Description

The Pacific Studies major employs an interdisciplinary framework to explore important historical and contemporary issues in Oceania, and to critically examine the ways in which knowledge about the region, and the region itself, have been framed, constructed and represented. The major provides students with a deep understanding of the cultural, social, geographic and political diversity of Oceania, and the richness of perspectives on it, with a particular focus on indigenous epistemologies and voices. Australia’s historical and contemporary engagements with Oceania are critically examined from a range of vantage points. Students also engage with scholarly and policy debates of critical contemporary concern in the region, including those around gender, climate change, globalization, the arts, development, and peace, conflict and intervention. The enormous linguistic diversity of Oceania is reflected in the core courses of the major, all of which are infused with indigenous voices and languages. Electives provide students with opportunities to further explore the Pacific through the disciplinary lenses of archaeology, anthropology, political science, literature and philosophy

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a Bachelor degree with a major in Pacific Studies, graduates will be able to:

• Speak and write about theories, factual content and research approaches relevant to Pacific Studies.

• Identify relevant regional and international literature relevant to the Pacific Studies.

• Determine the processes through which current knowledge about Pacific Studies has been developed.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of perspectives on indigenours, popular, policy and scholarly debates in Oceania.

Course Lists

The course lists in the "Requirements" section below is a definitive list and includes all courses that can be counted towards the major, whether or not they are offered in the current year. For a list of courses that will be offered in the current year, please see the Summary of Courses page.

Requirements

This Pacific Studies major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:

6 units from the completion of the following course:

PASI1010/2010 Talking the Pacific (6 units)

6 units from the completion of courses from the following list:

ASIA1025             Individual & Society in Asia and the Pacific A (6 units)

ASIA1030             Individual & Society in Asia and the Pacific B (6 units)

12 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

PASI2001             Learning Oceania: an Introduction to Pacific Studies (6 units)

PASI2002             Pacific Encounters (6 units)

A maximum of 24 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH2005           The Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders (6 units)

ARCH3019           Topics in Pacific Archaeology (6 units)

ASIA3006             Practical Assignment in Asia & the Pacific (6 units)

ASIA3013             Readings in Asian Societies & Histories B* (6 units)

FREN2022            French Literature and The Pacific (6 units)

FREN2026            New Caledonia: Field Work and Research (6 units)

PASI2003             Environment, Conflict and Development in the Western Pacific (6 units)

PASI2020             An introduction to Languages of the Pacific (6 units)

PASI3001             The Contemporary Pacific: Society, Politics and Development (6 units)

PASI3006             Navigating the Pacific: Mapping the study and research resources (6 units)

PASI2006             War in the Islands (6 units)

POLS2055            Pacific Politics (6 units)

* This must be done on a relevant Pacific Studies topic

Study Options

Students may take up to two courses outside of this list with advanced permission from the Undergraduate Convenor, provided the courses contribute to the major’s learning outcomes. The College of Asia & the Pacific encourages students to consider applying to take a Vice Chancellor’s undergraduate course (VCUG) as part of this major. 

Please Note: To see the pre-2012 rules for this major, students can navigate to the 2011 version of Study@.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.