three years (the equivalent of a quarter of your degree program).