Broome Campus Core Curriculum

The Broome Campus is a unique place to study and learn within the University of Notre Dame Australia.  Along with the key objective of the University as a whole, i.e., “provision of university education within a context of catholic faith and values”, the Broome Campus also aims to provide strong support for the process of reconciliation between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians.  We emphasize the value of all human persons and the importance of developing and maintaining an atmosphere of reconciliation. 

As a “Campus of Reconciliation”, the Core Curriculum on the Broome Campus has been specifically designed to reflect this unique nature context. As such, the Core Curriculum consists of theology, Aboriginal studies and the spirituality and challenge of reconciliation. It aims to provide a context of learning which aids in a greater understanding of the self while valuing the cultural context of the Kimberley and the rich Catholic tradition of the University. Students are challenged to consider the theological and spiritual foundations of the Christian faith in dialogue with the history, world view and political context of our time and particularly with the Aboriginal people of Australia

Core Unit Descriptions

TH101   Introduction to Theology
TH101 introduces students to the study of theology through an investigation of major biblical narratives from the Judeo-Christian tradition, significant moments in Christian history and the continuing influence of the Catholic Church today. This unit articulates the experience of God within human experience by exploring the broader questions of origin, meaning and value and how those questions can be addressed in a distinctively Christian manner. Key theological themes considered include: the nature of God, creation, evil, covenant, sin, suffering, martyrdom, resurrection and the Church. Engaging in a dialogue involving both faith and reason enables students to realise the impact of Christianity on every sphere of life from morality to politics, from literature to law, from science to business, and raises consciousness to an awareness of the Gospel which can inform their chosen future professional fields

TH112    Spirituality and the Challenges of Reconciliation

This unit is based on the principles of Catholic social teachings and focuses on the need to develop a spirituality that 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 unit will provide the opportunity to study the meaning of reconciliation theologically; to look at the situations nationally and globally where reconciliation is needed; and to reflect on the skills and strategies used by churches, organisations and individuals to ring about reconciliation in various conflict situations around the world. Special emphasis will be placed on the Australian scene.

AB100    Aboriginal People

This unit aims to promote, from a largely historical perspective, an understanding of the relationships of Aboriginal people with other members of the Australian community. It focuses on patterns of positive interaction, conflict and alienation between settler and Aboriginal communities. The unit provides the opportunity to explore Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perspectives on government policies from 1827 to the present. The focus on issues of Aboriginality, power and control will also link a number of contemporary West Australian issues to this history. The unit is consistently directed towards a critical understanding of the interaction between Aboriginal and mainstream Australian values and activities in historical and contemporary contexts.

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 ET100 Introduction to Ethics or PH100 Introduction to Philosophy for AB100 Aboriginal Studies or TH112 Spirituality and Challenges of Reconciliation. There is no substitution for TH101 Introduction to Theology permitted on any campus.

 

Notre Dame Core Curriculum