Bachelor of Arts

Subjects on offer

Subject descriptions

ABT15 Aborigines, History and Colonialism

Develop an understanding of Aboriginal histories and the effects of colonisation. The unit presents you with contemporary sources and evidence describing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal encounters. You will also examine the diversity of contacts, conflicts and responses in Aboriginal history since 1788 and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perspectives on Australian Aboriginal history.

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AUS11 Australian Studies: Images of Australia 1A

This unit introduces some of the fundamental questions in the study of Australian history, politics and culture. You will consider and analyse the concepts of 'nation' and 'national identity'. The unit provides you with an opportunity to explore some of the major ideas and debates about the nature and meaning of 'Australia' and 'Australian national identity' over the last 100 years. It encourages you to investigate why and how particular ideas and images of the nation and national identity came to be so powerful at different times, and asks students to consider how and why those ideas and images changed over time.

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AUS12 Australian Studies: Images of Australia 1B

Build on the issues explored in AUS11 by providing students with an opportunity to examine in greater depth some of the major ideas and debates about the nature and meaning of 'Australia' and 'Australian national identity' that have emerged in the last two decades. Through analysis of these debates, you will extend your academic skills developed in AUS11 to include the skills of critical analysis and evaluation of arguments. In particular, AUS12 investigates the extent to which debates among the intelligentsia (academics, intellectuals, journalists) and politicians play a key role in constructing ideas about the nation.

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AUS21 Australian Studies: Debates in Australian History

Explore some of the key debates and themes in Australian history through the examination and review of selected case studies. Topics addressed in this unit include the reasons for European settlement, the character of the convicts and the nature of historical research. The unit aims to instill in you a sensitivity to issues of history research and writing and an awareness of different approaches to the knowledge claims of history. For example, might it be said, that knowledge about the past is political and reflects deeply-held cultural assumptions about gender or race

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CCJ14 Introduction to Human Behaviour

Explore the activities of the various fields within psychology including development, personality, memory, abnormal and social psychology. You will examine how each of these fields contributes to the science of human behaviour as a whole. The unit also provides you with a working knowledge of the primary theoretical approaches in psychology. You will explore behavioural, cognitive, humanistic and psychoanalytic approaches and learn how each can be used to explain human behaviour.

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CHI11 Child Development: A Time to Grow 1A

Learn about the physical, social, emotional, perceptual, cognitive and communicative development of children - particularly their early development. Through your study, you will explore the ethics, procedures and techniques used in the observation and analysis of children's behaviour. You will also become equipped for a more detailed and applied study of the development, care and education of children.

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CHI12 Child Development: A Time to Grow 1B

This unit continues from CHI11 and investigates child development with a focus on preschoolers, middle childhood and adolescence. You will address physical, social, emotional, perceptual, cognitive and communicative development. This unit also equips you for more detailed and applied study of the development, care and education of children and adolescents.

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NET12 The Internet: A Socio-technological Introduction

This unit explores the broad impact, changes and effects of the internet and analysis as a social technology. This journey through cyberspace examines the social, cultural, economic and political aspect of the internet and its application. In essence, in this unit you will cover what the internet is and what it does.

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NET24 The Internet - Virtual Communities

Explore the meaning of community by examining the role of the internet in providing opportunities for virtual communities. Review the focus on 'community' within the internet industry and explore the professional interaction of networked technology, to form skills in becoming leaders and organisers of communities, partnerships and teams within the virtual realm.

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NET26 The Internet: Cyberanalytics

Consider the intersection of internet technologies with established social and cultural analysis. This unit explores the most appropriate methods for internet-based primary research. You will develop skills in research design, online surveying, focus groups and web traffic analysis, in the context of ethical practices of research.

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NET35 The Internet - Network Culture and the Virtual Society

Engage in the issues presented by an increasingly digital, interconnected and virtual world due to technologies such as the internet. You will select one of a number of topics and study it in detail. These topics include: Virtual ethics; Network infrastructures and economies; The evolution and meaning of cyberspace; Virtual collectivity; The intersections of so-called old and new media formations and The re-invention of time, space and the body through networked information communications technology.

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LCS14 Culture and Society: Introduction to Cultural Studies

Gain an introduction into the field of cultural studies. In Block 1, you are introduced to language, text and identity. In Block 2, you learn how culture is formed by/or within a social context. In Block 3, you explore culture and society, understanding and analysing the relationship between culture, government and social regulation. The unit finishes by examining some of the main contemporary issues and debates in cultural policy.

