Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, one of Australia's leading faculties with a focus on communication and information, media and social inquiry. Established in the 1970s, the research and teaching programs of the Faculty are held in high regard by academic and professional communities locally and internationally.

There is a lively research culture in the Faculty, with many academic staff actively involved in research and creative production, and about 200 students undertaking graduate research degrees at Master's and Doctoral levels. Our staff enjoys national and international reputations for their work in cultural studies, public history, journalism, creative writing and textual studies, sound and image studies, communication and information studies, social theory and social policy research. One of the University's Key Research Centres, Trans/forming Cultures, is located in the Faculty and draws researchers from social inquiry, cultural studies, history and environmental research fields. The Centre's program investigates social and cultural change through narratives of the local in Australia and in the regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Four centres associated with the Faculty focus on research programs and community service: the Australian Centre for Public History, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, the Australian Centre for Public Communication and the UTS Centre for New Writing.

Courses offered through the Faculty provide professional education relevant to the media, communication and information industries in a critical and culturally diverse context. Graduates are expected to understand the social, cultural and economic frameworks in which these industries and professions operate. Graduate, Honours and undergraduate courses place a high value on creativity, problem solving, and research skills, as well as social advocacy, community service and contributions to public debates on contemporary social and political issues. The Faculty has an international focus and welcomes international students into its teaching and research programs. It encourages international staff and student exchanges and is an active partner of the University's Institute for International Studies.

Students participate in a variety of initiatives developed by the Faculty and the University. These include UTS Shopfront, a community research and advocacy centre, the UTS Writers' Anthology, an annual compilation of students' written works, a biennial film, sound and new media screening event the Golden Eye Awards, and 2SER-FM, a radio station located in the University's Tower Building. A substantial number of the Faculty's students and graduates have received literary, film, new media, information and journalism awards.

On behalf of all of the staff of the Faculty, I wish you well with your studies and trust that your time with us prepares you well for your future.

Associate Professor Gael Walker
Acting Dean