Diploma in Liberal Arts for 2013

Major study areas

ANTHROPOLOGY

In its broadest sense, anthropology is the study of all things human. It explores all aspects of humanity - everything from cultures, behaviours and communication to evolution, social structures and relationships. In recent years, there have been major social and political movements throughout the world in which people are stressing a sense of community, shared identity and assertions of difference. As a result, anthropologists are playing an increasingly important role in the world - where human diversity is an issue; anthropologists are called upon to provide their expertise.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANCIENT HISTORY

Monash integrates archaeology and ancient history to offer a comprehensive approach to understanding ancient cultures, focusing on the Mediterranean. Monash is also the only university in Victoria where you can study ancient Egypt in depth with staff who conduct archaeological fieldwork in Egypt. Students look at the reconstruction of past societies and their evolution based upon all surviving data - art, architecture, religious beliefs, cultures and social structures.

ASIAN STUDIES

Asia is the largest and most populated continent in the world, home to a variety of cultures and the world's most dynamic and fastest growing economies. Asian studies students explore specific issues across a range of Asian countries, cultures and societies, using a comparative approach. Students look at disciplines such as history, politics, literature and anthropology and investigate how and why they differ between countries. Students also cover Asia's relations with Australia and the rest of the world.

AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS STUDIES

In this discipline, students are encouraged to engage with what it means to be an Australian today, how our history might have unfolded differently, and how Australia can further enhance its democratic ideals. They use a comparative approach to understand key issues and experiences of Indigenous peoples not only in Australia, but in international contexts.

BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES

Behavioural studies explores the way in which humans act and interact with each other. At Monash, we focus on looking at human behaviour in the changing and challenging environment of the 21st century. Students analyse a range of historical and emerging insights about the way we behave from a variety of disciplines - sociology, culture, philosophy, biology and psychology.

CLASSICAL STUDIES

Classical studies draws links between the ancient world and modern society, by introducing students to the life, culture and language of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications focuses on the role of media in society and how this influences the way we receive communications and the way we communicate with each other. Today, we get most of our news and knowledge from mass media and social media, so it is vital that students learn about the structures of communications industries and how to critically analyse the media.

CRIMINOLOGY

Crime is an issue that all citizens and governments confront on a daily basis. In this study area, students debate the causes of crime, the problem of crime, and how it should be dealt with. They also gain the skills to understand the complexities of crime and how to critically analyse its workings and tensions.

ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

English as an international language provides students with a new perspective on the use of English in today's globalised world by looking at the implications of intercultural communication. Students explore the use of English in a range of contexts - academic, professional, and international.

FILM AND TELEVISION STUDIES

This teaching program extends and enhances everyday ways of thinking about film and television into more sophisticated and specialised methods and approaches. Students explore the film and television cultures of Asia, the United States and Europe, looking at everything from contemporary popular Hollywood to documentary film, and everything in between.

GENDER STUDIES

Not so long ago, issues such as gender, sexuality and the relationship between the sexes were not theorised, researched or even taught. Today, however, there is such a large body of knowledge and theory on these topics that a new branch of academic study has been formed - women's studies and gender studies. Gender studies frequently challenges students' existing understandings and extends their horizons. Students engage with topics including gender and the body, media representations, new reproductive technologies, employment and education, and ethnicity and racism.

GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Geography and environmental science is concerned with natural environments, societies and communities, as well as human environment relations and environmental management. Students develop an analytical understanding of the current state of the global environment and have many opportunities for hands-on experience through field studies both within Australia and overseas.

HISTORY

History is not simply about dates and facts, but about new ways to interpret and understand the past, allowing us to make sense of the world today. History at Monash delves into different aspects of the human experience, and considers societies and civilisations across a range of periods and continents. Students can study everything from medieval and renaissance Europe to contemporary worlds, Asian civilisations and nations at war.

