Dictionary/Glossary
The Monash Arts glossary collects the terms, acronyms and jargon you will meet during your degree, all in plain language. Browse alphabetically using the index above, or search for a specific term.
Adaptability
The ability to adjust and remain effective in a changing environment.
Advocacy / Advocate
Supporting a cause or group to create change.
Analysis
The process of critically examining information from different perspectives to gain a detailed and balanced understanding.
Archetype
A recurring character type or personality pattern. In this quiz, your archetype represents the way you naturally engage with the world — your strengths, motivations, and the kinds of problems you're drawn to solve.
Area of Study
A field of knowledge – for example, literary studies or sociology. Sometimes called ‘disciplines’.
Assumed Knowledge
Topics students are expected to understand prior to enrolling in a unit.
ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank)
A number from 0.00 to 99.95 that ranks Year 12 students across Australia based on their academic performance.
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is also referred to as an undergraduate degree and is generally your first degree out of high school, usually comprising three years of full-time study.
Bridging Course
A diploma course designed to enable students to meet specific academic entry requirements for your desired university degree if prerequisites aren't met.
Career Pathways
Jobs or industries a student could pursue in the future, linked to their studies and interests.
Collaboration
The ability to work with others, listen, and share ideas to achieve a common goal.
Communication Skills
The ability to effectively convey ideas and interact with others appropriately.
Community Leadership
Representing and supporting a community to create positive change.
Consulting
A career where experts provide advice to businesses or organisations.
Core Skills
Essential skills needed for a degree and employment.
Creativity
The ability to generate new ideas and think imaginatively.
Credit Point
A value for a unit. You need to complete 144 credit points in a three-year degree. Some second-year and third-year units are worth 12 credit points, and are counted as two units – these units have a higher workload.
Critical Thinking
The ability to analyse a situation and solve the problem logically.
Degree Pathway
Potential career options that a degree can lead to.
Double Degree
Two courses studied at the same time, usually taking four years to complete full time.
Emotional Intelligence
The ability to understand and manage emotions, empathise with others, and read situations based on people's actions and expressions.
Ethical Decision-Making
The ability to make choices that are responsible and fair, guided by personal and societal values and morals.
Free Elective
A unit that can be chosen and does not need to be related to the degree. These can be taken from Arts or from another teaching area of the University such as Information Technology, Science or Business.
Global Industry Placement
A structured work experience program that places students with organisations in international locations, allowing them to apply academic skills in a real-world global context.
Graduate Study
Any higher-level study, usually taken after completion of a first or subsequent undergraduate degree. Examples are graduate diplomas, masters or PhDs. Also known as Postgraduate study.
Humanities
A field of study focused on human culture, society, and creativity, including subjects like literature, history and philosophy.
Industry Experience
Sometimes referred to as professional experience or an internship. Get valuable work experience that counts as credit points towards your degree.
Interdisciplinary
Drawing on methods, knowledge, and perspectives from multiple academic disciplines. Arts degrees are inherently interdisciplinary.
Leadership
The ability to guide, motivate, and support a team to achieve a common goal.
Lecture
Organised, formal instruction, usually without student participation, delivered by an academic member of staff.
Major
A sequence of eight units from the same area of study studied over three years. In the Monash BA, you don’t have to decide on your major straight away, and you can explore up to four different areas of study in your first semester of your first year.
Minor
Four units from the same area of study. In the Monash BA, you can choose to complete a minor to deepen your knowledge of a secondary area of study, however it is not compulsory.
NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
A not-for-profit organisation that works on social or environmental issues and is not run by the government.
Orientation (O Week)
The week prior to classes commencing, introducing commencing students to university life, course details, campus tours, and clubs.
Prerequisite Subjects
Subjects that must have been studied to a specified level/score before you can qualify to enter a particular degree.
Problem-Solving
The ability to identify an issue, think creatively, and find effective solutions.
Professional Futures
A unique feature of the Monash BA that helps you build the skills employers are looking for. You can choose from four areas – Global immersion, Intercultural expertise, Professional experience, and Innovation capability – and complete four units that match your interests and career goals. This lets you create a study experience and graduate profile that's unique to you.
Research
Gathering, analysing, and using information to answer a question or solve a problem.
Semester
A period of study, typically 12 weeks long for undergraduate courses. There are two semesters per year.
Social Sciences
Subjects that analyse how people interact in societies, like politics, sociology, international relations, and anthropology.
Study Tour
A short-term study program where you travel with fellow students and a Monash academic and study a unit overseas for a more focussed international experience. They allow you to explore new cultures while completing degree credit through hands-on, field-based learning.
Transferable Skills
Skills gained from studies or life experience that increase employability, such as communication and teamwork.
Tutorial
Smaller and more informal than lectures, encouraging interaction with the tutor and other students.
Undergraduate Degree
Also referred to as a bachelor’s degree and is generally your first degree out of high school.
Unit
Sometimes called a subject, a unit is a single, distinct component of study focused on a specific topic. Most units are taught over a single teaching period, and students usually complete four units per semester.