GSC4511

Reading regional history

David Schmitt

12 points - 2 hours per week (seminar) - Second semester - Gippsland - Prerequisites: First degree with a major in history-politics or related discipline(s)

Objectives On completion of this subject students should have a deeper appreciation of the theoretical and methodological issues associated with local and regional history, be able to apply this to an analysis of the region in Australian history and use this to produce regional history studies of a high standard.

Synopsis This subject begins by introducing the student to the theoretical and methodological issues associated with regional studies. The student is then encouraged to apply an appreciation of the general issues to a critical study of the various types of historical studies that approach Australian history from a regional or local perspective. The subject is divided into six topic areas each of two weeks duration: (1) theoretical and methodological considerations; (2) rural regions - regional history in the 1960s; (3) the colonies/states as regions; (4) urban, and urban-hinterland regions; (5) shire/municipal histories and Australia and supra-state regionalism; and (6) regional, thematic histories. The broad scope of the subject will enable students, wherever they are located, to make use of local or regional resources to develop a deeper appreciation of the skills and issues addressed.

Assessment One regional study (6000 words): 70% - Seminar papers (3000 words): 30%

Prescribed texts

Students will be supplied with the essential readings set for each of the topic areas.

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