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PAC30 Terrorism: Its Causes and Consequences

This unit is divided into three modules. The first module presents an overview of the history of terrorism and highlights the difficulties in arriving at a consensus about an effective definition of the term. It also evaluates the causes of terrorism. The unit also examines the strategies and various objectives of a number of organisations that have been labeled terrorist. The third module describes a number of the impacts of terrorism for global security and the international political economy. The ethics of terrorist approaches will also be discussed.

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VIS18 Introduction to Visual Culture

Explore the major philosophical ideas that have influenced the production of visual images from pre-history until the present within a Western tradition. You will discover the inter-relationships that exist between philosophers, writers and visual artists to make connections between the economic, social, political and cultural dimensions of human existence. The rich fabric of artistic expression articulates many histories. Included in this unit are introductions to non-Western art such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Islamic cultures.

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VIS19 Issues in Contemporary Art

This unit provides you with an introduction to the major theoretical issues of contemporary art with a strong emphasis given to contemporary practice. Theories of seeing and of cultural production are examined and illustrated through examples of contemporary art practices.

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REL11 Religion Studies: The Long Search

This unit introduces you to a number of significant religions including: Hinduism; Islam; Buddhism; Christianity; Judaism and Australian Aboriginal beliefs. Your study will lead you to explore and evaluate the resulting themes of power and modernity in relation to these fascinating religions.

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REL12 Religion Studies: Myth, Ritual and the Sacred

Delve into to the phenomena of religion. Your studies in this unit will include: The Sacred; Ritual; Myth; Beliefs; Religious experience; Sacred texts; Symbols; Sacred places; Religious specialists and Interpretation of religious phenomena. You will also have an opportunity to discover what constitutes religion and how to identify the elements that are typical of religious phenomena.

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REL15 Buddhist Studies 1

Explore the Buddhist tradition and its development. Your studies in this unit will encourage you to review the development of Buddhism through Asian history, focusing on its responses to local cultural, political and economic conditions. The philosophical and practical applications of Buddhist doctrines will then be examined, concluding with a study of Buddhism in the modern world and discussion of the implications for the future. Study for the unit is mainly through guided readings and writing academic essays. The development of skills in the critical analysis of source materials is central to assessment of the academic essays that form the assignments for the unit.

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REL22 Buddhist Studies 2

Further your studies of Buddhist traditions started in REL15 Buddhist Studies 1. This unit explores the context within which Buddhist meditation developed and the role of meditation in contemporary Buddhism. You begin by studying the role of meditation in the Buddha's life and then explore aspects of Mahayana traditions in Asia. The unit reviews modern Western involvement in Buddhist meditation traditions. Study is mainly through guided readings and writing academic essays. The development of skills in the critical analysis of source materials is central to assessment of the academic essays that form the assignments for the unit.

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SCI13 Foundations of Science: Life and the Universe

The primary purpose of this unit is to facilitate your transition into university study by helping develop a range of skills that will enable you to not only survive but prosper at tertiary study. These skills are developed through consideration of the challenges of the Space Age in which our destiny is to step beyond the Earth and make other planets fit for human habitation. This is the concept of terraforming, the modification of planets, and is explored from its birth in science fiction to its application within our solar system from both scientific and ethical perspectives.

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SCI17 Cultural Perspectives on Science and Technology

This unit explores different approaches to understanding the role of science and technology. It examines why the 'objective' natural scientific methodology has come to dominate research and how using different cultural frameworks will lead us to have different views of the relationship between science, technology and society.

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SGY110 Australian and Global Society

Commence your studies of society by learning about the sociological framework and establish skills for life. You will be introduced to many of the ways in which sociologists think about the most intimate aspects of life - such as sexuality, the family and gender - as well as to larger and often impersonal structural features, such as social class, the labour market and social policy. You will also have the opportunity to use social research techniques such as interviews and observation in the real world, as well as to uncover the secrets often hidden in other sources of information and data.

