Students with a first degree, an ongoing interest in Italian Studies, and a reading knowledge of the language, are invited to apply. Students who are undertaking advanced language courses through the Centre for Continuing Education, or a series of Study Days or a Study Tour through the CCE, are invited to discuss with the co-ordinator how these might be linked to the postgraduate coursework program. Entry to the program is for the July or the February Semester. Candidate may progress cumulatively from the Graduate Certificate to the Graduate Diploma then to the Master of Arts, or they may enrol from the beginning for the Master of Arts degree. They may enrol in one, two or three or four units per semester.
Supervision is arranged with the most appropriate staff member.
Progress of the Long Essay through the research phase to writing up is followed by the appointed supervisor in regular one to one meetings. Flexibility in time and place may be possible. An introduction to Italian sociolinguistics, and a study of the social and geographical variations of Italian. An examination of the sociolinguistic situation of Italian and its dialects in countries with high Italian migration, taking the Italo Australian context as a starting point. The focus is on structural changes that result from contact, on patterns of language use, and on speakers' attitudes.