HISTORY-POLITICS

History and politics are two very interrelated disciplines - so why not study them together? In history-politics at Monash, students build their knowledge of the history and politics of Europe, Australia, Asia, the US and international relations. Students gain a deeper understanding on the past and present world, as well as continuity and change in human society.

HUMAN RIGHTS THEORY

Torture, hunger, terrorism, political corruption, racial discrimination - we all agree that these are some of the most serious contemporary human evils. The global effort to redress these evils has largely been organised around a framework of universal human rights. Students of human rights theory examine debates about the nature and legitimacy of human rights claims, and the role of human rights in the broader context of international affairs.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

As the world globalises and nations and economies become more integrated, understanding our world and the ideas and beliefs of our neighbours is vital. International studies criss-crosses history, politics, international relations, sociology and economics. It starts by looking at the history of the 20th century and then moves to the issues facing our world as we move into the 21st century.

JEWISH CIVILISATION

Students gain an understanding of Jewish civilisation in its many aspects - language and literature, history, theology, philosophy, law, politics and sociology.

LINGUISTICS

Put simply, linguistics is the study of language. It looks at the structure of language, such as grammar, its meaning and how it is used, or in other words, its context. Students explore how languages differ and how they are alike, and learn techniques and principles to use in analysing any language. Examples of practical applications of linguistics include communication within organisations, the development of language policies in government and education, and intercultural communication.

LITERARY STUDIES

Our literary studies program encompasses some of the most well-known, interesting and important poems, plays and novels of contemporary times and the past. Everything from the classic texts to contemporary works by Generation Y can be explored. Students learn to think about literature in relation to the ideas and concerns of the current time, as well as the time in which the literature was written. On graduating, students are able to research and write on a variety of challenging topics, engage with ideas, and communicate fluently and clearly in both written and oral form, setting them up for a wide range of employment opportunities. There are 3 different pathways that students can take in the Literary Studies major: Literatures in English, Creative Writing, International Literatures.

MUSIC

Become the complete 21st century musician by surrounding yourself with some of the finest professionals in their fields at one of the best music schools in Australia - the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music. Students receive one-on-one teaching to develop their solo and ensemble performance skills, and also explore composition, musicology (the academic study of music), and ethnomusicology (the study of music of different cultures).

PHILOSOPHY

What sorts of things exist in the world and how are they related? How are the mind and matter related? Philosophy raises questions such as these about the basic assumptions of every form of human inquiry - and attempts to find the answers. Students explore the notions of logic, critical reasoning, and both personal and professional ethics.

POLITICS

Politics at university is more concerned with explaining how and why different political systems are constructed, and how they work, than surface level politics such as current affairs. Students look at what happens, but also investigate why, such as the causes of political events and hidden meanings and motivations.

RELIGION AND THEOLOGY

Is there more than what we see? It is important for all of us to acquire an appreciation of the various religions and spiritual traditions that shape our world. Only in doing so can we truly understand contemporary debates and the relationship of different religious and spiritual traditions with the modern world. Students have the opportunity to study a range of religious traditions, beliefs and theological systems within a variety of contexts.

SOCIOLOGY

Sociology explores people and the relationships that they have in different contexts such as families, schools and workplaces. Sociologists look to things like social class, gender, ethnicity, power and culture to understand and explain the differences in how people live, think and feel.

SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Are our current lifestyles sustainable? How can we make them sustainable in the future? At Monash, we recognise that debates about sustainability are becoming central to the world's future. Our students explore these questions along with many others as they study the challenges posed by the natural world and how we as humans use (and misuse) it.

VISUAL CULTURE

Visual culture involves a critical engagement with all types of visual expression and communication in society, ranging from the traditional fine arts such as painting and sculpture, to recent visual media such as advertising, fashion, film, and cyber-culture.

WRITING

Writing at Monash offers students the opportunity to understand a range of writing practices and to become familiar with different kinds of writing and language use for different audiences and purposes. Students gain a detailed understanding of the range of techniques used in contemporary writing practice, and graduate with valuable analytical, editorial and creative skills, applicable to a variety of careers.