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SGY120 Introduction to Popular Culture and Society

Broaden your understanding of the key concepts, topics and debates with popular culture. Popular culture refers to cultural forms such as watching television and eating fast food. Popular culture is a valuable source of information about social life and how we live it, it tells us a great deal about a society and how it changes over time. The unit introduces you to a range of sociological concepts and invites you to consider how these concepts help us understand everyday life and how we experience it. Case studies in popular culture will be studied in-depth.

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SGY14 Social Sciences in Australia

Develop your awareness of social science theory, with emphasis on the critical analysis of established theories that explain human experience. Through your studies, you will develop skills in social science methodologies. This unit builds theoretical debates concerning social inequalities based on class, gender, race and ethnic differences at the local, national and global levels. It uses such understandings to explain Australian society and the ways in which theory impacts on social life and the implementation of public policy.

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SGY220 Power, Difference and Recognition

In liberal democratic societies, we have become used to defending and celebrating the idea of our difference as individuals and as groups. This unit explores some of the practical and conceptual difficulties that currently face a defence of the right to difference. Is tolerance of a difference that is not understood, but simply endured, enough Through your studies, you will explore these broad themes to look at a range of contemporary problems and issues. How do we interpret and respond to the problems facing multiculturalism in Australia, the task of reconciliation, as well as relations to power and difference on the global stage.

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PAC13 China in Transformation 1900-49

Survey China's socio-political history from 1900 to 1949, with attention also on the decades preceding 1900. The unit will focus on the various aspects of change and modernisation in China, in the first half of the twentieth century. Special reference will be made to the recurrent themes in Chinese history, the problems facing successive Chinese governments and the limits to China's efforts in trying to solve these problems before 1949.

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PAC23 China in Transformation 1900-49

Survey China's socio-political history from 1900 to 1949, with attention also on the decades preceding 1900. The unit will focus on the various aspects of change and modernisation in China, in the first half of the twentieth century. Special reference will be made to the recurrent themes in Chinese history, the problems facing successive Chinese governments and the limits to China's efforts in trying to solve these problems before 1949.

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PHI110 Philosophy, Morality and Society

The first focus of this unit is 'Morality and the good life', which reflects on the nature of happiness, giving particular reference to Aristotle and later ancient philosophers. In the second section, you will focus on 'Morality and Objectivity'. What is the status of moral principles Does morality depend on religion Is morality relative to cultures and societies The third section of the unit, 'Morality, Justice and Rights', considers Kant and the universality of reason, utilitarianism and animal rights, justice, immigration and refugees.

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PHI120 Critical Thinking

Examine the fundamentals of critical thinking and reasoning. You will learn how to construct, analyse and critically evaluate arguments, and how to think both logically and creatively. You will focus on the practical techniques and skills used in the construction and analysis of arguments and develop a theoretical understanding of different types of reasoning. These skills will be applied throughout the unit to arguments from a range of areas such as business, law, science, politics, philosophy and articles from newspapers and journals. The critical thinking skills you develop in the unit will provide an invaluable foundation for your later studies.

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PHI130 Mind, Meaning and Metaphysics

Delve into the big philosophical questions about human nature, mind and body and the meaning of life. The unit begins with the philosophers of Ancient Greece. It then turns to conceptions of the mind and personal identity, concepts that emerged at the dawn of the modern period but are still prevalent today. The third section of the unit presents an introduction to key thinkers of the twentieth century including Freud, Heidegger, Sartre and de Beauvoir.

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PHI210 Practical Ethics

Focus on philosophical debates concerning contemporary social and ethical issues, such as euthanasia, abortion, surrogacy, genetic testing, cloning, free speech, censorship and environmental ethics. The discussion of these topics is structured around key philosophical concepts including: The boundaries of life and death; Notions of harm; Conceptions of autonomy and freedom; The body and the person and Discrimination. Although there are scientific, technological, legal, political and religious dimensions to these issues, this unit will highlight the philosophical aspect and provide a critical comparison of a number of different philosophical approaches to them.

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PHI220 Body and Mind

Explore the fascinating relationship between the body and the mind. Part 1 of this unit examines the nature of mental states, surveying philosophical theories about the kinds of things mental states might be. Part 2 focuses on intentionality. You will consider whether intentionality can be naturalised and examine the intentional states known as propositional attitudes. The unit will also guide you to consider whether mental states can be causally affected. Part 3 focuses on consciousness, examining various concepts of consciousness and arguments attempting to show that consciousness cannot be accounted for within a materialist view of the world. Finally, you will consider the relationship between consciousness and intentionality.

