Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
+ to have undergraduate students understand how to `think historically', that is how to equip themselves technically and methodologically to understand, and in some cases to practise, the discipline of history;
+ to have students acquire a good general knowledge of several (preferably different) periods and areas of history, and of how different societies function and change.
Such understanding requires them to be able not only to criticise but also to construct for themselves an historical argument and, more generally, to undertake an analysis of a problem, issue or period in the past. Students are led, from first-year tutorials onwards, to deal with source criticism (the close reading and evaluation of primary documentary sources), the activity which has been the bedrock of historical method since the discipline emerged in the early sixteenth-century humanist scholarship of western Europe. Such source criticism, properly understood, instead of encouraging students to believe that `facts are facts' and that there is an `objective' historical truth, rather leads them to approach sceptically all data, historical or otherwise. It also encourages them to read between (and behind) the lines of a text, and to be aware of how different ideas and values are not only in competition in a given period, and between cultures, but how they change radically over time and place.
While `method', in this sense, is quite self-consciously integrated with the learning of `content' throughout the history degree at Monash, third-year students are offered the subject `Making histories', which explicitly examines recent trends in historiography and in `new knowledges' in the humanities. Our department (unlike history departments at some other universities) still encourages senior undergraduates to take such a subject. Satisfactory performance in this subject is a requirement for all fourth-year honours students, who are also asked to take at least one other methodological subject.
Teaching in the department includes lectures and small discussion groups, which encourage habits of inquiry and debate. The writing of exercises and essays reinforces this training, and teaches reflective, analytical and rhetorical skills which are both specific to the discipline and more generic to an arts degree. Oral presentation is also an important element.
Although the department does not insist that students take a compulsory core subject or subjects, it encourages them to include in their history degree subjects devoted both to Australian history and to the history of other places and cultures, and to themes such as sexuality, religious history, world history, historical methodology, women's history, and so on. Since the department deliberately offers a broad spectrum of subjects, students have (and use) the opportunity so to expose themselves to the histories of diverse cultures and themes, all of them informed by the methodological concerns mentioned earlier.
As well, history is and should be responsive to the wider community's interest in, and demand for, historical expertise and understanding. Hence this department offers a well-known public history program, and makes many other contributions to the community through teaching and research.
The Department of History expects certain skills, attitudes and knowledge of students at different stages of their degree. The student with a minor in history should have imbibed a firm sense of how historians think and argue and on what methodological basis. The students will have studied several different periods of history and various historical themes. A major in history will have a more advanced and self-conscious understanding of the methodological and epistemological bases of the subject, and a wider knowledge of a number of historical fields and themes. The student will have begun to practise writing history as well as studying it, because third-year students must undertake intensive research, based on documentary sources. Fourth-year honours students undertake research of their own choice, using primary sources, and complete a thesis of between 12,000 and 15,000 words. The thesis is expected to be original and to have applied a sophisticated understanding of methodological and historiographical questions to the research undertaken.
+ Medieval and Renaissance history studies one of the most formative periods of Western civilisation.
+ Contemporary Europe examines the historical roots of present-day Europe.
+ Asian civilisations looks at major themes in the history of Australia's regional neighbours.
+ Australia: immigrant nation and People, place and power provide historical insight into the immigrant experience, the shaping of national identity and other issues of significance in contemporary Australian society.
+ World War II: the rise of fascism and the crushing of the Axis looks at the global conflict in both its European and Pacific theatres.
Students are advised to follow a sequence of related subjects, although it is possible to combine them in other ways. All first-year subjects aim to develop not only a grasp of particular topics, but also an understanding of the methods and aim of the historical discipline.
No previous study of history is required for any first-year subject. In all subjects attendance at tutorials is compulsory and repeated absence without good reason may result in the student being failed. Attendance at lectures is strongly encouraged, but is not compulsory.
