Disciplines and areas of study
Greek studies
Program Coordinator: Ms Maria Herodotou
The Greek Studies Program offers students the opportunity to study aspects of Greek language, culture, history, and politics from the ancient world to contemporary Greece within the context of Europe. The program allows students to focus on their own particular interests while also developing a critical understanding of the evolution of Greek culture. One of the objectives of the program is to integrate into the subject matter the teaching of academic writing, argumentation, and computer skills. Melbourne’s large Greek community provides learners of Greek with a stimulating cultural and social environment in which to observe and practise what they study, both as students and as professionals after graduation. Students of Greek studies are also encouraged to undertake approved study in Greece or Cyprus during their course, gaining credit towards their degree.
Modern Greek studies
This area combines the study of the spoken and written language of contemporary Greece with the study of literature, history, society, and culture. First year subjects introduce students to the broader context of Modern Greek culture and society while later-year subjects place greater emphasis on competence in the language by examining works of literature and other authentic documents in the original Greek. Language subjects are taught at a variety of levels for beginners and advanced learners, as well as for native speakers of Modern Greek. Students may participate in a study abroad program in either Greece or Cyprus.
Subjects also prepare students for a variety of career paths including teaching, translating, interpreting, health, banking, tourism, and related industries in Australia and within the European Union.
Programs of study
To qualify for a degree with a major in Greek, a student must pass a minimum of 130 credit points of Greek subjects, including the core subjects outlined below. Depending on a student’s prior knowledge of and/or qualifications in the Greek language when they commence their degree, there are two different major streams: beginners and advanced. The major requirements for these streams are as follows.
Greek Major
To complete a major in Greek students must complete:
- the Greek core subjects for their language level at each year level of their degree.
- 30 credit points at first year level,
- 40 credit points at second-year level and
- at least 60 credit points at third year level from the subjects listed
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year core subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Beginners 1A | GST1BEA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Beginners 1B | GST1BEB |
| Second year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Beginners 2A | GST2BEA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Beginners 2B | GST2BEB |
| Third year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Beginners 3A | GST3BEA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Beginners 3B | GST3BEB |
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year core subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Advanced 1A | GST1ADA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Advanced 1B | GST1ADB |
| Second year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Advanced 2A | GST2ADA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Advanced 2B | GST2ADB |
| Third year core subject (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greek Advanced 3A | GST3ADA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Greek Advanced 3B | GST3ADB |
| And one of the following subjects | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Twentieth-Century Greek Literature or | GST3TGL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Issues in Teaching Greek | GST3ITG |
Note: students wishing to qualify as Greek language teachers in schools must complete the advanced stream. This is the requirement to take Greek language as a LOTE teaching method in the Diploma of Education or the double degree Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Arts Education.
Other Subjects Available
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| First year subjects (15 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Greece and the Balkans in the 20th Century | EST1GAB |
| TE-SEM-2 | The Nature of Language and Communication B | LIN1NLB |
| Second or third year subjects (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Ethnic and Civil Conflict | EST2ECC/EST3ECC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Imaging Contemporary Greece: cinema, song and text | EST2ICG/EST3ICG |
| TE-SEM-2 | Transterritorial Hellenism: a journey through some sites | EST2TTH/EST3TTH |
| Third year subjects (20 credit points) | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Course A | GST3RCA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Reading Course B | GST3RCB |
Honours
Students who fulfil the requirements for a major in Modern Greek studies and who perform well in their work (at least a B average in Modern Greek subjects) are strongly encouraged to enrol in the honours program at fourth year level. Students who wish to enrol in the honours program should apply by September of their third year of study. The honours and masters preliminary program has two components, coursework and a thesis. For the coursework component, students are required to complete the equivalent of 60 credit points of fourth year subjects. A list of subjects offered is available from the Greek Studies Honours Coordinator. Coursework counts for 50% of the final honours assessment. For the research component, students are required to complete a 12,000 to 15,000-word thesis on an approved topic under the guidance of an approved supervisor. The thesis is to be submitted for marking during the second semester and it counts for 50% of the final honours assessment.