MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Religion and theology
The programs of study listed under this heading are offered by the Centre for
Studies in Religion and Theology. The director of the centre is Constant Mews
(room 631 of the Menzies building on the Clayton campus, phone 9905 2185).
The Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology was established by the Faculty
of Arts in 1991 in order to:
+ advance interdisciplinary scholarship in the fields of religion and
theology by drawing on existing strengths in the faculty and university;
+ provide coherent undergraduate programs of study in religious studies,
within the limited resources of the centre by coordinating existing faculty
resources;
+ provide graduate courses and opportunities to pursue higher degrees by
research in the area of religious studies and theology by offering a range of
postgraduate subjects, coordinating individual graduate supervision, and
calling attention to relevant subjects offered within faculty;
+ promote interdisciplinary research, interchange and collaboration
focused on religion and theology among staff at Monash and in the wider
community through seminars, conferences and papers. One of the means of
pursuing this objective involves on-going discussions with the major providers
of theological education in Melbourne.
Educational objectives
The minor and major sequences in religion and theology commence in second year
following any first-year sequence in the Faculty of Arts. Students are
encouraged to take one or more of the first-year options which have a religious
focus. Students who successfully complete a minor or major sequence in religion
and theology will have:
+ been introduced to the major world religions and to several perspectives
through which religious variation and change are understood including the
disciplines of history, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies and
literature;
+ developed advanced understanding of the place of religion in their own
society and in other societies, explored in detail one or more religions at
particular points in history, and developed skills in dealing with the sacred
literature and beliefs of several religions.
Pass courses
Students wishing to focus on the study of religion in their selection of
subjects for the BA degree may do so in several ways: (i) by taking a minor
sequence in religious studies, (ii) by taking a major sequence in religious
studies, (iii) by pursuing honours or graduate work in religious studies and
theology or (iv) by choosing individual subjects dealing with religion that are
offered as parts of sequences in other disciplines.
Credit can also be given for subjects taken at Catholic Theological College, an
affiliated college of the university which offers courses in theology,
philosophy, church history, the sociology of religion and inter-faith dialogue.
Credit can also be given for approved subjects taken at the Melbourne College
of Divinity. The inclusion of such subjects in a religious studies major will
have to be approved by the board of the centre on a case-by-case basis.
Minor sequence
The first part of the minor sequence consists of RLT2470/HSY2470 and
RLT2480/HSY2480. The second part of the minor sequence consists of subjects at
third-year level to the value of not less than twelve points from those listed
below.
Major sequence
Entry to the major sequence is at second year. Given the broadly
interdisciplinary nature of religious studies, any first-year sequence in Arts
provides a suitable first part of the major sequence.
The second part of the major sequence comprises at minimum the two core
subjects (RLT2470/HSY2470 and RLT2480/HSY2480).
The third part of the major sequence comprises the subjects students will
select from existing subjects which deal with religion (listed below) to the
value of not less than twenty-four points (at least sixteen points of which
will be at the third-year level).
Honours
Students wishing to enrol in the honours program in religious studies and
theology are encouraged to discuss the possibilities with one of the advisers
listed below. The honours program normally requires two core seminars (RLT4010
and RLT4090), a third seminar plus a minor thesis.
Combined honours may be taken in the Centre for Studies in Religion and
Theology and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have
been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both
departments/centres.
Mid-year entry is offered by this centre.
Postgraduate studies
For postgraduate courses offered by the Centre for Studies in Religion and
Theology, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1996.
Advisers
Anthropology and Sociology: Professor G Bouma (Sociology) and Dr D
Miller (Anthropology); Greek, Roman and Egyptian Studies: Dr P Bicknell;
Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies: Associate Professor W Veit;
English: Associate Professor K Hart; History: Dr I W Mabbett and
Dr C Mews; Linguistics: Professor M Clyne; Philosophy: Professor
J Bigelow. For preliminary information about courses at the Melbourne College
of Divinity see Professor G Bouma (Anthropology and Sociology).
First-year level
Ancient Greek
+ AGR1010 Introductory Ancient Greek I
+ AGR1030 Introductory Ancient Greek (New Testament option)
Asian studies
+ ASN1010 Introduction to Asian civilisations, part 1
+ ASN1020 Introduction to Asian civilisations, part 2
English
+ ENH1050 Configurations of the female: revising the myths
History
+ HSY1010 Medieval Europe
+ HSY1020 Renaissance Europe
Philosophy
+ PHL1010 Introduction to philosophy A (students should include the option
`Science, religion and witchcraft')
+ PHL1020 Introduction to philosophy B (students should include the option
`God, freedom and evil')
Second-year level
Religion and theology core subjects
+ RLT2470 The religious quest: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
+ RLT2480 The religious quest: Eastern faith and illumination
Anthropology and sociology
+ ANY/RLT2110 Magic, science and religion
Comparative literature and cultural studies
+ CLS/RLT2150 Belief and perception
English
+ ENH2020 Heroes, lovers and monsters: the literary culture of medieval
England
History
+ HSY/RLT2560 Modern Jewish history
+ HSY/RLT2580 The Holocaust
+ HSY/RLT2600 Pursuing the millennium
+ HSY2640 Twelfth-century renaissance: culture and society (proposed to be
offered next in 1997)
Indonesian studies
+ INS2010/3010 Cultural concepts in Indonesian societies
Linguistics
+ LIN2570 Discourse analysis
Jewish civilisation
+ JWC/RLT2590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict
Visual arts
+ VSA/RLT2510 Sixteenth-century studies
+ VSA/RTL2530 Baroque art (proposed to be offered next in 1997)
Third-year level
+ Religion and theology
+ RLT3131 Sociology of religion (Caulfield)
+ RLT3290 Sociology of religion (Clayton)
Anthropology and sociology
+ ANY3250 The anthropology of witchcraft and sorcery
Comparative literature and cultural studies
+ CLS3150/RLT3150 Belief and perception
History
+ HSY/RLT3550 Jewish civilisation before the modern era
+ HSY/RLT3560 Modern Jewish history
+ HSY/RLT3580 The Holocaust
+ HSY/RLT3600 Pursuing the millennium
+ HSY3640 Twelfth-century renaissance: culture and society (proposed to be
offered next in 1997)
Jewish civilisation
+ JWC/RLT3590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict
Linguistics
+ LIN3570/4580 Discourse analysis
Music
+ MUS3230 Choral music
+ MUS3260 Asian music: three great traditions
+ MUS3330 Music of north and south India
+ MUS3830 Music of Southeast Asia I: Indonesia
+ MUS3860 Music of Southeast Asia II: Thailand
+ MUS3880 Music of China, Japan and Korea
Philosophy
+ PHL2670/3670 Philosophy of religion
Visual arts
+ VSA/RLT3510 Sixteenth-century studies (proposed to be offered next in
1997)
+ VSA/RLT3530 Baroque art
Fourth-year level
Honours candidates normally enrol in
+ RLT4000 Minor thesis in religion and theology
+ RLT4010 The search for enlightenment: path of east and west
+ RLT4090 The authority of the text: the hermeneutical question
and one of the following twelve-point seminars
+ RLT4100 Religion in Australian society
+ RLT4050 Perspectives on organisational values and patterns of leadership
(proposed to be offered next in 1997)
+ RLT4080 Sacred Writings: the hymn, myth and ritual
+ RLT4810 A history of popular Christianity (proposed to be offered next
in 1997)
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