Diploma in Modern Languages (Spanish)

Course 888SP (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010 - Parkville
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate
Course Overview:

Spanish
The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. The diploma consists of a three-year sequence of first, second and third year language study and adds one year to the duration of your degree course. You take language subjects concurrently with your degree subjects in an integrated sequence. The diploma will only be awarded on the completion of your degree course. Students who do not commence the Diploma concurrently with the first year of their degree studies may not be able to complete the Diploma at the same time as the degree. Students enrolled in the DML must complete the course before, or at the same time as their concurrent degree.

Students wishing to undertake an honours or postgraduate diploma program on completion of the DML (100 points) should note that they are required to complete the equivalent of a BA (course 105) language major (112.5 points) before being eligible for entry to a fourth year level program.

Diploma graduates with the equivalent of a BA language major must have completed a BA degree to be eligible to apply for the BA (Honours), otherwise they may apply to enter the postgraduate diploma.

Objectives:

At the completion of the Diploma, students should:

  • have acquired a mastery of both oral/aural and writing/reading skills comparable to that of a student majoring in a language discipline;

  • have gained a basic understanding of selected aspects of the culture (or cultures) and of the society (or societies) associated with the language.

Course Structure & Available Subjects:

The DML involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of a degree course.

The DML (Spanish) is offered in the Beginners and Intermediate streams. Spanish subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by the home faculty course adviser. The student may be required to sit a placement test. See Diploma in Modern Languages . To be eligible to take out the DML, students must complete at least 50 points of study towards the Diploma in subjects taught by the University of Melbourne.

Please note that students who do not achieve 60% or higher in Intermediate Spanish will not be able to continue with Spanish study and therefore will not be able to complete the Diploma in Modern Languages.

Students complete 100 points as follows:

Level 1 - 25 points (two compulsory subjects)
Level 2 - 37.50 points (two compulsory and one elective)
Level 3 - 37.50 points (two compulsory and one elective)

Subject Options:

Beginners Stream - First year

Stuents completing the Spanish DML beginners stream must complete the following subjects (25 points).
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Beginners Stream - Second year

Students completing the DML beginners stream must complete the following second year subjects (37.50 points).

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Beginners Stream - Third Year

Students in the Spanish DML must complete a third year elective as well the following subjects.
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Intermediate Stream - First Year

Students completing the DML in Intermediate Spanish stream must complete the following subjects (25 points).
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Intermediate Stream - Second Year

Students completing the DML in the Intermediate Spanish stream must complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

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Intermediate Stream - Third Year

Students completing the DML intermediate Spanish stream must complete two third year electives as well as the following subject.
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Spanish Third Year Electives

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Not offered in 2010
12.50
Entry Requirements:

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree course at the University of Melbourne. The DML must be completed alongside your degree studies and can only be awarded on the completion of your degree.

For continuing students, selection into the Diploma is based upon the weighted average of subjects across your entire course. For first-year students, eligibility is based on your ENTER score. The entry cut-off fluctuates from year-to-year. It is determined by the number of places available and the number of applications received.

For combined degree students and students from faculties other than arts, entry to the Diploma requires the approval of both the Faculty of Arts and the other faculty.

Core Participation Requirements:

The Diploma will be available to students with no prior knowledge of a language as well as to those who have completed several years of study (for instance, as part of the VCE).

Your stream enrolment depends on your previous language experience and is determined by the relevant School.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Further Study: The BA and BA (Honours) specialising in Spanish can lead to the completion of higher degrees such as masters and doctorates in Spanish at La Trobe University and at universities around the world.
Graduate Attributes: See course objectives
Generic Skills: Arts students are encouraged to pursue their academic interests and professional aspirations by taking a variety of subjects in a range of different areas of study. All arts subjects provide students with transferable generic skills that prepare them for further study and the workplace.

As a result of attendance at scheduled classes, participation in planned activities and discussion groups, and timely completion of essays and assignments, arts graduates should acquire transferable generic skills in the following areas:

  • research

    through competent use of the library, electronic databases, and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

  • critical thinking and analysis

    through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

  • thinking in theoretical terms

    through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

  • thinking creatively

    through essay writing, creative writing, tutorial discussions and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis;

  • understanding of social, ethical and cultural context

    through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

  • communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically

    through essay writing and tutorial and seminar discussion;

  • written communication

    through essay preparation and assignment writing;

  • public speaking

    through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

  • attention to detail

    through essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

  • time management and planning

    through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

  • teamwork

    through joint projects and group discussions.

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