Diplomas offer new study opportunities
By Sylvia Deutsch* The Faculty of Arts is offering new opportunities for people wanting to study humanities or social sciences but not complete a full degree through its new diploma courses. The Diploma in Arts spans a number of the Faculty of Arts' offerings, and is available in Art History, Classical Studies, Drama and Theatre Studies, European Languages, History, Philosophy and Sociology. The new courses will first be offered in second semester 1998. From next year students can commence in either first or second semesters. The diploma is a university qualification in its own right. Each course consists of six semester-long regular undergraduate units (6 points). Flexibility is built in, with credit possible for similar units previously studied at university. If students later decide to enrol for a Bachelor of Arts degree (20 points), the units studied for the diploma can be credited towards their degree. "My colleagues and I believe that the diploma courses will meet a real need among mature-age students for new avenues to pursue interests in particular subjects," Coordinator for the Diploma in Arts, Dr Don Rowland, said. Art History can include units ranging from classical art and architecture to the Baroque and modern, from curatorship to the World Wide Web. Latin, Greek and ancient history are available through Classical Studies. Theoretical and practical aspects of European, American, British and Australian drama are covered in Drama and Theatre Studies. Australian, United States, European, Medieval, British, African and Pacific history and the history of gender, sexuality, mass media, medicine and historical theory can be studied in History. Language diplomas are offered in French, German and Italian. An introduction to great philosophers of the past and dialectic, which develops thinking and writing skills, are included in Philosophy, as are choices in areas such as bio-ethics, philosophy of gender, mathematics or science, and moral and political philosophy. How human actions and social relationships are shaped by social forces is studied in Sociology. Previous study in the chosen subject area is not required. Courses can normally be completed part-time over a period of four semesters, and can be spread over a longer period of up to five years. Normal requirements for university admission apply. Enrolments for second semester this year close on June 30. *Sylvia Deutsch is Research Development Officer in the Faculty of Arts.