Ancient World Studies

Bachelor of ArtsMajorYear: 2025

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Overview

Ancient World Studies embraces the broad study of Classical Greece and Rome, as well as Egypt and the Near East from 3000 BCE to the 4th century CE. Students can choose a variety of subject streams, which combine the study of ancient languages and/or texts in translation such as myth, literature, history, and philosophy with the study of archaeology, art, and architectural monuments. In addition, students can focus on a particular time period, geographic region, technical specialisation such as myth or ceramics, or thematic area of study. Students will gain insight into and understanding of contemporary society by exploring how ancient cultures have contributed to the development of our modern world, with regard to gender and ethnic identity, warfare, colonialism and imperialism, the propagandistic power of literary and visual imagery, and technology and economy. They will develop skills in research, writing, analysis, and communication that promote career flexibility.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the literary and material cultures of ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilisations, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Greece, and Rome
  • Apply appropriate critical skills and methodologies (including historical, literary, and archaeological) to the research and analysis of ancient histories, cultures and societies
  • Identify and engage critically with primary sources for the interpretation of ancient histories, cultures and societies
  • Identify and engage critically with scholarship in the field of ancient world studies
  • Approach all evidence about ancient histories, cultures and societies with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values
  • Work effectively, in groups and independently, to identify, discuss and critically analyse key issues in the interpretation of ancient histories, cultures and societies
  • Communicate interpretations of ancient texts and artefacts effectively, both orally and in writing.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Structure

100 credit points

This major requires the completion of:

  • 25 credit points of Level 1 electives and Arts Discovery subjects including:
    • A minimum of 12.5 credit points of Level 1 electives
  • 37.5 credit points of Level 2 electives
  • 12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone subject
  • 25 credit points of Level 3 electives

*Note:

Please note: Students must undertake an Arts Discovery subject as part of the course requirements and the Arts Discovery subject can be counted in one major only. For this major, you will need to complete two Level 1 subjects.

If you are completing a double major the correct enrolment for this major at level 1 is: An Arts Discovery subject and one Level 1 Elective subject for the first major and two Level 1 Elective subjects for the second major.

The subject ANCW30017 is compulsory in the Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) and Ancient World Studies majors. Students who are completing two majors in these disciplines can only count ANCW30017 towards one major. One additional Level 3 subject must be completed for the other major.

Level 1 electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ANCW10001 Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW10002 Myth, Art and Empire: Greece and Rome
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW10006 Ancient Egyptian 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW10007 Ancient Egyptian 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW10008 Akkadian 1 Not available in 2025 12.5
ANCW10009 Akkadian 2 Not available in 2025 12.5

Level 2 electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ANCW20003 Egypt Under the Pharaohs
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20015 Classical Mythology
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20019 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20022 History of Greece: Homer to Alexander
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20023 Ancient Egyptian 3 Not available in 2025 12.5
ANCW20024 Ancient Egyptian 4 Not available in 2025 12.5
ANCW20025 Archaeology of the Roman World
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20026 Living and Dying in the Roman World
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW20027 The Ancient Greeks: Art & Archaeology Not available in 2025 12.5
ANCW20028 Interpreting Material Culture
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
PHIL20040 Greek Philosophy Not available in 2025 12.5

Level 3 Capstone subject

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ANCW30017 Interpreting the Ancient World
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
ANCW30004 Beyond Babylon
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW30011 Underworld and Afterlife
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW30016 The Age of Alexander the Great
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW30021 Imperial Rome: Mediterranean Superpower
June (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANCW30023 Practical Archaeology Not available in 2025 12.5
ANCW30025 Field Archaeology Not available in 2025 12.5

Links

http://shaps.unimelb.edu.au/classics-archaeology

Last updated: 9 April 2025