The
programs in civil ceremonies prepare students to plan and conduct public
ceremonies of recognition such as weddings, namings and graduations, and
ceremonies of grief such as funerals and divorce. They aim to enable graduates
to provide expert advice on precedent and etiquette and to help people handle
the often emotionally charged processes of moving through a rite of passage.
The programs aim to prepare graduates to orchestrate the delicate issues of
planning and conducting rites of passage with sensitivity, dignity and
propriety. They are designed to develop an appropriate understanding of the
possibilities and limitations of the role of a celebrant, including listening
carefully to clients and, where appropriate, referring them elsewhere for
professional legal and counselling advice. Literary and musical content of
ceremonies are considered.
This emerging profession has grown substantially since the first appointments
were made in 1973 such that in 1998 almost 50 per cent of all
marriages in Australia were performed by civil marriage celebrants. People who
perform functions touching the lives of others are widely expected to have been
trained to undertake what they do. Mid-year entry is available for all of the
courses and programs listed below.
Course
code: 2157 * Course fees (on campus): local students - $A6600; international
students - $A13,000 (full time) * Course fees (by distance education): Local
students - $A6600; international students - $A13,000 (full-time) * Course
director: Judith Watt
In addition to providing an understanding of cultural variation and
sensitivities in public statements of lifecycle events, this course prepares
celebrants to plan and conduct public ceremonies of grief, such as funerals and
divorce, and ceremonies of recognition, such as weddings, namings and majority.
The course is designed to provide the training required to practise as a civil
celebrant in Australia. In the light of the university's continuing engagement
with developments in society and its commitment to the social sciences, it is
appropriate that Monash University provide a course in this field.
At the invitation of the Attorney General, the faculty has submitted the course
to him for approval as a formal course to provide the necessary training for
those seeking to become certified as civil marriage celebrants. Most celebrants
work independently.
The course is available to applicants with a bachelors degree or equivalent education and experience. Students who have completed a Faculty Certificate in Civil Ceremonies with grades of credit average or above will obtain 50 per cent credit and can then go on to complete the graduate diploma in half a year of full-time study or one year of part-time study.
Four subjects are required for the Graduate Diploma of Arts (Civil Ceremonies):
All four subjects will be offered on campus at Caulfield and in addition to the two existing subjects, two further distance education subjects are currently undergoing approval to be offered in 2001. As each subject in the Graduate Diploma of Arts (Civil Ceremonies) has an assessment component in performance and presentation skills, all distance education students must attend either one weekend seminar at Monash University or present a video tape of the activity to be assessed, or participate in a video conference for each subject.
Program
code: 2161 * Program fees (on campus): Local students - $A3300; not available
to international students * Program fees (distance education): local students
- $A3300; international students - $A6500 (full time) * Coordinator: Judith
Watt
This program of study is designed to provide an introduction to the training
required to practise as a civil celebrant in Australia. It provides a point of
entry to the Graduate Diploma of Arts (Civil Ceremonies) for people who are
motivated and have advanced their education through a route other than
university study. This program of study focuses on cultural variation and
sensitivities in the conduct of public ceremonies associated with lifecycle
events.
This program of study is open to candidates with a bachelors degree. Those who do not have a bachelors degree but who have a minimum of five years relevant work experience may also be admitted. Relevant work experience includes responsible work in education, nursing, counselling, human services, human resource management, or the equivalent, whether paid or volunteer. Those seeking admission on the basis of relevant work experience must submit a dossier including a curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation and a statement of up to 1000 words outlining their career objectives and reasons for applying for the program.
The Faculty Certificate in Civil Ceremonies requires the satisfactory completion of one core subject, CVL4010, and one of two other 12-point single-semester subjects listed below, accumulating a total of 24 credit points. Students must complete:
In addition, students must complete one of the following:
All four subjects will be offered on campus at Caulfield and in addition to the two existing subjects, two further distance education subjects are currently undergoing approval to be offered in 2001. As each subject in the Faculty Certificate in Civil Ceremonies has an assessment component in performance and presentation skills, all distance education students must attend either one weekend seminar at Monash University or present a video tape of the activity to be assessed or participate in a video conference for each subject.
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