The purpose of the Monash University Faculty of Arts is 'the pursuit, advancement and application of knowledge in the humanities, social and environmental sciences and creative and performing arts'. It offers degrees from undergraduate to PhD level. Entrance into the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts program is competitive, as it is the most popular Arts degree among university applicants in Victoria. History The Faculty of Arts was one of the foundation faculties of Monash University. In 1961, the faculty enrolled about 150 students out of a University total of about 360. Today, student enrolments number approximately 7,500. Initially, the Faculty consisted only of the Departments of English, History, Philosophy and Modern Languages (Politics was part of the Economics Faculty). During the 1960s and 70s, this expanded to include a range of new disciplines. Some of these, such as sociology and Indonesian, had never previously been taught in Australia. The Faculty's research and teaching became well known due to its depth in studies relating to Asia, which was unusual at the time for an Australian university. With the University's expansion in the 1990s, the Faculty developed a research and teaching presence overseas, in Malaysia, South Africa, and Italy. Location The home campus for the Faculty of Arts is Monash University Clayton Campus. However, the Faculty has a teaching and research presence at most of Monash's campuses, including Caulfield, Malaysia, South Africa, and Berwick. Notable alumni The Monash Faculty of Arts has produced a number of notable graduates who are currently leaders in their fields, including: Government, Politics and Law Bill Shorten - Federal Opposition Leader, Victorian President of the ALP, former National Secretary of the AWU, Daniel Andrews - Victorian Premier, Victorian Labor Leader Kevin Bell - Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, current President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) Jennifer Coate - Current Coroner of Victoria; first President of the Children's Court of Victoria Peter Costello - Longest-serving Treasurer of Australia Paul Grant - President of the Children's Court of Victoria Ian Gray - Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria Felicity Hampel - Prominent human rights lawyer, now Judge of the County Court of Victoria Alistair Harkness - Politician Gavin Jennings - Former Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Simon Molesworth AM QC - Chairman, Australian Council of National Trusts Brendan O'Connor - Australian Minister for Employment Participation Clare O'Neil - Youngest female Mayor