Indonesian Studies
About the major
Indonesian Studies at the University of Sydney emphasises the importance of providing a rounded education, drawing on its extensive links with Indonesia and the Indonesian community in Australia. It produces graduates with strong language skills, transferrable academic skills, and substantial country knowledge.
The Department caters for undergraduates with a range of language backgrounds, including beginners, school leavers, and background speakers of Indonesian. Indonesian can be taken as a major in a variety of degree programs, or as elective for as little as one semester.
Undergraduates in a faculty other than the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who wish to do more Indonesian Studies Units of Study than their degree can accommodate can take the equivalent of a full major through the Diploma of Language Studies. The Diploma is also available to graduates of any university in any discipline.
Requirements for completion
A major in Indonesian Studies requires 48 credit points from the Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level culture units
(iv) 12 credit points of 3000-level language units
(v) 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project units
A minor in Indonesian Studies requires 36 credit points from the Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level culture units
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level language units
First year
If you are a beginning student, the two 1000-level language units introduce you to the basic structures of Indonesian language, enabling you to communicate effectively in Indonesian, and equipping you with general knowledge about Indonesian society. If you have completed HSC Indonesian or equivalent, the two 2000-level language units enable you to increase your language competence by introducing you to complex language structures and ways of analysing issues in contemporary Indonesian society using Indonesian language.
Second year
If you are from the beginners’ pathway, the two 2000-level language units enable you to increase your language competence by introducing you to complex language structures and ways of analysing issues in contemporary Indonesian society using Indonesian language. To work towards a major, you need to take a 2000-level culture unit this year. If you are from the post-HSC pathway, you enter the advanced level in your second year by taking two 3000-level language units. You also need to take a 3000-level culture unit this year to develop a major.
Third year
In the third year of Indonesian, students from the beginners’ pathway complete the major by taking two language units at 3000 level and one interdisciplinary unit. You strengthen your language skills by reading advanced-level materials and discussing them using complex language. Students from the post-HSC pathway complete the major by taking two advanced language units at 3000-level and one interdisciplinary unit. You consolidate your language skills by reading advanced-level materials and discussing complex issues in contemporary Indonesian society using developed language.
Honours
If you commenced your degree prior to 2018, admission to honours requires a major in Indonesian Studies with an average of 70% or above.
If you commenced your degree in 2018, admission to honours is via the Bachelor of Advanced Studies and requires the completion of a major in Indonesian Studies with an average of 70% or above. You will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Advanced Studies, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units and a second major, prior to commencing honours.
Students who do well in their pass degrees often choose to take an additional honours year.
During an honours year, you conduct in-depth research to produce an 18,000-20,000 word thesis written in English on a chosen topic, drawing on Indonesian and English language resources and primary research. An honours project may involve a fieldwork component, which greatly enhances the Honours experience.
Contact/further information
Department website: sydney.edu.au/arts/indonesian
Chair of Department: Dr Novi Djenar
Acting Chair, semester 1, 2018: Dr Dyah Pitaloka
Honours & Postgraduate Coordinator: Dr Dyah Pitaloka
Pathways through the major
The Introductory pathway will follow a 2-3-3 model = 2 language units at level 1000; 2 language units at level 2000 + 1 culture unit at level 2000; 2 language units at level 3000 + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
Year 1: INMS1101 + INMS1102
Year 2: INMS2601 + INMS2602 + 1 culture unit at level 2000
Year 3: INMS3601 + INMS3602 + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
Note: Students can take In Country units in place of the 2 language units and 1 culture unit at level 2000, and 1 language unit at level 3000)
The Intermediate pathway will follow a 0-2-6 model = 0 units at Level 1000; 2 language units at level 2000; 4 language units at level 3000 + 1 culture units at level 3000 + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
Year 1: INMS2601 + INMS2602
Year 2: INMS3601 + INMS3602 + 1 culture unit at level 3000
Year 3: Either INMS3607 or INMS3609 or INMS3611 + Either INMS3608 or INMS3610 or INMS3612 + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
(Note: Students can take In Country units in place of the 2 language units and 1 culture unit at level 2000 and 1 language unit at level 3000)
The Advanced pathway will follow a 0-8 model = 0 units at level 1000; 6 language units at level 3000; 1 culture unit at 3000 level + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
Year 1: Either INMS3607 or INMS3609 or INMS3611 + Either INMS3608 or INMS3610 or INMS3612
Year 2: Either INMS3607 or INMS3609 or INMS3611 + Either INMS3608 or INMS3610 or INMS3612 + 1 culture unit at level 3000
Year 3: Either INMS3607 or INMS3609 or INMS3611 + Either INMS3608 or INMS3610 or INMS3612 + FASS3999 Faculty Interdisciplinary Project unit
Note: Students can take In Country units in place of 3 language units and 1 culture unit at level 3000.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a high standard of oral and written skills in Indonesian language and the ability to communicate articulately and persuasively in a wide range of contexts.
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Indonesian societies and the ability to participate in scholarly discussions on issues of sociocultural, linguistic, political, and historical significance.
- Demonstrate the ability to defend sound arguments, based on knowledge of a range of approaches to understanding Indonesia.
- Respond to local and global issues by creatively applying their linguistic skills and country knowledge in new contexts.
- Through participation in collaborative work and research exercises on Indonesia-related topics demonstrate the capacity for making ethical judgements.
- Demonstrate information/digital literacy through an ability to locate relevant information for academic purposes.
- Effectively apply knowledge and approaches from Indonesian Studies to issues encountered in an interdisciplinary context.