High-flyers embark on a stunning second act

A high-flying career in communications took Sylvia MacRitchie-Hook to London, San Francisco, and Sydney, but she has left the fast-track to follow her dreams.

The unique degree that lured her back to the classroom was ACU’s Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation), launched in partnership with the Ramsay Centre.

Centred on a 'great books' approach to the study of Western civilisation, the degree is the first of its kind in Australia. It is designed to give students a grounding in the literature, music, philosophy and works of art that have achieved the status of ‘classics' within the Western world.

“I’d been in the workforce for more than two decades, most recently in senior management positions in the Catholic sector, but previously in publishing, law, and education,” Sylvia said.

“My first degree in French literature shaped my interest in writing and I went on to complete a postgraduate degree in communication management, but I still longed to return to the arts. 

“When I saw that ACU had a great books program with an interdisciplinary approach, I was won over. The breadth of literary works we’re exploring is exciting – there’s such richness in this program.

“It really is unique in Australia and is only offered at ACU. This program aims to champion Western civilisation without defending historical injustices, but rather with intellectual honesty and a desire to recognise the value of Western thought for the past three millennia.”

Sylvia is planning to pursue a career change after graduating from the master’s degree.

“I’m hoping to share my newly developed skills and knowledge in cultural heritage preservation, museums or galleries or cultural tourism. I’m also interested in returning to publishing,” she said.

“I hope to encourage a more inclusive and dynamic vision of western civilisation in the contemporary world – its complex historical legacy, capacity for self-examination and positive impact.” 

Building skills in research 

Briony Ranasinghe also found the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) an irresistible drawcard – uprooting her life in Sri Lanka and moving to Australia as an international postgraduate student.

Sylvia MacRitchie-Hook and Briony Ranasinghe 

After completing a degree in Greek and Roman studies at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, Briony worked as a researcher at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Sri Lanka, a policy think tank.

She wanted to build her skills in research and writing and prepare for a career in academia.

“I wanted to explore how ancient languages like Latin can be used to study social justice,” she said.

“The ACU course stood out because it focused on lots of different things – not just history and languages but the great works of literature in the Western canon. 

“For me, the highlights have been the variety of material that we are studying and the open discussions and exchange of ideas in the classroom – it’s exposed me to a completely different way of thinking.”

The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation will fund up to 10 scholarships each year in the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation), worth up to $48,000 over one-and-a-half years.

Ramsay Centre Academic Director Professor Diana Glenn said the degree was the first master’s level course the centre had supported in Australia; part of a deliberate strategy to expand the reach of the Centre’s popular Western civilisation courses to a broader audience.

“We wanted to ensure that Australians already in established careers and in the workforce could also access this remarkable education,” Professor Glenn said.

“ACU’s exceptional curriculum encourages students to take a deep dive into fundamental and universal questions that have exercised the human mind and spirit for millennia. The course is already attracting professionals in the workforce who are drawn to the prospect of a stimulating engagement with the interdisciplinary readings on offer.”

Learn more about studying a Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation).