Core Curriculum

All undergraduate students at The University of Notre Dame Australia are required to complete three core units. These three units: Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics and Introduction to Theology constitute the Core Curriculum. These units combine together to provide students with basic skills in critical analysis, ethical thought and Catholic theologising in an academic context which brings the substance and values of the Catholic faith to the fore and into open and creative engagement with the deeper questions of individual and social life.

The School of Philosophy and Theology on the Broadway Campus began in 2006 with the mission to provide the Core Curriculum in Sydney. It is now teaching the Core Curriculum to approximately 1,000 students each semester, as well as providing equivalent modules for students in the Medicine degree.

The rationale for the existence of Notre Dame’s Core Curriculum program is connected with two interrelated features of Catholic tertiary education. The first is a recognition that, as a Catholic university, the University inherits a great tradition which had its genesis in medieval times. That tradition was one founded on the philosophical and scientific insights of Greek and Roman culture and one in which theology’s emphasis on the synthesis of faith and reason was central.

The second is Notre Dame’s commitment to provide a university education within the context of Catholic faith and values which emerges from within its inherited tradition and at the same time responds to the needs of contemporary students. The Objects of the University, as identified in the 1989 Act of Parliament which enabled its establishment, are central and guiding features of this commitment. Those Objects are to provide excellent standards of teaching, scholarship and research; of training for the professions; and of pastoral care for students.

The Core Curriculum makes a distinctive contribution to the Objects of the University and to the notion that an education in fundamental aspects of the liberal arts will provide students with capacities for:

1. self-reflection
2. reflection on the nature and purpose of human life
3. intellectual rigour
4. intellectual curiosity
5. independent and critical thought
6. practical judgement
7. responsible engagement as citizens in civil society

The development of these capacities will serve the students well in their professional lives and in life generally and the University’s focus on that development reflects its commitment to the pastoral care of its students, both as life-long learners and as individual and valued members of society.

The Core Curriculum is underpinned by a view of education that seeks to stimulate a sense of wonder in students, to elevate students beyond the everyday level of engagement in life so that they recognise themselves as members of a community of learners. Students’ rigorous and critical engagement with the great books of Western culture helps develop intellectual and practical virtues. This development provides a setting in which important social and moral issues can be freely discussed and debated so as to inform both our students’ professional and social lives.

An education in the liberal arts is valuable not only for its capacity to develop the skills of practical judgment in students, but also for its capacity to encourage their recognition of the interaction of the faculties of reason, imagination and emotion in decision-making and in action. Within the Catholic tradition, reason is complemented by faith in a way which creates opportunities for students to flourish and to contribute thoughtfully and productively to the civil society of which they are members.

The Core Curriculum is a central platform through which the University aims to achieve its intention of producing graduates of outstanding quality, whose personal spirituality and public spirit allow them to take their place in public life, and to make a significant contribution to the human, economic, social and spiritual development of Australia and its region.

Core Unit Descriptions

TH101 Introduction to Theology
This unit seeks to introduce students to the rich heritage of theological thinking within the Catholic tradition by considering such key elements as the person of Christ, the role of Scripture, the relationship between faith and reason, the Sacramental life of the Church and  the dialogue between faith and contemporary culture.  Students are encouraged to reflect on these key issues in the light of their own experience as adult learners.   

PH100 Introduction to Philosophy
The term 'philosophy' literally means 'the love of wisdom', but what does this mean for us today? Essentially the impulse to philosophise is the desire to understand the meaning and significance of things.  In this sense our quest for truth in science, our quest for values for living, for beauty in art and literature, and for meaning in politics and history are all driven by the impulse to find answers to some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. In PH 100 we explore some of the central themes of philosophy -reason and faith, the nature of love, the nature of beauty, the nature of the good  life, the nature of knowledge and the nature of being human - by examining how they are handled by a number  of influential thinkers in the western philosophical tradition. Students of philosophy are encouraged to reflect deeply on these fundamental questions and to examine our own beliefs. We encounter different styles of thinking and learn to criticise and evaluate the arguments of different philosophers. We also develop cultural literacy by exploring how these great thinkers have influenced western culture. 

ET100 Ethics
In the moral traditions of both East and West, ethics is concerned with three interrelated questions: what we value as 'Good' or 'Bad'; what we regard as 'virtuous' or 'vicious' behaviour or character; and what we define by rule as 'Right' or 'Wrong' to protect ourselves and society from harm and to promote the health and well-being of the community. The unit introduces the student to the themes and methods of Ethics as an academic discipline but the emphasis in the course is on practical skills in sound ethical decision-making and a critical examination of current moral issues.

AB100 Aboriginal People (Broome Campus Only)
This unit is the foundation unit in Aboriginal Studies.  It aims at promoting, from an historical perspective, an understanding of the Aboriginal people of modern Australia.  It focuses on a broad range of ideas including Aboriginal and European contact and the ensuing disruption of traditional culture, interracial conflict and government legislation.  The unit provides an introduction to a number of current issues affecting Aboriginal people including health, education, law, business, cross-cultural relationships, land rights and Aboriginal self-determination. 

AB512 Spirituality and the Challenges of Reconciliation (Broome Campus Only)
This unit is based on the principles of Catholic social teaching and focuses on the need to develop a spirituality which will enable people of different cultures and histories to live in harmony. The unit proposes that the spirituality for the third millennium is a spirituality of reconciliation. The opportunity to study the meaning of reconciliation theologically; to look at situations nationally and globally where reconciliation is needed; and to reflect on the skills and strategies used by churches, organisations and individuals to bring about reconciliation in various conflict situations around the world will be provided in this unit. Special emphasis will be placed on the Australian scene.

PT500 Reason and Revelation
This Unit begins with philosophical analysis and explanation of concepts of reason, reasoning, and believing and acting upon reasons. The Unit then relates reason to revelation (Scripture and Tradition). The relation between the disciplines of philosophy and theology is considered. The philosophy and theology of the human person is introduced. Major ethical claims concerning goodness, moral principles, character and conscience are explained and compared, with input from both moral philosophy and moral theology - God is discussed, including Christian claims about Trinity, Christ and Sacraments. Finally, the good human life is explored in the context of human nature, society and the Church.

The University of Notre Dame Australia encourages students to engage in cross-campus enrolment. If studying on the Broome Campus for a semester (or longer), students from Fremantle or Sydney campuses are permitted to substitute Introduction to Ethics or Introduction to Philosophy for Aboriginal Studies or Spirituality and Challenges of Reconciliation. There is no substitute for Introduction to Theology permitted on any campus.

Other Core Units

In addition to the above core undergraduate units, individual Schools, with the approval of the Vice Chancellor and the Trustees, may substitute special units which reflect particular needs or circumstances on individual campuses or in a specific course. For example, special units relating to Aboriginal spirituality, culture and reconciliation are offered in the Broome Campus only. For medical students and for law students, the compulsory ethics unit focuses on issues and questions especially relevant to these professions.

Further Information

The information contained in this publication is designed as a basic course description. If you would like further information regarding the courses or information pertaining to admissions, fees or the University itself, please consult the University Prospectus.