Offered By	ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Academic Contact	Dr Gemma Betros
Areas of Interest	History

Historians seek to understand human societies by studying their changes over time.  History can illuminate everything from individual lives to the dynamics of social conflict or the relationship between humanity and its environment. 

The School of History offers a wide range of courses.  Some focus on Australia, Europe or North America. Some trace themes such as empire, terrorism or war.  Some courses explore the historical significance of gender, race, technology or the environment. Others analyse theories that underlie all historical analysis. Students can also incorporate Ancient and Asian History in a History major.

History courses count towards many majors, including: Australian Studies; American Studies; European Studies; Gender, Sexuality and Culture; Indigenous Studies and International Relations.

Studying History gives you valuable skills in research, analysis and writing.  Our students pursue careers in a wide range of fields including public policy and administration, academia, journalism, management, museums, politics and teaching.

Prerequisites

For all later-year courses forming part of a History major the prerequisites are any two first-year History courses (12 units).  These include all courses with HIST1xxxx codes, EURO1004, ANCH1013 and ANCH1014.   

Requirements

Apart from Faculty requirements there is no limit on the number of History courses that may be included in the pass degree course.

A History major consists of a minimum of 42 units, made up of a maximum of twelve units in first-year History courses, with a minimum of 30 units in later-year courses offered or approved for the major.

Alternatively the History pass major may consist of 42 units from later-year courses offered or approved for the major where the first-year History courses are counted as part of another major or where exemption from the first-year History courses has been granted by the convenor. At least 30 units must be in History courses taught in the School of History. Courses that are jointly taught will count as History courses if they are listed as such.

Students may include in the History major, up to a maximum of 12 units, courses from the list of designated courses.

Warning: Students should note that although courses from other Faculties are included in this major, they are not classified as "Arts" courses and you may not be able to include them in your degree. 

For students enrolled in a single BA the Program Rules allow for a maximum of 48 units (8 courses) out-of-faculty. 

For BA students enrolled in a combined degree, enrolment is restricted to Arts courses only, therefore you may not include out-of-faculty courses. 

For a list of courses that are approved to count as "Arts" courses in the BA please see the Bachelor of Arts Course Listing at the end of the College of Arts & Social Sciences entry in the Undergraduate Handbook or see the Undergraduate Courses offered by the ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences. 

Assessment

In all History courses students will be required to submit written work by the due dates, attend lectures, attend tutorial classes and present prescribed tutorial exercises. Tutorial attendance is compulsory even if specific marks are not allotted for tutorial participation, and students who miss more than three tutorials in any semester in any particular History course may be excluded from assessment in that course. Students are expected to possess prescribed text-books and course readings and will be expected to use them in tutorials and, in some instances, in examinations.

Methods of assessment will be discussed with students early in each semester. A student's final grade in a course will usually take into account some or all of the following elements: essays and other exercises undertaken in the course; contributions to tutorials; a final examination or, alternatively, a synoptic essay. In first-year courses the final examination is compulsory; in later-year courses there is normally a choice between a final examination and a synoptic essay.

For information on Honours in History click here.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.