Beyond textbooks
AT Monash University Malaysia’s School of Arts and Social Sciences ( SASS), students can pursue arts- related degrees and majors in communication, journalism, writing, psychology or international studies.
As future social scientists, students are required to engage in principled debates on current social and political issues in a fun and safe environment, monitored by experienced lecturers who are leaders in their respective fields of specialty.
Monash uses an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and draws theoretically from disciplines such as journalism, gender studies, sociology, history, literature and film studies, anthropology, political science and international studies.
Tay Siao Lin, who is currently pursuing her honours degree in the Bachelor of Communication, says, “I was really shy growing up, but being in Monash has helped me open up to people a lot more.
“My time at Monash has taught me to think more critically. It has expanded my intellectual horizons beyond what’s available in textbooks. Ever since starting my degree, my perspective on careers has also changed significantly. Although I was initially adamant on being a journalist, that changed.
“The exposure to various units, helped put me on the pathway to pursue a career in academia,” says Tay.
Learning about the world in the classroom alone is never enough, which is why study trips are essential.
“During my time at Monash, I was fortunate enough to travel on study trips to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. This provided me with the opportunity to study the different cultures and people.
“In addition, I was able to hone my creativity by producing content for radio documentaries and magazine articles,” says Helen Jambunathan, who graduated with honours in the Bachelor of Arts from Monash Malaysia and is currently a sessional tutor and research assistant with the School of Arts.
SASS students have the opportunity to participate in the Monash Abroad programme to either Monash’s South African campus or Australian campus for a semester.
The student exchange programme, on the other hand, allows students to study in any of the 150 partner universities in 30 countries around the world.
For more information, visit www. sass. monash. edu. my