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PHI230 Business and Professional Ethics

Explore the ethical issues raised in business. This unit examines the activities of the business and corporate sphere in relation to the societies and environments within which they operate. You will also explore ethical issues in relation to individuals employed within corporations. The unit is divided into two main sections: business ethics and professional ethics. This subject matter will be of particular interest and relevance to students studying areas such as accounting and business, as well as to students with an interest in philosophy.

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PHI310 Philosophy and Cognitive Science

Explore the philosophical foundations of cognitive science and investigate the most serious challenges to its program. As part of this unit, you will examine the nature of consciousness and the self. Can subjectivity and qualitative experience be explained in objective terms Can our consciousness be split or disunified What happens when you divide the brain in half The unit looks at a range of delusions and psychopathology. The unit then introduces the idea of mental representation, the Theory of Mind, as well as connectionist and dynamical approaches.

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PHI350 Philosophy and Cinema

Explore the philosophy of film and what philosophy has to say about cinema. Can a camera movement or narrative twist be a form of thought This unit explores these questions across a range of philosophical writings dealing with the ontological, phenomenological, hermeneutic and aesthetic aspects of the cinematic experience. Rather than treating cinema as an illustration of various theories, you will examine the ways in which cinema as a medium itself raises philosophical problems, explores philosophical themes in visual and narrative terms and has philosophical implications for understanding modern culture.

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PHI320 Theories of Justice

Explore some of the central questions of contemporary political philosophy. What is a just society What principles should govern the basic structure of society What powers can the state legitimately exercise over its citizens Are inequalities of power justified How should scarce resources be distributed among members of society Can contemporary theories of justice address the injustices faced by women, ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples As part of your study, you will evaluate the answers presented by six major schools of contemporary political thought: Utilitarianism; Liberalism; Libertarianism; Marxism; Communitarianism and Feminism.

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PLT110 Introduction to Australian Politics

Gain an insight into the key political institutions in Australia such as: The Constitution; Federalism; The High Court; Governments; Public service; Political parties; Pressure groups; Mass media and the electoral system. You will then examine some of the highly contested concepts of political analysis for example, democracy, power and representation. In the age of globalisation, are the powers of the nation-state relevant This unit will assist you in reading critically, thinking clearly and writing persuasively, by researching and the application of skills.

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PLT120 Introduction to Global Politics

Engage in the intriguing discipline of international relations (IR). Through your study, you will analyse key historical developments since World War II and the dominant IR theories that have shaped the world in which we live. The unit encourages you to examine critically the central concepts of international relations. For instance, what are meant by the terms anarchy, power, sovereignty and globalisation The unit will also address contemporary international issues, such as the question of human rights, the 'war on terror' and environmental and economic sustainability.

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PLT210 Contemporary Australian Politics

Explore the traditions, departures and continuities in recent Australian political life. Over the past three decades, Australian political life has been transformed. This unit discusses state policy, divisions between the main political parties and modes of political participation in relation to economic, social and cultural change. Part One outlines the traditions of Australian politics. Part Two explores how those traditions have been challenged. Part Three studies how Australian political institutions have responded to such challenges. The unit emphasises the value of historical explanation, with particular attention on the role of language in political life.

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PLT370 Australian Public Policy

This unit surveys the literature of policy studies and policy analysis and examines the complex processes of policy making within governmental and other organisations. Questions are raised about the state in contemporary society and the distribution of power in the unfolding stages of policy development, implementation and evaluation. The course draws on analytical literature from a variety of sources, but its empirical content is supported throughout mainly by Australian examples. Knowledge of the institutions of Australian government is important for the unit.

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POL30 The Politics of Inequality

Examine the role of politics in maintaining, reproducing and combating inequality in Australian society. Through your study, you will review the following cases in detail: Politics of the poor; Politics of wage protection; Conflicts between Aborigines and mining companies over land; The nature of inequality and the evolution of political struggles over the entitlements of citizens, with a particular focus on Australia.

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PSY11 Psychology 1A

Together with PSY12 Psychology 1B, this unit provides you with an introduction to the scientific discipline of psychology. Collectively these units offer an equivalent coverage to other first year university units in psychology. Topics to be covered in PSY11 include biological bases of behaviour, human development, learning, sensation and perception.

