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Australian Catholic University (ACU)

  • 12% international / 88% domestic

Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) (Honours)

  • Bachelor (Honours)

The Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)(Honours) is an advanced liberal arts program focusing on Western culture's foundational texts and ideas. It includes seminars, a research thesis, and generous scholarships under the Philanthropic Agreement.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor (Honours)
Duration
1 semester full-time
Course Code
1220004281
Study Mode
In person
Intake Months
Mar, Aug
Domestic Fees
$17,392 per year

About this course

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)(Honours) is an honours year program of study in the liberal arts, focused on a 'great books' approach to the history of ideas in Western culture. The program builds upon the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) course and consolidates student learning in the liberal arts, directing students through advanced seminars on hermeneutics and the critical interpretation of foundational texts in the Western canon, as well as a capstone research thesis that encounters key texts from an interdisciplinary perspective and a research methods unit.

Students admitted to the honours course would be covered by the existing Philanthropic Agreement (2020). As noted above, this agreement provides a generous scholarship (worth $32,000 p.a. from January 2023) for a course (or eligible combination of courses) lasting up to 5 years.

Discover ACU's Western Civilisation Program.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency requirements defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

  • the ACU Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)
  • Equivalent of an Australian bachelor's degree in a related discipline

Students must have attained a minimum GPA of 5.50 in the relevant undergraduate degree, as stipulated in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Related disciplines

  • Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, Creative Arts, Drama, English, Fine Arts, Geography, Modern History, Modern European Languages and Literatures, Medieval Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Study of Religions, Theological Studies, and Visual Arts.

Applicants are also assessed on each of the following to determine suitability for this course:

  • Research proposal
  • Performance at interview

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.

What you will learn

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)(Honours) is an honours year program of study in the liberal arts, focused on a 'great books' approach to the history of ideas in Western culture. The program builds upon the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) course and consolidates student learning in the liberal arts, directing students through advanced seminars on hermeneutics and the critical interpretation of foundational texts in the Western canon, as well as a capstone research thesis that encounters key texts from an interdisciplinary perspective and a research methods unit.

Course structure

Course details

To qualify for this award, a student must complete 80 cp comprising of:

  • 20 cp from Advanced Coursework units
  • 10 cp from Research Theory and Methods units
  • 40 cp from Thesis units
  • 10 cp from Elective units
Commencing Semester 1Year 1 Semester 1
  • Advanced Coursework units Choose ONE Advanced Coursework unit selected from Part A 10 cp
  • Advanced Coursework units Choose ONE Advanced Coursework unit selected from Part A 10 cp
  • Research Theory and Methods units HUMA402 Introduction to Thesis Research and Design OR Research Theory and Methods units WCIV416 Slow Reading in Wisdom: Interpretation and Research Methods 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV417 Honours Thesis A 10 cp
Year 1 Semester 2
  • Elective units Elective Unit 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV418 Honours Thesis B 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV419 Honours Thesis C 20 cp
Commencing Semester 2Year 1 Semester 1
  • Advanced Coursework units Choose ONE Advanced Coursework unit selected from Part A 10 cp
  • Advanced Coursework units Choose ONE Advanced Coursework unit selected from Part A 10 cp
  • Research Theory and Methods units HUMA402 Introduction to Thesis Research and Design OR Research Theory and Methods units WCIV416 Slow Reading in Wisdom: Interpretation and Research Methods 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV417 Honours Thesis A 10 cp
Year 1 Semester 2
  • Elective units Elective Unit 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV418 Honours Thesis B 10 cp
  • Thesis units WCIV419 Honours Thesis C 20 cp

Credit for prior study or work

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

How to apply

Apply now