Head of department: Professor Bill Kent
Coordinator of graduate studies: Professor David Chandler
Inquiries should be directed in the first instance to the administrative officer, Ms Val Campbell, room 508.
Members of staff and their fields of special interest
The Department of History can provide supervision of research in the following areas, but this list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive. Staff members' interests range widely, and students who wish to work on topics not covered below can possibly be accommodated. Dissertation topics may be discussed by interview with the head of department or graduate studies coordinator.
Bain Attwood Aboriginal history; the history of sexuality.
David Chandler Southeast Asian history, and in particular the political and intellectual history of nineteenth and twentieth-century Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. United States diplomatic history since World War II; US involvement in Indo-China. French political history 1940-1944: collaboration, attentisme, resistance.
Ian Copland British Imperial history: in particular the history of indirect rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; modern Indian history.
Ian Cummins Nineteenth and twentieth century Russian and Soviet history, in particular the national question in Tsarist Russia and the USSR; Marxism and nationalism. Note: In normal circumstances, students wishing to write a dissertation in Russian history should have, or be willing to acquire, some working knowledge of Russian.
David Cuthbert World War II; British social history, politics and foreign policy since 1914; in particular, aspects of Britain's involvement in World War II.
Graeme Davison Australian urban and social history; the history of sociology in Britain and the United States; heritage and public history.
David Dunstan Australian urban, political, cutural and social history: heritage and public history; Melbourne and Victorian regional history; history of the Australian wine industry.
David Garrioch European urban history, 1600-1900; social and cultural history of eighteenth- century France; French Revolution.
Michael Godley Sino-Southeast Asian relations: in particular, the overseas Chinese; Chinese history; comparative topics in Asian history.
Margaret Hamersley Nineteenth and twentieth- century British and British Empire history, especially Britain, Australia and `Dominion status' 1901-1914; Britain and the first Australian Navigation Act 1902-13.
Eleanor Hancock German history in the nineteenth and twentieth century, particularly the interwar period and national socialism; fascism in Britain; aspects of World War I and II.
Bill Kent Italian Renaissance social and cultural history; Florence in the time of Lorenzo de' Medici.
Bruce Knox Nineteenth-century British history: political and administrative; British Empire and colonies.
Margaret Lindley Socialism, utopianism, history of ideas, women's history, the USSR, twentieth- century European history, resistance and rebellion, Australian history.
Ian Mabbett Traditional Asian culture; precolonial history of India and Southeast Asia, especially anything connected with Indian religions; the `Indianised' culture of Southeast Asia.
Andrew Markus Australian political and social history from 1850 to the present, particularly `racial' and ethnic relations. History of racial thought.
Constant Mews Cultural, religious and intellectual history of Europe, fourth to thirteenth century; social and political change in twelfth-century France.
Ian Mylchreest Intellectual, cultural and legal history of the United States.
Jan Penney Australian environmental history; local history; Aboriginal history; tourism; heritage studies and public history fields.
John Rickard Australian political, social and cultural history from 1880 to the present day; biography.
Tony Wood Nineteenth and twentieth-century US history, in particular the Old South, slavery, anti-slavery, and the Civil War; the foreign relations of the USA; American social history, in particular the history of women and Afro-Americans; also New Zealand during World War I.
Doctor of Philosophy
The degree of PhD in history is taken by the submission of a major thesis (the normal length is 60-90000 words), on a topic approved by the head of the department, at the end of a period of supervised study and research. Candidates for this degree must have obtained a Master of Arts in history, or first or second class honours division A in the final examination of a history honours course at BA level.
The PhD normally may take up to five years full-time or a period not exceeding eight years for part-time study.
Master of Arts in history
The degree of Master of Arts in history may be taken in either of two ways: by research or by coursework and thesis.
Master of Arts by research
Entry requirements
A candidate wishing to undertake the research degree must, except in special circumstances, hold the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts with at least second class honours in history or the equivalent.
1. By submission of a thesis, 40-60000 words in length, on an approved research topic. The work for this will be supervised and pursued over such period as faculty regulations permit: normally up to three years full-time, and a period not exceeding five years for part-time study.