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PSY12 Psychology 1B

This unit continues the introduction to the scientific discipline of psychology begun in PSY11 Introduction to Psychology 1A. You will examine research and design methods, personality psychology, social psychology and abnormal psychology. PSY12 extends the coverage of research methods and laboratory work in psychology, and introduces further statistical topics. You will undertake research using standard methodology.

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PSY130 Organisational Behaviour

The major objectives of this unit are to introduce you to the key concepts, research techniques and findings in the study of organisational behaviour. The unit will also explore current organisational behaviour issues in the workplace, looking at ways in which theory and research are applied to increase individual and organisational effectiveness. The unit aims to foster the development of a critical and creative approach to the application of organisational behaviour knowledge to the workplace and integrate this into mainstream business analysis.

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PSY210 Developmental Psychology

Gain an overview of cognitive, social, emotional and personality development across the lifespan. This unit surveys changes across the lifespan that are normative or common to most people, as well as developmental changes that differentiate individuals from one another. Aspects of problematic or abnormal development will also be addressed. The unit aims to foster a critical appraisal of contemporary theory and research in development. Applications to current social issues and clinical problems will be reviewed.

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PSY230 Introduction to Theories of Counselling

This unit provides a theoretical introduction to counselling psychology. In the profession of counselling, theory, process and research are intertwined. The unit content, readings and online activities will give you the opportunity to begin to develop your knowledge of the application of counselling theory to the therapeutic process. Major therapeutic approaches will be covered including, psychoanalytic, existential, person-centered, behavioural, cognitive behaviour, family and solution-focused therapy, as well as coverage of the research and ethical issues involved in counselling.

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GEN11 Gender, History and Culture

Delve into how everyday life and social practices organise gender. You will focus on family life and the private sphere as places where gender identities are produced. You will look at television and photography to examine how gender is culturally constructed and transmitted from one generation to the next. You will also investigate how meanings change to accommodate wider social changes. The unit examines various discourses of everyday life, images and narratives, practices such as watching television, taking photographs, making family albums and institutions.

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GEN14 Defining Women: Social Institutions and Cultural Diversity

Learn about the experiences of women and the debates within gender studies. The first part of the unit Equality and Social Institutions, analyses womens experience in work and politics and examines legal reforms dealing with equal opportunity and representation. The second part, Recognising, Remembering and Responding Through Diversity, explores the different histories and cultures of women from around the globe, particularly indigenous women in Australia. It examines womens health, women from non-English speaking backgrounds, maternity as a cross-cultural issue, and sexualities in families.

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GPH11 Introduction to Human Geography

Explore the fascinating field of human geography, particularly the phenomenon of social and technological change. This unit forms an excellent base if you are considering study in the environment, arts, social sciences or sciences. You will address specific topics including: The scales of modern society; Population geography; Economic geography; Cultural geography; Settlement geography; Technology; and Geographical change.

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EDU110 Education: The Psychological Context

Gain an introduction to educational psychology, a field that seeks to explain developmental and psychological factors relating to the teaching and learning process. The unit presents foundational aspects of: Cognitive language, personal, social and emotional development; Social and cultural influences; School-based factors; The motivation of students and the role of gender in education. The unit also explores classroom management techniques, the use of ICT in classrooms, students with special needs, assessment and reporting, and reflective teaching practice.

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EDU120 Education: The Social and Historical Context

Explore the socio-cultural history of Australian education. The unit explains the ways that education has influenced Australian society and the manner in which Australian society has effected education and teaching. This unit examines each era of education in Australia from the 1780s to present, with focus on the participants and the material taught. As you progress in chronological order, modern theory will be examined. You will explore issues such as the welfare state, citizenship, social class, multiculturalism, inclusion and identity in relation to education. This unit will also examine education markets, higher education, vocational education, image and representation, and cultural issues.

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ENG110 Introduction to English

Embark on a journey into the breadth and richness of English literature. You will cover a wide range of topics including: Narrative structure and technique; Form and genre; Love and war; Cultural paradigm shift; Literature and the screen; Literature and Gender. This unit forms the basis for a more advanced study of English literature.

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ENG210 Creative Writing 1

Gain a practical introduction to a range of processes and techniques used in creative writing. Through writing exercises and online workshops with both the tutor and others, you will explore a number of different approaches to creative writing. You will develop a range of skills relevant to different types of creative writing and are encouraged to reflect on your own writing as a method of developing skills and approaches useful for future writing. Workload includes writing and interactive online workshopping of other students work.

