University of the Sunshine Coast

Bachelor of Arts (History)

For a major in History, students must successfully complete 8 courses:

What makes Australia? History of Australian popular culture: The twentieth century and beyond

This course is a history of popular culture in Australia over the 20th and 21st centuries. It deals with material culture, the spoken and performative culture, and expressions of culture in print. This introductory level course will introduce the skills and concepts that will be built upon in upper-level courses (i.e. finding, interpreting and utilizing primary and secondary sources, and building sound academic arguments).

Global Citizens: A History of Humanity

The history of humanity and our planet is a huge and fascinating topic. In this course, you will explore some key themes in global history including changing definitions and experiences of being human, the concept of time, and our changing knowledge about and relationships with our world and each other. This course starts with the creation of our planet 4.5 billion years ago, and ends with a snapshot of life at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Heritage: Australian and Global Contexts

This course explores heritage at global, national, state, and local levels, considering the history of the heritage movement, along with specific concepts and debates of continuing relevance today. Students will undertake historical and heritage research and analysis and will produce a report to Council on a proposed heritage precinct (Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning [Hons] students) or a proposal for a local heritage trail (all other students).

The uses and abuses of history

The past is present, everywhere: historians, politicians, museum curators, journalists, and internet commentators all provide different versions of it. Historical events are constantly remembered, celebrated, reimagined, trivialized, repressed, and forgotten. This influences communities' and individuals' values, identities, beliefs, and practices.

Explorations in Environmental History

This course explores the relationship between humans and nature by examining the interactions between natural, social, and political processes across time. The approach will be chronological and thematic with a concentration on Australian environment.

Nationalism and Identity in the 20th Century: Themes and Tensions

This course explores the historical contexts (18th-19th century events) and ramifications (20th-21st century events) of nationhood, national identity, and nationalism, encompassing key issues and events (e.g. First and Second World Wars, fall of the Soviet Union) and prominent nationalist movements. Students will develop a layered and wide-reaching understanding of 20th-21st century history that ranges across European, Asian, North and South American and Australian contexts, and that has on-going relevance today.

Questioning History: Explorations in the Thinking and Practice of History

Questioning History explores central debates in the thinking and practice of history. This capstone course directly addresses historiographical issues you will have wrestled with through your history major. The course explores in colloquia (dialogical group settings) how questions in history have been addressed by key practitioners and invites you to begin formulating your own responses as an emergent practitioner of the discipline.

Research Project in History

The course provides you with the opportunity to undertake independent research on a topic of interest to you and to extend your research skills. This is an excellent course if you are considering an honors year in History.