2. Candidates can also undertake the research MA by combining a thesis (66 per cent, 25-35,000 words) with two eight-point fifth-year level subjects.
Master Of Arts by coursework and thesis
The degree is offered as Part I (forty-eight points) full-time one year, part-time normally two years; and Part II (forty-eight points) full-time one year, part-time normally two years.
This degree will enable students to study techniques of historical examination of sources: critical appraisal of evidence, particularly documentary evidence, is undertaken. The coursework is designed to broaden knowledge of a number of fields of history and their associated methodological techniques.
Entry to Part I
Persons holding the pass degree of BA with results at least at credit level (preferably higher) in the third part of a major sequence in history or the equivalent. Such candidates are required to complete both Part I and Part II, taken over two years full-time work or (normally) four years part-time.
Entry to Part II
Persons holding the degree of BA with honours in history or (with the approval of the head of department) in a related discipline, or the equivalent, may enter directly into Part II and complete the degree in one year (full-time) or normally two years (part-time). Holders of the Graduate Diploma of Arts (History) with at least credit grades may also apply to undertake the degree, entering at Part II.
The course
Core subjects
Work for the degree is organised in two parts. Part I requires completion of a core subject, HYM4010 (Making histories) plus three approved twelve-point subjects (or a combination of eight and twelve-point units totalling forty-eight points, including HYM4010). If HSY3010/3020/4010 (Making histories) was completed as part of the BA degree, one of the following subjects becomes the core subject (for subject details see numerical listing below):
* HYM4870 Social theory and social history
* HYM4920 Using the past: three traditions
plus three other twelve-point subjects selected from subjects offered at fourth-year level in 1995 (for subject details see numerical listing below):
* HYM4050 Special subject: the Deakin circle (or other approved first-semester special subjects offered in 1995 - contact the department for details)
* HYM4060 Special subject: contours of racial thought (or other approved second-semester special subjects offered in 1995 - contact the department for details)
* HYM4110 Aboriginal history 1788-1988
* HYM4410 Issues in public history I: the heritage industry
* HYM4420 Issues in public history II: presenting the past
* HYM4830 The making of modern Paris 1760-1860
* HYM4900 Biography and the historian's craft
* ECO4540 History of the economy and environment
* ENM4340 Australian autobiography
* RLM4010.08 The search for enlightenment
* RLM4090 The authority of the text: the hermeneutical question
* RLM4810 The history of popular Christianity from the beginning to the Enlightenment
Part II of the MA by coursework and thesis comprises two approved eight-point subjects to be selected from the following subjects offered at fifth-year level, and a 66 per cent thesis of 25-35,000 words (thirty-two points) (for subject details see numerical listing below):
* HYM5000 Issues in public history I: the heritage industry
* HYM5001 Issues in public history II: presenting the past
* HYM5030 The Australian ethnic experience
* HYM5110 Aboriginal history 1788-1988
* *HYM 5160 The history of Australian popular culture
* HYM5210 `Being American': the construction of national identity
* HYM5940 Advanced topics in biography and history
* RLM5010.08 The search for enlightenment
* RLM5090 The authority of the text: the hermeneutical question
* RLM5810 The history of popular Christianity from the beginning to the Enlightenment
Under special circumstances and with the permission of the head of the department students may undertake Part II of the Master of Arts in history by completing a twelve-point (9000 words) research project (HYM5001) and three twelve-point coursework subjects. Details of this option are available from the department.
Master of Arts in public history
This course is designed to equip historians and related professionals to practise in the emerging fields of historic conservation, environmental history, social history museums, local history, oral history, public policy, publishing, radio, television and film. The focus of the course is primarily Australian, although reference is also made to overseas literature and experience. The emphasis is upon the acquisition of critical perspectives and practical skills.
Entry requirements
Students may enter the course either after the completion of a BA honours degree or after completion of Part I of an MA by coursework comprising relevant subjects in history, visual arts, geography, English, Australian studies or other approved subjects. Graduates in fields other than history may enter the course but, depending on the nature of their previous studies, may be required to take additional units in history before proceeding to Part II of the course.
