Indigenous cultures and histories - 2019

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, and develop skills in constructing critical arguments and analysing topics in terms of their historical and contemporary contexts.

Indigenous cultures and histories units will allow students to develop a sound knowledge of key issues in Indigenous societies, including the ongoing relationship between Indigenous and settler Australians and Indigenous relationships to each other and to the land and sea. Students will examine points of contestation and how these have shaped the position of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in contemporary society. The Indigenous cultures and histories major is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary area focusing on studies in anthropology, archaeology and history. It complements many other study areas including geography, history, politics, linguistics, environmental science, sociology, women's and gender studies, art history and theory, anthropology, archaeology and history. 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:

• Indigenous-controlled organisations (e.g. land councils and Native Title organisations)
• museums, galleries, archives, libraries
• cultural heritage management
• national and state parks, (e.g. rangers and managers)
• organisations advocating for Indigenous and human rights
• teaching, research and academia (with additional qualifications)
• the private sector (eg, advisory role to tourism or mining industries)
• the not-for-profit sector (eg, AusAID, International Red Cross or similar organisations)
• policy (eg, public service and government agencies)

Availability

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

Outcomes

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

• understand the diversity of Indigenous Australia, colonialism, decolonisation 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