+ HSY1010/1020 Medieval and Renaissance Europe
+ HSY1030/1040 Australia: immigrant nation and contemporary Australian history
+ HSY1050/1060 Asian civilisations
+ HSY1070/1080 Contemporary Europe
+ HSY1150/1160 World War II
Students may construct a major sequence in history by selecting subjects spread across the fields of Asian, European, Australian and American history or by following a more specialised sequence based upon a particular subject, field or theme. Some examples of courses constructed within particular fields are:
First Second Third
year year year
Asian
First HSY1050 HSY2120 HSY3500
semester plus
HSY3010
or
HSY3020
Second HSY1060 HSY2190 HSY3680
semester
Australian
First HSY1030 HSY2780 HSY3260
semester plus
HSY3010
or
HSY3020
Second HSY1040 HSY2850 HSY3260
semester
Modern
European
First HSY1070 HSY2270 HSY3530
semester plus
HSY3010
or
HSY3020
Second HSY1080 HSY2280 HSY3540
semester
Some
examples
of majors
constructed
to follow
certain
themes are:
Cultural/so
cial
history
First HSY1010 HSY2090 HSY3840
semester plus
HSY3010
or
HSY3020
Second HSY1020 HSY2100 HSY3630
semester
Contemporar
y history
First HSY1150 HSY2240 HSY3120
semester plus
HSY3010
or
HSY3020
Second HSY1160 HSY2360 HSY3680
semester
These
combinations are suggestions only; students are advised to seek further
information from Department of History course advisers during enrolment.
+ HSY1070 Contemporary Europe I
+ HSY1080 Contemporary Europe II
+ HSY1030 Australia: immigrant nation
+ HSY1040 People, place and power: everyday life in Australian history
+ HSY1150 World War II: the rise of fascism
+ HSY1160 World War II: the crushing of the Axis
plus a first-year politics sequence
plus two other first-year sequences
+ HSY2360 Contemporary America: 1940-1992
+ HSY2370 Dissent in American society
+ HSY2270 The enlightenment and the origins of the French Revolution
+ HSY2280 Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
+ HSY2500 Faith, power and revolution: Islam in modern history
+ HSY2510 Germany 1815-1918: politics, ideas and society
+ HSY2520 Democracy and dictatorship: German history since 1918
+ HSY2120 Modern China
+ HSY2780 Imagining Australia's tomorrow
plus two second-year politics subjects
plus two other second-year subjects
plus two of the following at third-year level plus three third-year politics subjects:
+ HSY3360 Contemporary America 1940-1992
+ HSY3370 Dissent in American society
+ HSY3270 The Enlightenment and the origin of the French Revolution
+ HSY3280 Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
+ HSY3500 Faith, power and revolution: Islam in modern history
+ HSY3510 Germany 1815-1918: politics, ideas and society
+ HSY3520 Democracy and dictatorship: German history since 1918
+ HSY3120 Modern China
+ HSY3290 Twentieth-century Australia: nation and identity
+ HSY3780 Imagining Australia's tomorrow
plus three third-year politics subjects
Third-year students contemplating honours should take HSY3010 or 3020 (Making histories), a subject designed to link reflection on the purposes of history with the application of historical skills in the public domain.
In the honours year students normally take three coursework subjects, at least one of which must be a historiography subject, attend a general seminar, and present a written dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words. Full details are provided in a booklet, `Handbook for third-year students who intend taking fourth-year honours', which is available from the department.
Students may take certain subjects as part of a history major or minor sequence provided that a major sequence includes at least thirty-six points or a minor sequence at least sixteen points in subjects taught in the Department of History. The following subjects are available in 1996:
+ ARY1020 Origins of Western civilisation II: the Mediterranean world from 1000 BC to AD14
+ AHY1030 The age of Athens
+ AHY1040 Rome: from Etruscan satellite to world state
+ AHY2210/3210 From Republic to Empire
+ ARY2970/3970 The archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt: 6000-1500 BC
+ ARY2990/3990 The archaeology and history Ancient Egypt: 1550-30 BC
+ AHY3730 Orality and literacy
For details see the entry for Greek, Roman and Egyptian studies
+ ECO2510 Australian economic history
+ ECO2560 European economic history
+ ECO3570 The international economy since 1945
For details see the entry for economic history
+ EUR3430 European cultural history: the Spanish Civil War
+ HSY1010 Medieval Europe and HSY1020 Renaissance Europe or
+ HSY1030 Australia: immigrant nation and HSY1040 People, place and power: everyday life in Australian history or
+ HSY1050 Asian civilisations: an historical introduction and HSY1060 The transformation of Asia, c. 1800 to the present day or
