Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Southern Queensland

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at University of Southern Queensland combines professional legal education with the flexibility to specialise in an Arts discipline such as History, International Relations, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Creative Writing, Social Justice, Politics, or Anthropology. This double degree is ideal for students who want to develop strong legal expertise alongside broad social, cultural, and analytical knowledge, preparing them for careers across law, government, policy, advocacy, and community sectors.

Campus Location: Toowoomba Campus, Ipswich Campus, and Online (selected Arts majors may have different availability).

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Your first year builds the foundations of both legal and Arts study. You will begin developing academic, research, and critical thinking skills while exploring introductory legal concepts and your chosen Arts specialisation. Depending on your Arts major, you may study units such as HAC1100 Creating Impact, HAC1004 Storytelling, and PSY1040 An Introduction to Cultural Safety in Practice, alongside core law studies introducing legal systems and reasoning.

Year 2:
In the second year, you deepen your understanding of legal principles while progressing through your chosen Arts major. Students continue developing analytical and communication skills through discipline-specific coursework and legal studies, with subjects such as PSY1102 Interpersonal Skills, STA1003 Fundamental Statistics, and HAC2000 Technology and Identity available within selected Arts pathways.

Year 3:
By the third year, the focus shifts toward more advanced legal knowledge and specialised Arts studies. Students engage with complex legal issues and begin tailoring their degree through elective choices. Depending on interests, students may select subjects such as Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Environmental Law, while continuing advanced coursework in their Arts major.

Year 4:
The fourth year emphasises professional application, legal analysis, and specialised study. Students can explore areas such as International Business Law, Comparative Law, Employment Law, or Advocacy, while strengthening their understanding of how law interacts with social, political, and cultural issues through their Arts discipline.

Year 5:
In the final year, students complete advanced law electives and integrate their learning across both disciplines. Opportunities include studying specialised areas such as Cross-Border Litigation, Mediation Processes and Skills, Data, Communication and Technology Law, or participating in Law and Justice Placement and Mooting Competition experiences that enhance professional readiness.

Focus Areas:

Criminal Law, Legal Ethics, Advocacy, Human Rights, International Relations, Politics, Social Justice, History, Criminology, Cultural Studies, Communication, Legal Research, Public Policy, Community Engagement.

Learning Outcomes:

Develop advanced legal reasoning, advocacy, legal research, critical analysis, ethical decision-making, policy evaluation, communication, intercultural understanding, and discipline-specific expertise through a chosen Arts major while gaining the academic qualification required for legal practice.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Bachelor of Laws component is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board as an academic qualification for admission as a lawyer in Queensland and supports admission pathways throughout Australia following Practical Legal Training requirements. The program also benefits from professional endorsement and industry input from an advisory committee of senior judges and lawyers.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

UniSQ is recognised for its strong focus on career-ready education, practical learning, and graduate employability. The combined Arts and Laws structure provides graduates with a distinctive skill set valued across legal practice, government, public policy, community organisations, and corporate sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At University of Southern Queensland, the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws gives students the opportunity to apply legal knowledge alongside specialist expertise in areas such as international relations, politics, criminology, history, journalism, social justice, and more. Learning goes beyond lectures through practical legal training activities, communication-focused projects, research tasks, advocacy experiences, and industry-relevant arts coursework. Students benefit from a supportive learning environment with access to modern facilities, digital resources, and opportunities to develop professional skills valued across legal, government, media, and community sectors.

students build practical experience through legal advocacy, workplace-oriented projects, professional communication training, and discipline-specific activities connected to their chosen Arts major:

Law and Justice Placement (LAW3491): Gain real-world experience through a placement unit that allows students to apply legal knowledge in professional environments and develop workplace-ready skills.
Mooting Competition (LAW3492): Participate in simulated court proceedings, develop advocacy techniques, legal argumentation skills, and courtroom confidence.
Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Competition (LAW3490): Engage in internationally recognised legal advocacy and public international law problem-solving through competitive mooting experiences.
Mediation Processes and Skills (LAW3719): Develop practical dispute-resolution, negotiation, and conflict-management skills used in contemporary legal practice.
Public Speaking for Lawyers (SCA1222): Strengthen professional communication, presentation, and persuasion skills essential for legal and public-facing careers.
Career-focused Arts curriculum: The Arts component includes courses such as Creating Impact, Storytelling, Technology and Identity, and Careers, helping students build professional portfolios and transferable workplace skills.
Industry-relevant Arts projects: Depending on the selected major, students may participate in internships, creative projects, field-based research, media production, heritage studies, policy analysis, community engagement activities, or international relations simulations.
UniSQ Library Services: Access extensive legal databases, scholarly journals, e-books, research guides, study spaces, and specialist support for both legal and arts research.
Digital Learning Environment: Utilise UniSQ’s online learning systems, legal research resources, collaborative tools, and digital academic support services across on-campus and online study modes.
Expert academic mentoring: Learn from law academics and arts specialists while benefiting from UniSQ's close-knit law school environment and personalised student support.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At University of Southern Queensland, the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws develops graduates who can combine legal expertise with broad knowledge of society, culture, politics, communication, and human behaviour. This versatile double degree equips students with strong critical thinking, research, advocacy, and communication skills that are highly valued across legal, government, and public sector careers. Graduates commonly pursue roles such as: solicitor, policy advisor, government officer, community and advocacy consultant: combining legal knowledge with a deeper understanding of social and cultural issues.

Progression & Future Opportunities: UniSQ provides students with career-focused support and professional pathways that help translate academic learning into meaningful employment opportunities.

UniSQ Careers and Employability Team: Provides career planning support, one-on-one career consultations, resume and interview assistance, networking opportunities, and access to graduate employment resources across legal, government, and community sectors
Legal profession pathway: The Bachelor of Laws component satisfies the academic requirements required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, subject to completion of approved Practical Legal Training (PLT)
Broad interdisciplinary employability: The combination of Arts and Law prepares graduates for careers in law, public policy, international relations, government administration, media, advocacy, and community development
Industry-relevant skill development: Students graduate with advanced capabilities in legal analysis, research, written and oral communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and policy evaluation
Graduation outcomes: Graduates are well positioned for employment across law firms, courts, government departments, non-government organisations, advocacy groups, and corporate organisations
Long-term professional value: The degree offers both the professional credibility of a qualifying law degree and the adaptability of an arts education, creating diverse career opportunities throughout a graduate’s professional life
Typical graduate salary range (indicative): Graduates entering legal, government, policy, and advisory positions commonly earn approximately AUD 70,000 – 115,000+, with substantial growth potential as professional experience and qualifications increase

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, graduates may undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to become eligible for admission as a solicitor. Further study options include a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Public Policy, Master of International Relations, Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a PhD, enabling specialisation in areas such as human rights, public law, governance, international affairs, social policy, or legal research.