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ENG211 Literature and Culture: Representations of the Medieval

Examine the interrelationships between texts and the cultures of which they form a part. You will explore how ideas about the middle ages, both learned and popular, have developed from the first use of the term by historians in the Renaissance to representations in films of the present day. Themes covered will include the Gothic Horror Story; Victorian medievalism and the arts and crafts movement; Modern retellings of the Arthurian saga; and contemporary medieval detective fiction. You will study a range of literary and non-literary texts in the broad context of cultural history.

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ENG315 Contemporary Australian Children's Literature

Explore the relationships between Australias changing culture and society and the literature that society produces for its children. You will focus on the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, and will explore the representation of issues such as: Maturation; Relationships of self to place; Structures of power and authority in society; and The quest for reconciliation between Indigenous Australians and white settler Australian cultures. These issues will be examined in fiction, picture book and film.

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ABS28 Post Contact Indigenous History

Explore the changes in Aboriginal societies from 1788 until the 1960s. You will explore the changes in traditional cultures and the effects of these changes on the transitional cultures of aboriginal communities, with particular reference to local indigenous communities. You will develop your researching techniques with written and oral sources and presenting research in essay form.

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ABS36 Social Justice and Legal Issues

Develop your understanding of both a local and international human rights and social justice. Through your studies, you will identify and discuss the impact of the human rights movement upon social and legislative change and analyse the responses of service providers, community organisations and institutions and community educators to social and legislative change.

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ABT12 Knowledge, Ideology and Social Science

Explore the development of Western knowledge structures such as modernity and the philosophical and ideological assumptions underlying science. You will consider the role of natural systems, gender and cultural practices within these knowledge structures. You will cover topics such as: Construction and use of knowledge; History of Western thought - the social, economic and political context; The emergence of a scientific world view; The development of the social sciences and The impact of Western knowledge systems on Australia in the early years of colonisation.

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ABT13 Aboriginal Cultures

Gain an insight into to the diversity and richness of Aboriginal cultures. You will explore topics such as: The Dreaming; Indigenous Australian social systems; Land and boundaries; Social groups; Kinship; Economic organisation; Political systems; Spiritual construct; Art forms; Concepts of culture and Ethnocentrism and race.

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ABT23 Archaeology and Aboriginal Studies

Examine the nature of archaeology and its contributions to an understanding of Aboriginal cultures in Australia and the history of the relationship between the discipline and Aboriginal communities. Topics covered include: Nature of archaeology; Introduction to human evolution; The evolution of culture; Archaeological perspectives on human occupation in Australia; Regional case studies; Relationships between Aboriginal communities and archaeology; Cultural heritage and Legislation.

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ABT24 Rights and Racism

Gain a theoretical and historical context for understanding Australian racism and race relations. The unit aims to develop your understanding of Aboriginal/white relations to incorporate other racial, ethnic, class and gender divisions. Topics studied include: Theories and concepts of racism; Discourse on race; The intersections between racism, class and gender; The politics of representation and difference; Debates surrounding native title and Indigenous rights; History of racism in colonial and contemporary Australia.

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ABT31 Comparative Indigenous Studies

Explore the impact of European colonialism on the Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand and the United States. You will be presented with strategies used by these Indigenous peoples to respond to the impact of colonialism and the nature of contemporary Indigenous political struggles in the three countries. Topics include: Approaches to comparative studies; Pre-invasion cultures; Colonialism; Cultural hegemony and ideological reproduction; Diversity of social situations; Racism; Resistance and contra-acculturative movements; Land rights and treaties; Social-economic situations; and Contemporary political movements.

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ABT32 Australian Ethnographies

This unit provides you with the opportunity to examine a wide range of ethnographic texts that represent Indigenous Australians in different historical periods and across different regions. Students will learn to locate these texts within their social and historical contexts as well as within the changing theoretical paradigms that have influenced the discipline of Aboriginal studies. As part of your studies, you will also develop skills in critically evaluating ethnographic texts in contexts that are relevant to professional practice.