+ HSY1070 Contemporary Europe I: origins and HSY1080 Contemporary Europe II: East and West
+ HSY1150 World War II: the rise of fascism and HSY1160 World War II: the crushing of the Axis
+ HSY1020 Renaissance Europe
+ HSY1030 Australian: immigrant nation
+ HSY1040 People, place and power: everyday life in Australian history
+ HSY1050 Asian civilisations: an historical introduction
+ HSY1060 The transformation of Asia, c. 1800 to the present day
+ HSY1070 Contemporary Europe: origins
+ HSY1080 Contemporary Europe: East and West
+ HSY1150 World War II: the rise of fascism
+ HSY1160 World War II: the crushing of the Axis
+ HSY2090 Britain in the age of revolution
+ HSY2100 The Victorian age: state and society in Britain before the Great War
+ HSY2120 Modern China
+ HSY2190 Unity in diversity: the emergence of modern Indonesia
+ HSY2240 Modern America: the American people and the United States, 1877-1960s
+ HSY2260 Australian Aboriginal history
+ HSY2270 The Enlightenment and the origins of the French Revolution
+ HSY2280 Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
+ HSY2300 Twentieth-century Australia: nation and identity
+ HSY2310 The British Empire and Australia, 1642-1852
+ HSY2340 Australia and the British Empire, 1852-1992
+ HSY2360 Contemporary America: the USA and the American people, 1940-1992
+ HSY2370 Dissent in American society
+ HSY2410 History of sexuality, 1800-present
+ HSY2420 Australian popular culture
+ HSY2470 The religious quest: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
+ HSY2480 The religious quest: Eastern faith and illumination
+ HSY2500 Faith, power and revolution: Islam in modern society
+ HSY2530 The decline of imperial Russia
+ HSY2540 Modern Russia: the rise and fall of Soviet power
+ HSY2550 Jewish civilisation before the modern era
+ HSY2560 Modern Jewish history
+ HSY2580 The Holocaust
+ HSY2590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict
+ HSY2600 Pursuing the millennium
+ HSY2630 Renaissance Florence
+ HSY2680 The struggle for freedom in India
+ HSY2710 The island world of Southeast Asia
+ HSY2720 Nationalism and revolution in Southeast Asia
+ HSY2780 Imagining Australia's tomorrow
+ HSY2840 European cultural history 1780-1920
+ HSY2850 The Australian city: contemporary problems in historical perspective
+ HSY2860 The Renaissance in Florence
It is required that students contemplating honours enrol in HSY3010/3020, which will prepare them for fourth-year study.
+ HSY3010 Making histories
+ HSY3020 Making histories
+ HSY3090 Britain in the age of revolutions
+ HSY3100 The Victorian age: state and society in Britain before the Great War
+ HSY3120 Modern China
+ HSY3240 Modern America: the American people and the United States, 1877-1960s
+ HSY3260 Australian Aboriginal history
+ HSY3270 The Enlightenment and the origins of the French Revolution
+ HSY3280 Revolutionary and Napoleonic France
+ HSY3300 Twentieth-century Australia: nation and identity
+ HSY3310 The British Empire and Australia, 1642-1852
+ HSY3340 Australia and the British Empire, 1852-1992
+ HSY3360 Contemporary America: the USA and the American people, 1940-1992
+ HSY3370 Dissent in American society
+ HSY3410 History of sexuality, 1800-present
+ HSY3470 The religious quest: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
+ HSY3480 The religious quest: Eastern faith and illumination
+ HSY3500 Faith, power and revolution: Islam in modern history
+ HSY3530 The decline of imperial Russia
+ HSY3540 Modern Russia: the rise and fall of Soviet power
+ HSY3550 Jewish civilisation before the modern era
+ HSY3560 Modern Jewish history
+ HSY3580 The Holocaust
+ HSY3590 Alexandria-Jerusalem-Rome: connections and conflict
+ HSY3600 Pursuing the millennium
+ HSY3630 Renaissance Florence
+ HSY3680 The struggle for freedom in India: dominance and resistance in colonial South Asia, 1858-1947
+ HSY3710 The island world of Southeast Asia
+ HSY3720 Nationalism and revolution in Southeast Asia
+ HSY3780 Imagining Australia's tomorrow
+ HSY3840 European cultural history, 1780-1920
+ HSY3850 The Australian city: contemporary problems in historical perspective
+ HSY3860 The Renaissance in Florence
+ HSY3870 Social theory and social history
+ HSY4050 Special subject
+ HSY4060 Special subject
+ HSY4070 Special subject
+ HSY4080 Special subject
+ HSY4870 Social theory and social history
+ HSY4900 Biography and the historian's craft
+ HSY4920 Using the past: three traditions
+ HSY4930 Reading and writing Australian history
+ HSY4970 General seminar
+ HSY4990 Dissertation
David Garrioch, room 610, telephone 9905 2175 or
Val Campbell, room 508, telephone 9905 2199.
Fourth-year coordinators: Barbara Caine, room 613, telephone 9905 2197 and Jane Drakard, room 621, telephone 9905 2174.
In fourth year, students follow a course of study approved by the heads of both departments.