Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation)
Course information for - 2023 entry
Offered at 1 locations
- Study mode
- Attendance
- Duration
- 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
$5676 CSP
$19608 Fee-paying- Start dates
-
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2023Applications open April 2023
Overview
Deepen and broaden your knowledge and expertise of Western culture within a structured and integrated humanities masters-level course. Centred on a ‘great books’ or ‘canonical’ approach to the study of Western culture, studying this course will help you to develop a transnational, interdisciplinary and historically grounded perspective to the literature, music, philosophy and works of art that have achieved the status of ‘classics' within the Western world.
You will study major works of history, literature, philosophy, and art and be guided in small group seminar-style discussions by academic staff with wide-ranging, interdisciplinary expertise.
Thanks to the generous provision of a Philanthropic Agreement between ACU and the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, up to ten (10) master's scholarships are available for eligible students undertaking this degree annually, valued at $48,000 ($32,000 per year for 1.5 years when studying full time). Students eligible for a scholarship will be selected by a committee comprising senior ACU and Ramsay Centre staff.
You can register your interest for the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) and our AskACU team will get in touch with more information.
Limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available.
Careers
The Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) gives you skills that can be applied in any industry including:
• secondary and tertiary education
• commerce and business administration
• management
• research assistance
• journalism
• politics and public policy
• public service in government and non-government organisations.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation), a student must complete 120 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 - Semester 2 | WCIV502 Tragic Vision | WCIV503 Enlightenment Imagination and Romantic Reason | WCIV600 Slow Reading in Wisdom: Interpretation and Research Methods | Elective | |
Year 2 - Semester 1 | WCIV500 Dialogues with Ancient Thinkers | WCIV501 Medieval Encounters | WCIV605 Introduction to the Research Task | WCIV601 Myriad-Minded Shakespeare | |
Year 2 - Semester 2 | WCIV602 Novel Thinking | WCIV603 The Modernist Explosion | WCIV607 Liberal Arts Research Project |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
Semester 2 Intake with the 30 cp of Research Units option.
This is a sample program only and students will also be able to follow a 20 cp of Research Units option. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
AQF framework
Exit Points
A student who has successfully completed the following requirements may exit from the course with that qualification.
- Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation): 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings.
- Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation): 80 Credit Points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings.
Entry requirements
Applicants must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:
- Equivalent of an Australian bachelor’s degree in a related discipline; OR
- A Graduate Certificate in a related discipline.
Related disciplines
Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, Creative Arts, Drama, English, Fine Arts, Geography, Modern History, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Study of Religions, Theological Studies, Visual Arts.
Applicants are also assessed on each of the following to determine suitability for this course:
- Personal statement or essay,
- Performance at interview, and
- Demonstrated suitability on the basis of additional requirements for academic excellence.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission.
Applicants with higher education study
Entry into this course is based on a combination of a written submission (personal statement essay), an interview and academic performance. Applicants are assessed on each of the following to determine suitability for this course:
- Personal statement or essay,
- Performance at interview, and
- Demonstrated suitability on the basis of additional requirements for academic excellence.
English language requirements
Overall score of 6.5. Individual score of 6.0 in all tests.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Fees
Course costs
$5676 CSP
$19608 Fee-paying
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
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.
Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship will need to meet the essential requirements for admission to the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation)
- be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident at the time of application;
- have completed the following prerequisites:
- Equivalent of an Australian bachelor’s degree in a related discipline; or
- A Graduate Certificate in a related discipline
and will also be assessed on each of the following to determine suitability for this course:
- Personal statement or essay,
- Performance at interview, and
- Demonstrated suitability on the basis of additional requirements for academic excellence.
Related disciplines
Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, Creative Arts, Drama, English, Fine Arts, Geography, Modern History, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Study of Religions, Theological Studies, Visual Arts.
Or, you could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Professor Robert Carver
Director, Western Civilisation Program
Professor Robert Carver’s main teaching and research interests lie in Renaissance literature, Renaissance humanism, the influence of classical texts and ideas on Western culture, and the origins and development of the novel – from ancient prose fiction to contemporary Australian writing.
Professor Carver graduated from the Australian National University with a University Medal in English and Latin. He won a Commonwealth Scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was awarded his doctorate (DPhil) in 1992. Following stints at Trinity College, Oxford, and the British Academy, he taught at Oriel College, Oxford, before moving to the University of Durham in 1997. At Durham, he served as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Associate Professor of Renaissance Literature in the Department of English Studies, taking on the role of Deputy Head of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities between 2007 and 2010.
His publications include an Oxford Classical Monograph, The Protean Ass: The Metamorphoses of Apuleius from Antiquity to the Renaissance (OUP, 2007), translations from the Latin writings of the twelfth-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen, and numerous scholarly articles on ancient, medieval, and Renaissance literature.