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ANT110 Drugs Across Cultures

Learn about the production, exchange and consumption of drugs in non-Western and Western societies with special reference to their cultural meanings and social functions. Through your study you will explore the international taffic of opium/heroin and cocaine in the Golden Triangle of South East Asia and South America. You will also consider the way trafficking intermeshes with regional politics and local tribal, peasant and commercial systems of production and exchange. The unit will discuss the social history of drugs in the West including issues such as addiction and treatment, drugs and the law, hallucinogens and shamanism relating to religious experience and anthropological studies of drinking in Australia.

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CMM18 News and Politics

Challenge yourself by reading news and current affairs in a critical fashion. You will combine the development of practical news writing skills with an overview of Australian political and media institutions. You will examine newswriting style, news and politics and the media as the fourth estate. The unit also covers Australian political institutions, the Constitution and citizenship, Cabinet, parliament and parties, the states and local government, the judiciary; pressure groups, lobbying and elections. You are expected to be aware of current affairs on a daily basis.

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CLT110 Text, Image, Culture

Explore cultural studies - the study of the stories we tell, the products we make, the information we communicate, as well as the various ways we talk, dress, perform and interact. Throughout the unit, you will develop critical skills and will become aware of the important role that cultural studies can play in the making and re-making of daily life, both on a personal and global level. Cultural studies keeps alive the academic tradition of analysis. It challenges many assumptions about culture, politics, subjectivity and sociality.

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HST110 The Making of Australia

Learn about the arrival of European settlers in Australia. You will examine the destruction of Aboriginal Australia. Then explore the new society, the transformation of the invisible baggage of eighteenth century Britain and the beginnings of Australian nationalism. The unit will examine the dominance of materialism in the early years of settlement, society, migration and the end of the convict era. Finally, you will study the impact of the discovery of gold, which brought with it riches, poverty and the middle classes.

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HST120 The World Since 1945: An Australian Perspective

Survey the chief world developments influencing Australian history from the end of World War II to the present. Your study will also include some key themes in European history over this period. These include post-war reconstruction, the Cold War, the coming of a consumer society, migration, European integration and the resurgence of nationalism. You will explore the history of the United States in its period of peak world power, the politics of the Cold War era, key American cultural developments, radical developments in the United States and Europe, the end of the Cold War and the origins of the war against terror. Finally, focus turns to East Asia, investigating the emergence and development of the two pace-setting model societies, China and Japan.

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HST130 The Fall of the Roman Republic

Examine Roman history from the Roman Revolution in 168 B.C. until the emergence of Augustus as Romes First Man. You will examine the effect upon Roman institutions of Romes domination of the Mediterranean and investigate the rise of political instability and violence which led to civil war and the establishment of military autocracy. Particular attention will be paid to the changing expression of leadership qualities in Rome, the ideology of Romes political class and evolving moral tradition.

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HST140 Myth in the Ancient World

Gain an understanding of Greek, Roman, and Near-Eastern society and culture through the study of myth. You will begin with the earliest creation myths, examining the development of myth in literature and art. The unit is largely based upon Greek and Latin texts in translation as well as the representation of myth in art. Near-Eastern and biblical texts will also be studied. The unit focuses on the relevance of key themes in myth to the cultures in which the myths arose, investigating their roles in the religious, political and social life of the classical world.

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HST210 Women in Australian History

Learn the unique history of womens experience in Australia. You will examine continuities and changes for women, beginning with the differences between convict women and the construction and realities of the lives of free women and girls. The unit then explores the agency of women in the twentieth century including their role in wartime and the subsequent explosion of second wave feminism. Throughout the unit, you will examine the diversities of Australian women and the ways in which class, sexuality, race and ethnicity impacted and interacted with gender.

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HST220 War and Peace in World History

Examine warfare and confl ict between human beings. Wars have been fought in the name of national freedom, religious crusade and political justice. This unit explores ways in which war is the arena in which national and imperial memory is forged. You will study nine global settings, including: The early west; Ancient China and India: Empire; Imperial and frontier wars in Australasia; The American Civil War; The Great War of 1914-18; World War II; Post-colonial wars of Algeria and India and Greenham Common (UK).

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HST225 Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age

Alexander the Greats extraordinary conquests towards the end of the fourth century BC opened up vast areas of the ancient Near East to Greek influences. This unit deals with the cultural history of the eastern Mediterranean area, beginning with Alexanders invasion of the Persian Empire. It follows the fortunes of his successors in the third and second centuries BC, treating the Hellenisationof native peoples and reactions to cultural change, down to and including the early first century AD and the emergence of the Roman Empire.

