Off-Campus Learning Guide 2004
Arts

Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies

Course code: 2157 + Clayton campus + Full-fee-paying: unit fee $2250; course fee $9000 + International students: unit fee $3875, course fee $15,500 + Attendance not required (however, as all four units include an assessment component in performance and presentation skills, off-campus students will be required to present videotapes of some of the activities to be assessed, or participate in a video conference). Off-campus students may only take one unit per semester

Aims

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies, students should have demonstrated an ability to:

• understand the history, cultural variety and social traditions of rites of passage at points of birth, majority, graduation, marriage, divorce and death
• identify emotional, legal and ethical aspects of rites of passage related to birth, marriage, divorce and death, and to be able to respond sensitively, including making appropriate referrals for professional advice
• interview bereaved people in order to arrange a funeral and couples preparing for marriage
• prepare funeral and marriage ceremonies including literary and musical content
• conduct funeral and marriage ceremonies
• prepare and conduct ceremonies for the public expression of grief such as the recognition of a divorce, memorial service
• prepare and conduct other public ceremonies for other rites of passage such as name-giving, coming of age, and graduation
• display a sense of professional responsibility, including familiarity with the literature in the field, with standards of practice and performance and accountability to clients and colleagues.

Professional recognition

For practice as a civil marriage celebrant, authorisation from the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department is required. On satisfactory completion of the graduate diploma, students qualify to obtain a Statement of Attainment, now an essential component of their application for authorisation. There is no requirement for authorisation to conduct ceremonies that mark rites of passage other than those of marriage.

Entry requirements

The program is open to candidates with a bachelors degree or holders of the Faculty Certificate in Civil Ceremonies.

Special requirements

Access to a word-processing package is highly desirable.

Course structure

The Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies requires the satisfactory completion of four 12-point, one-semester units accumulating a total of 48 credit points. Off-campus students normally complete the Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies part-time over four semesters. Students must complete:

• CVL4010 Rites of passage: culture and celebrating lifecycle events
• CVL4020 Lifecycle events in music and literature
• CVL4030 Celebrant and client: legal, ethical and personal issues
• CVL4040 Professional celebration of rites of passage

As all four units in the Graduate Diploma in Civil Ceremonies have an assessment component in performance and presentation skills, all off-campus learning students must present video tapes of some of the activities to be assessed, or participate in a video conference for each unit.

Assessment

Assessment methods include reflective essays, fieldwork reports, and videotaped presentations or participation in a video conference in-class exercises. There are no examinations.

Advanced standing for previous study

Twenty-four credit points obtained by candidates having completed the Faculty Certificate in Civil Ceremonies with credit average grades.

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