The Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Scholars) degree is designed to develop your communication and personal skills, creativity, capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations, and problem-solving abilities. Choose from more than 25 majors and be equipped with real life skills to take advantage of incredible career opportunities.

Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

<p>The University of Western Sydney (UWS) began operation on 1st January 1989, under the terms of the University of Western Sydney Act, 1988 which had been passed by the New South Wales Parliament in December 1988. However, the predecessors of the University date back as far as 1891 with the establishment of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College.<br /><br />The Act created a federated network university, based on two existing Colleges of Advanced Education - Hawkesbury Agricultural College and Nepean College of Advanced Education.<br /><br />Following incorporation into the University, the foundation network members were known as the 'University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury' (UWS Hawkesbury) and the 'University of Western Sydney, Nepean' (UWS Nepean).<br /><br />The Act was amended by the University of Western Sydney (Amendment) Act, 1989 (Act No. 128, 1989) and the Macarthur Institute of Higher Education became the third University member on 1 November 1989. The new campus was known as the 'University of Western Sydney, Macarthur' (UWS Macarthur).<br /><br />In 1995 a review of the structure of UWS was undertaken. The Report of the Committee to Review the Structure of the University of Western Sydney (the Rogers Report) recommended restructuring the institution and a new federated University system emerged. The University of Western Sydney became a federated university system comprising four co-operative and interrelated elements: Office of the Vice-Chancellor, UWS Hawkesbury, UWS Macarthur, UWS Nepean.<br /><br />This federated system ensured the University was represented at a national and international level as a single institution with common objectives and values, while giving each of its Members the autonomy needed to react quickly and flexibly to the demands and needs of its local communities. The principal advantage of the federated network structure was the opportunity to build on the individual strengths of each member university, and through the University as a whole to define and achieve objectives that the individual members might have found unattainable. Each member was largely autonomous and responsible for: the development and conduct of courses; the admission of students; the initiation and supervision of research programs; staffing; the development of consultancy and entrepreneurial activities; and the development and maintenance of campus facilities and properties.<br /><br />On 26 November 1997, the University of Western Sydney Act, 1997 (Act No. 116, 1997) was passed by the State Parliament. This Act which replaced the original Act came into force on 1 January 1998.<br /><br />Following consultation across UWS the Vice Chancellor put proposals before the UWS Board of Trustees at the end of 1999 for a major restructure of the University. The Board approved the principles of the restructure, and the consequent detailed work to be undertaken to develop the new structure. From the beginning of 2001 the University of Western Sydney operated as a single multi-campus university rather than as a federation.<br /><br />The new structure of the university was outlined in the 2001 Calendar with revisions and changes outlined in the 2002 Calendar.<br /><br />The single multi-campus University of Western Sydney has six campuses: Bankstown, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith.</p>
<h3>Celebrating 25 years of UWS</h3>
<p>In 2014, the University of Western Sydney is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a statutory institution. The University acknowledges over 200 cumulative years of bringing knowledge to life in Greater Western Sydney from our heritage and member institutions.</p>
<p>For more information, visit the<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/uws25/25_year_history">25 year history website</a>.</p>

Learn more about Western Sydney University. Find undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Western Sydney University

Western Sydney University

<h3 id="capital" tabindex="0">Capital</h3>
<p>Sydney is the capital of New South Wales (NSW). The city of Sydney is located on the eastern coast of NSW.</p>
<h3 id="population" tabindex="0">Population</h3>
<p>NSW has the highest population of any state in Australia, with 7.95 million residents as of March 2018.</p>
<p>Roughly 64.5% of the state's population live in Greater Sydney.</p>
<p>NSW has the fastest growing population in Australia growing by roughly 106,100 people annually. Greater Sydney and Newcastle have the highest population densities in the state, with 391 and 423 people per square kilometre.</p>
<h3 id="culture" tabindex="0">Culture</h3>
<p>More than 275 different languages are spoken and 144 religions are practised in NSW. Almost a third of NSW residents were born overseas, while 37% had both parents born overseas. NSW's top five fastest-growing migrant groups are from Asia.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Aboriginal people in NSW</h3>
<p>New South Wales has Australia&rsquo;s largest population of Aboriginal Australians.</p>
<p><a data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9a65002e-2803-4de3-a782-8a9ecbaa9e70" href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/aboriginal-culture-and-heritage" title="Aboriginal culture and heritage">Find out more about Aboriginal culture and heritage</a></p>
<h3 id="geography-of-nsw" tabindex="0">Geography of NSW</h3>
<p>The state of NSW is divided by natural features into four distinct geographical sections.</p>
<h4>The Coast</h4>
<p>A thin coastal strip stretching along 1460 km from the subtropical Northern Rivers region near Queensland, through the mid-north Coast, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra and Shoalhaven down to the cooler far south coast.</p>
<h4>The Mountains</h4>
<p>The Great Dividing Range, which includes the Snowy Mountains, the Northern, Central and Southern Tablelands, the Southern Highlands, and the South West Slopes. Although these mountains aren't steep, many peaks rise above 1000 metres high, and they are one of the oldest mountain chains on earth.</p>
<h4>The Central Plains</h4>
<p>The cultivated central plains spread 500 km from east to west and are the agricultural powerhouse of the NSW economy due to the rich, fertile soil and adequate water supply.</p>
<h4>The Western Plains</h4>
<p>The arid Western Plains cover more than two thirds of the state, though they are sparsely populated compared to the coastal regions. The land is fertile but has low levels of rainfall and inadequate river systems.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations" class="is-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more about visiting and exploring NSW regions</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/miners-and-explorers/geoscience-information" class="is-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more about the geology and geotrails of NSW</a></p>
<h3 id="councils-in-nsw" tabindex="0">Councils in NSW</h3>
<p>There are many local government councils within NSW. Each local council&nbsp;provides a range of services to you every day, such as roads and footpaths, rubbish collection services, libraries and community centres, water and sewer, community services and events, planning and infrastructure, and recreation facilities.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/local-government-directory/" class="is-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more about local government councils</a></p>
<h3 id="economy" tabindex="0">Economy</h3>
<p>At more than half-a-trillion dollars, NSW is Australia&rsquo;s largest state economy. The state has a diversified, service driven economy.</p>
<p>The industries that are the largest contributors to the economy are:</p>
<p>a. business services (which includes financial services, real estate services and information media and telecommunications)<br />b. construction<br />c. manufacturing<br />d. health<br />e. education.</p>
<p>The largest areas of employment are:</p>
<p><br />a. health<br />b. retail trade and professional services<br />c.scientific and technical services.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/nsw-economy/about-nsw-economy" class="is-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more about the NSW economy</a></p>
<h4>Credit rating</h4>
<p>NSW has been assessed to have the highest possible credit rating, AAA, by both Moody&rsquo;s and Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s. NSW is one of only two states with a triple-A credit rating. This rating was given because of the state&rsquo;s strong, stable economy and financial management.</p>
<p>NSW has a strong institutional framework and a diverse economy, and is focused on investing in areas where it is most needed in order to strengthen our economy further.</p>
<p>Visit<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/nsw-economy/about-nsw-economy/triple-credit-rating" class="is-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSW Treasury</a><span>&nbsp;</span>to find out more about the Triple-A credit rating and what it means for the state's economy.</p>

Bachelor of Arts (Dean's Scholars)

Western Sydney University

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