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HST240 The Roman Eastern Frontier

This unit is unique in the world - addressing the third and fourth centuries AD of the ancient Roman Empire. It focusses on modern Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Southern Turkey, Iraq and Iran covering a time frame of AD 226-363. A significant focus will be Rome's eastern defences against major Persian attacks and a survey of the literary and archaeological evidence. The unit covers the influence of commerce and the spread of religions, especially Christianity and Manichaeism in the frontier regions. Major cities (Dura Europos, Palmyra and Edessa) will also be studied. This unit provides background and insight into the Middle East today.

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HST250 Pagans, Jews and Christians

When Tertullian posed the famous question What has Athens to do with Jerusalem he was highlighting the tensions in the early to mid-Roman empire over the Roman state's reaction to the advent of Christianity. This unit will explore two areas relevant to this controversy: what did Greeks and Romans make of Judaism and why did Jews and Christians come into conflict with Roman society.

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HST255 From Constantine to Justinian: Church and State in Late Antiquity

The age of Constantine was a watershed in European and Near Eastern History; this unit traces developments in politics, religion and literature from the fourth to the mid-sixth centuries in the Eastern and Western Empires. Major themes include historiography, church/state relations and the investigation of a variety of source categories for this period.

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HST330 The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in the West

Learn about a key period of western history, the late fourth to the late sixth centuries AD known as the Fall of Rome. This period represents the transition from the ancient to the medieval period and provides a basis for many European historical conceptions. You will focus on the dynamics of imperial rule, the collapse of the Roman frontier system, the so-called barbarian invasions and religious disputes associated with the consolidation of Christianity. You will explore these issues through documents written at the time that include political speeches and holy biographies.

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HST320 Australian History Since 1901

Delve into the social, political, economic and cultural practices of Australia across the twentieth century. You will explore the foundations of the Australian identity and analyse manifest social changes. Australian history will also be considered through various categories of analysis, including class, race, ethnicity and gender. Issues covered in detail include: Federation; ANZAC; The Depression; The stolen generations; World War II and The Americanisation of Australia; The Cold War; The Vietnam War; Whitlam and the Dismissal; Womens Liberation; The Hawke-Keating Period; and Multiculturalism.

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HST310 Twentieth Century Europe

Explore key issues of European social, cultural, political, economic and military development from 1914 - 45. You will examine consumerism, the Cold War, migration, integration and decolonisation in the post-war era. Was it an age of catastrophe, an increasingly barbaric age or an age when modernity went wrong You will explore the violence of two world wars, the Russian and Spanish civil wars, political polarisation and instability, ideological conflict, the Great Depression and the horrors of the Holocaust. The post-war themes suggest there is more to the European twentieth century than a straight forward story of ideological struggle.

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LGL210 Communications and Citizenship: Law and Policy

Examine the historical relationship between the legal regulation of communications (speech, print, and electronic media) and citizenship. The origins of citizenship are considered as ancient as Greek, and Israelite tribes, Christian communities, ancient Rome and the urban citizenship of medieval towns. You will focus on modern day issues such as: State regulation of communications; Licensing; Taxation regimes and Legal doctrines. You will investigate and define sedition, libel, defamation, copyright and the impact upon citizenship of the administrative regulation of communication seen in anti-pornography and local content rules.

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LGL110 The Common Law Tradition

Delve into the Common Law tradition, by exploring the Greek, Judaic, Roman and Christian experiences. You will examine: The legacy of the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Danish customary societies; The imposition of Norman legal order; The common law in royal courts from the 12th century and Equity and the transition to the law of the Tudor and Stuart monarchies. You will examine the impacts from destruction of custom and the growth of trade, commerce and industry from the 17th century. The historical role of religion in law is explored as well as the long struggle between church and state.

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LST210 The English Language

Develop your written communication, starting with words and sentences and then moving to producing total tasks. You will examine expression, clarity, readability and style of text. You will study: Selecting material; Summarising its main points; Planning a structure; Controlling information in a thematic discussion; Constructing and maintaining an argument; Topical focus; Modifying style for particular audiences; and Form and function. The unit introduces a number of linguistic approaches to text analysis but does not assume prior knowledge of linguistics.

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Digital Life

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