MA in public history Part I
Forty-eight points of approved subjects selected from the following offerings (for subject details see numerical listing below):
* AUS4010 Society, culture and the study of Australia
* AUS4030 Australian ethnic experience
* AUS4060 Sources and methods (in Australian studies)
* AUS4080 Intellectual life in nineteenth-century Melbourne
* ECO4540 History of economy and environment
* HYM4010 Making histories
* HYM4050 Special subjects in history (first semester)
* HYM4060 Special subjects in history (second semester)
* HYM4110 Aboriginal history
* HYM4160 Australian popular culture
* HYM4210 `Being American'
* HYM4410 Issues in public history I: the heritage industry
* HYM4420 Issues in public history II: presenting the past
* HYM4870 Social theory and social history
* HYM4940 Advanced topics in biography
* MCM4000 Museums and exhibiting institutions
* MCM4001 Material culture: theory and practice
* MCM4002 Australian folk culture: a multicultural perspective
MA in public history Part II
A total of forty-eight points accrued in one of two options (students must elect to take one or the other and cannot change in midstream).
Option one
Thirty-two points of coursework in approved and mandatory subjects, including HYM5000 (Issues in public history I), HYM5010 (Issues in public history II) and HYM5020 (Methods in public history) (twelve points) (only available in the MA in public history), plus a research project worth sixteen points (10-12,000 words).
Option two
HYM5020 (Methods in public history) (twelve points), plus a 75% research thesis (thirty-six points), (35-40,000 words).
Both the public history research project in option one and the research thesis in option two have the unusual requirement that they must be commissioned by a public agency. Students are introduced to potential commissioning agencies and invited to negotiate a study brief with their chosen agency. Some examples of commissioning agencies are the Australian Heritage Commission, the Museum of Victoria, The Ministry for Planning and Housing, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The National Trust of Australia (Victoria), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, local councils, churches, and various business and community groups.
Graduate Diploma of Arts (History)
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold the degree of BA, preferably with a major sequence in history. The head of department, however, may admit a candidate with a degree in a related discipline. Where possible, applicants will be interviewed before being admitted to the diploma course.
This diploma may be of particular value to teachers of history, but it is available to any qualified person interested in pursuing study in history at postgraduate level.
The program will consist of a specially constructed course of study relevant to the previous experience and future requirements of individual candidates, each of whom will be consulted as to its design. Subjects will comprise a total of forty-eight points, at least thirty-six of which must be completed in the Department of History. The remaining twelve points may be taken, subject to the approval of the head of department, in another appropriate discipline. The diploma would be taken in one year (full-time) or normally two years (part-time).
Course of study
Candidates will normally be enrolled in four twelve-point semester subjects chosen from courses offered by the department under the HYD code (for subject details see numerical listings below). In appropriate cases, candidates may replace one semester subject with a research project (HYD4990) of twelve points.
Core subject is HYD4010 (Making histories); if already completed in the BA degree, one of the following subjects becomes the core subject:
* HYD4870 Social theory and social history
* HYD4920 Using the past: three traditions
plus three approved subjects chosen from the following group:
* HYD4830 The making of modern Paris 1760-1860
* HYD4900 Biography and the historian's craft
* HYD4050/4070 Fourth-year special subjects in history (first semester)
* HYD4060/4080 Fourth-year special subjects in history (second semester)
Full details of special subject units are provided in the fourth-year handbook available from the History department office.
With permission of the department, fourth-year level subjects from other departments may be taken.
Transfer to Master of Arts in history by coursework and thesis
Holders of the Graduate Diploma of Arts (History) with credit results or above in all subjects may apply to enter the Master of Arts by coursework and thesis, Part II. Note, however, that admission is not guaranteed.
Transfer to Master of Arts by thesis only
A holder of the Graduate Diploma of Arts (History) who wishes to be accepted as a candidate for the masters by research only, would need to have achieved at least a distinction average in his/her diploma course, and to have included a substantial research project in that course.