Indigenous cultures and histories

This area of study enables students to understand the past and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples in Australia and internationally. Students will acquire a general knowledge of different aspects of Indigenous cultures and how these have undergone change and adaptation, constructing critical arguments and analysing topics studied in their historical and contemporary contexts.

Indigenous cultures and histories units develop a sound knowledge of key issues in Indigenous societies, including the ongoing relationship between Indigenous and settler Australians, points of contestation and how this has shaped the position of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in contemporary society, and understanding Indigenous relationships to each other and to the land. Studies in anthropology, Indigenous archaeology, art history and theory, geography, history, politics, linguistics, environmental science, sociology, and women's and gender studies complement studies in Indigenous cultures and histories. Students undertaking courses from other faculties, such as Law, Education, Science or Engineering will also benefit from including Indigenous cultures and histories in their studies.

Honours can be undertaken in Indigenous cultures and histories, and combined honours may also be taken with other disciplines provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the honours coordinators or heads of the relevant Schools.

As a graduate, you can look forward to many exciting career opportunities including in:

• policy (eg, public service and government agencies)
• the not-for-profit sector (eg, AusAID or similar organisations)
• teaching, research and academia (with additional qualifications)
• the private sector (eg, advisory role to tourism or mining industries)
• Aboriginal-controlled organisations (e.g. land councils and native title organisations).

Availability

Indigenous cultures and histories is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts and 0202 Bachelor of Letters at Clayton as a major or minor, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Clayton as a major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of your course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

• understand the diversity of Aboriginal Australia, colonialism, decolonialisation and social justice and critically examine constructions of Indigeneity and discourses of 'Aboriginalism' using sound theoretical concepts
• recognise and critically assess current intellectual traditions in Indigenous studies in national and international contexts and apply these traditions to real-world problems