Course Curriculum

The Master of Western Civilisation follows a structured sequence of units that guide students through key periods, ideas and masterpieces that have shaped Western thought. Commencing in Semester 1 of the first year, students undertake four core units that introduce foundational themes within the Western tradition. Dialogues with Ancient Thinkers explores influential philosophical works from antiquity, while Medieval Encounters examines the cultural, literary and intellectual developments of the medieval world. Slow Reading in Wisdom: Interpretation and Research Methods equips students with the skills needed for close textual analysis, reflective reading and scholarly research. Myriad-Minded Shakespeare allows students to engage deeply with the plays and poetry of Shakespeare, considering his continuing impact on literature and culture. In Semester 2, students continue with Tragic Vision, a unit that investigates classical and later expressions of tragedy, followed by Enlightenment Imagination and Romantic Reason, which traces major intellectual and artistic shifts from the Enlightenment through the Romantic period. During this semester, students also begin their formal research training through Introduction to the Research Task and have the opportunity to select one elective unit that complements their interests or broadens their disciplinary understanding. Entering Year 2 in Semester 1, students explore the development of narrative and storytelling through Novel Thinking and examine the artistic, musical and literary transformations characteristic of the early twentieth century in The Modernist Explosion. The degree culminates in the Liberal Arts Research Project, a substantial 20-credit-point undertaking that allows students to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice, drawing together the analytical, interpretive and interdisciplinary skills gained throughout the program. This structured progression ensures that graduates develop a comprehensive, coherent and critically informed appreciation of Western civilisation’s enduring works and ideas.