The brightest minds exploring the biggest questions
Study a Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Master of Teaching (Secondary) or Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) with ACU - exciting courses exploring the intellectual tradition and culture of the West. Ramsay Scholarships are available.
This is a liberal arts degree that will give ambitious students a broad understanding of Western literature, philosophy, art, politics, religion, science and history, and a deep appreciation of the ways in which these traditions (in dialogue with other cultures) have helped to shape the modern world.
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Apply for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)
Apply for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) (Honours)
Apply for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws
Apply for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Apply for the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation)
Scholarships
Undergraduate
The Ramsay Centre is funding 30 generous scholarships valued at up to $160,000 to support students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws or the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the North Sydney Campus.
The scholarships are valued at $32,000 per year of the degree. So you will receive up to $96,000 for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), up to $160,000 for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws, and up to $144,000 for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Master of Teaching (Secondary). It includes funding for an optional international study experience and an early payment to help offset start-up costs such as relocation and accommodation.
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Postgraduate
ACU is offering up to 10 Ramsay Scholarships to students undertaking this degree, funded by the Ramsay Centre, each valued at up to $48,000 ($32,000 per year of the degree). Students eligible for scholarships will be selected by a committee, comprising senior ACU and Ramsay Centre staff.
Scholarships are granted based on academic merit and alignment with Ramsay attributes (such as leadership qualities, commitment to the enrichment of society, and a critical habit of mind), and alignment with ACU's mission and focus (such as commitment to the dignity of the human person and the common good).
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What you will study
Whether you study the single or the double degree, you will explore the past, present and future of Western intellectual life and culture through immersion in some of the key literary, philosophical, artistic, religious, political and scientific works that have shaped the Western intellectual tradition from antiquity to the present.
You'll delve into works by Plato and Aristotle; Augustine and Aquinas; Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo; Homer and Shakespeare; Locke and Hume; Dickens and Tolstoy - and you will also explore, critique and debate their enduring influence. If you choose to study the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws double degree, you'll also immerse yourself in legal studies.
As you progress through the course, you will develop a deep understanding of the key ideas and principles that have defined - and continue to define - Western culture and which have significantly shaped the wider world.
You will develop skills greatly valued by contemporary employers across a range of professions: clear communication, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving - skills that will allow you to navigate the complexities of the modern world, and to make your own contributions to our common future. With the double degree, you'll also gain the skills to become a confident, ethical lawyer with the legal skills and knowledge to make a real contribution to the legal profession.
At a time when the ideas of democracy, the rule of law, the scientific method, freedom of speech and religion, and the rights and dignity of the individual, are being called into question, a liberal arts education will immerse you in the serious study of how these hard-won ideas emerged over millennia.