Graduate

Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation)

Australian Catholic University, Multi-campus (7 campuses, 5 states), Australia

About this program

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 $24,000 - $48,000. Students eligible for a scholarship will be selected by a committee comprising senior ACU and Ramsay Centre staff. Discover ACU's Western Civilisation Program or register your interest and our AskACU team will get in touch with more information. Limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available. Western Civilisation application process and interview preparation webinar Learn everything you need to know about the course and scholarship application process. This webinar guides you through how to craft a strong written submission, what we look for in a standout application, how to choose appropriate references and how to structure and prepare your essay. View the recording 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.

Cost & duration

Duration1.5 yr
Tuition (international)A$35,600
Application feeA$0

English test scores

IELTS6 overall
PTE50 overall

Verified acu.edu.au

Course structure

1 term of coursework

  • Completion requirements To qualify for the award a student must complete 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of: a. 80 cp from Specified Western Civilisation Units (Part A) b. 10 cp from Elective Units (Part B) c. 30 cp from Research Project Units (Part C) 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 Credit Points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings. Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation): 80 Credit Points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings. Core / specified units include: WCIV500: Dialogues with Ancient Thinkers
  • WCIV501: Medieval Encounters
  • WCIV502: Tragic Vision
  • WCIV503: Enlightenment Imagination and Romantic Reason
  • WCIV600: Slow Reading in Wisdom: Interpretation and Research Methods
  • WCIV601: Myriad-Minded Shakespeare
  • WCIV602: Novel Thinking
  • WCIV603: The Modernist Explosion
  • WCIV610: Narrative Transformations: Epic, Romance, Novel
  • WCIV611: Ulysses' Journeys
  • WCIV612: After Modernity
  • WCIV613: Britain and the Making of the Modern West - From the Middle Ages to the Early Enlightenment
  • PHIL620: God, the Universe and Everything
  • PHIL622: Truth and Interpretation (Hermeneutics)
  • PHIL624: The Philosophy of Justice and Community
  • PHIL625: Virtue in the Ethical Life. The full schedule includes further elective and core curriculum units (35 unit offerings in total)

Admissions

Applicants must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:1. have completed a bachelor degree in a related liberal arts discipline; OR a Graduate Certificate in a related liberal arts discipline; OR a bachelor degree and relevant work/life experience related to a liberal arts discipline;2. Demonstrate suitability via a written submission, which includes a Curriculum Vitae, references, recent academic results and essay. Disclaimer: Additional requirements for Ramsay Scholarship applications:1. Interview.Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Applicants with higher education study Entry into this course is based on a combination of a written submission (essay), an interview and academic performance. Applicants are assessed on each of the following to determine suitability for this course: Submitted essay, Performance at interview, and Demonstrated suitability on the basis of additional requirements for academic excellence. You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.

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