ATS2588 - Australian stories: People, place and histories - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Arts

Organisational Unit

History

Coordinator(s)

Mr Andrew Junor

Not offered in 2017

Synopsis

The unit investigates key themes in Australian history through a series of events and controversies that captured the public imagination in the past. Using a combination of digital, textual, visual and cinematic sources, students will explore case studies that cohere around the themes of crime and punishment, gender and sexuality, the environment, family, race relations, the economy and national sovereignty. Covering the earliest period of British rule up to the present day, the unit examines Australians' changing relationship to place, the consequences of profound shifts in population composition and economic structures, the influences of challenges to conceptions of rights and responsibilities, and the legacy of Australia's foundation as a settler colony. It will also consider how the events historians determine as significant have changed across time.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the unit students will be able to:

  1. become more effective and responsible global citizens by developing an understanding of the history of Australia and the legacy of its foundation as a settler colony in the Pacific region;
  2. develop cross-cultural competence by appreciating the distinctions between indigenous peoples and the different cultural groups that have migrated to Australia;
  3. identify the impact of key social, political, cultural and economic developments in Australian history through an independent research project;
  4. develop oral and written communication skills in constructing evidence-based arguments using a variety of primary and secondary sources and demonstrate an ability to reflect critically on what they have learnt.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.

Prohibitions

ATS3588