Why Bachelor of Arts?
Language helps us understand the world – and find our place in it.
Aboriginal languages in Australia carry culture, memory and identity. In the context of colonisation, they are powerful pathways for justice, healing and pride.
By studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Kaurna Languages, you can be part of a living, growing movement to bring Kaurna language back to everyday life.
Learn from respected Aboriginal academics with deep knowledge and lived experience. Be part of the University’s important mission to maintain, reclaim and revive local languages. Build the skills to raise the consciousness of your community and empower future generations.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Arts is designed to help you think critically, succeed professionally and adapt to a changing future.
The Kaurna Languages major centres Aboriginal knowledge systems within linguistic study. You’ll learn directly from Kaurna and other Aboriginal scholars, community leaders and language advocates.
You’ll explore how language is tied to cultural practices, stories, land and history. Analyse how different languages build and interpret meaning. Learn how to explain ideas clearly across cultures and settings. Study the history of colonisation, resistance and renewal.
You’ll graduate with valuable cultural insight, communication and critical thinking skills. You’ll be equipped for impactful roles in education, government, media, research, cultural institutions and community organisations.
Key features
Learn how to speak, understand, read and write in Kaurna. - Engage meaningfully with Aboriginal knowledges.
- Experience real-world learning through case studies and internships.
- Learn from leading Aboriginal educators with rich insight into language and culture.
- Attend guest lectures led by respected Aboriginal speakers.
- Help build a future where Kaurna language is alive and growing.
What you'll learn
Our Bachelor of Arts gives you room to shape your degree around what you care about, choosing subjects that match your interests and career plans. You’ll explore human rights and values. Grow your creative thinking. Learn what it means to be a global citizen. Get hands-on experience through an internship that matches your goals – and use it to work out where you want to go next.
The Kaurna Languages major is guided by Aboriginal leaders and researchers. You’ll learn from respected experts with strong community ties.
In your first year, you’ll establish foundational knowledge in Australian Indigenous languages and explore general linguistic concepts. You’ll take courses like:
- Australian Indigenous languages (Kaurna focus)
- Language, meaning and the self
- Meaning, context and inference.
In second year, you’ll build on this with more specialised knowledge of Aboriginal languages and language reclamation. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of linguistic structures as you study:
- Australian Indigenous languages
- Reclaiming languages: a Kaurna case study
- Architectures of meaning.
In third year, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to more advanced language studies. You’ll take courses like:
- Language documentation, maintenance and reclamation
- Linguistic ethnography.
Throughout your studies, you’ll explore how language influences personal identity and social belonging. Examine the link between language use and self-construction across different cultures. Reflect critically on your own language practices and identity formation.
Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Arts also lets you explore other passions. You can choose a minor, or another major, to compliment your Kaurna Languages pathway. Whether you want to pursue Politics, Philosophy or Environmental Management, you’ll have the flexibility to do so.
Majors
The Bachelor of Arts is also available with majors in the following:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Anthropology
- Archaeology and Classical Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Creative Writing
- English Literature
- Environmental Management
- French Studies
- Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Geography
- German Studies
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Population and Migration Studies
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish Studies.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 18 units for Core courses, and
- 96 units for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 18 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for all Electives
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units for all Major courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Australian Indigenous Languages (Level 2)
|
Course code
INDG2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reclaiming Languages: a Kaurna Case Study
|
Course code
INDG2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Meaning, Context and Inference
|
Course code
LING1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Language, Meaning and the Self
|
Course code
LING1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australian Indigenous Languages (Kaurna focus)
|
Course code
LING1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Architectures of Meaning
|
Course code
LING2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Linguistic Ethnography
|
Course code
LING2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Language Documentation, Reclamation & Maintenance
|
Course code
LING3014
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 1
|
Course code
SOCI1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units for one Major from Second major
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Studies
|
Course code
ABORBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Anthropology
|
Course code
ANTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Archaeology and Classical Studies
|
Course code
ARCYBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Art History and Visual Culture
|
Course code
ARTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Chinese Studies
|
Course code
CHINBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Writing
|
Course code
CREWBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Criminology and Criminal Justice
|
Course code
CRIMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Cultural Studies
|
Course code
CULTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
English Literature
|
Course code
ENGLBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Management
|
Course code
ENVMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
French Studies
|
Course code
FRENBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Gender and Sexuality Studies
|
Course code
GENDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Geography
|
Course code
GEOGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
German Studies
|
Course code
GERMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
History
|
Course code
HISTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Development
|
Course code
INTDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Security
|
Course code
INTSBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Italian Studies
|
Course code
ITALBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese Studies
|
Course code
JAPNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
|
Course code
LINGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy
|
Course code
PHILBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Politics
|
Course code
POLIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Population and Migration Studies
|
Course code
POPUBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Screen Studies
|
Course code
SCRNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Sociology
|
Course code
SOCIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Social Research and Policy Analysis
|
Course code
SOCRBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Spanish Studies
|
Course code
SPANBARTS
|
Units
48
|
Career outcomes
Language knowledge is useful for careers in teaching, writing, public service, tourism, linguistics and more. It strengthens your ability to collaborate across cultures, which is important in almost every job.
You might work alongside Aboriginal communities on language projects. You could advise government or educational bodies on cultural initiatives. Perhaps you’ll support research into language, identity and cultural continuity.
You could also be a:
- Language revitalisation officer
- Cultural liaison officer
- Community education officer
- Linguistics research assistant
- Language documentation specialist
- Museum education officer
- Cultural events manager
- Policy analyst.
Or, go on to complete your master’s in Linguistics or Aboriginal Studies.
Industry trends
Australia has committed to the international Indigenous Languages Decade (2022–2032), aiming to increase the number and strength of Aboriginal languages by 2031. Sustaining First Nations languages is also part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
In South Australia, the Kaurna language has seen significant revitalisation efforts, including the publication of a Kaurna dictionary, Kaurna Warrapiipa, and songbook, Yurikurringa Ngadluku Paltirna: Listen To Our Songs.
Adelaide University has also been involved in language reclamation with the Barngarla people of the Eyre Peninsula, leading the way in revitalising and giving new life to this sleeping language. These initiatives suggest growing support for careers in Aboriginal language revitalisation, especially in South Australia. This includes roles in linguistics, education, community engagement and policy development.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
