Monash history major

Last Updated on January 18, 2023

History

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History at Monash is one of the largest programs in Australia, covering American, Medieval and Renaissance, European, Australian, Asian, global history, Jewish and contemporary histories.

Why study history?

History is exciting, inspiring and diverse. Finding out about past peoples and societies opens up a world of fascinating stories and ideas. You’ll learn how history can inform the present and the future based on wise and unwise decisions made in the past. You’ll develop valuable skills in research, writing and forming a well-structured argument.

Major Focus by location
FocusLocations
Major NoteCaulfield, Clayton
Minor NoteCaulfield, Clayton

Handbook

This area of study is offered in the following courses or can be taken where you have 8 free electives. To see if you can take this area of study within a double degree select from the course offering below.

Overview

“History isn’t only a subject; it’s also a method. …The work of the historian is not the work of the critic or of the moralist; it is the work of the sleuth and the storyteller, the philosopher and the scientist, the keeper of tales, the sayer of sooth, the teller … For more content click the Read more button below. ― Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States The history major empowers you to make sense of our complex and contradictory world through knowledge about the past. Through training in critical thinking, research, and writing, you will learn to recognise, understand, and confront the political, cultural, and economic structures that define societies.  The major is structured to develop in you a range of skills and knowledge. You will learn critical reading, research, and writing skills at every level of the major, but each year puts one aspect of the historian’s toolkit front and centre. Two gateway units provide an engaging, wide-ranging introduction to the past across a broad chronological sweep. In semester 1, you are exposed to the study of the modern era, and in semester 2, they dive deeper into the pre-modern past. In first year, we focus on learning source analysis—how to ask questions of historical evidence, understanding the limits of the evidence, and the circumstances that created it. Second-year cornerstones cover core thematic concerns of historical inquiry across the pre-modern/modern divide. In second year, we build on these skills by delving more deeply into historiographical concerns, i.e., how historians have written about the past. Majors will gain a deeper appreciation of historical methodology through inquiry into debates among historians. With the capstone, you have the opportunity to pursue a major research project of your own design. Our emphasis is on the craft of writing, while developing advanced skills in source analysis and historiography. Elective offerings develop either a thematic or national focus. Thematic units cover a wide range of topics, including the histories of war, the economy and environment, imperialism, decolonisation, crime and depravity, and disease. Units centred on nation-states include histories of Australia, the US, China, Japan, Germany, and Russia. Despite its concern with the past, history is a forward-looking discipline. History majors leave Monash with job-ready, transferable abilities. The major equips you to conduct deep, evidence-based research, to advocate verbally and in writing, to project manage, and to work collaboratively. History majors also develop an understanding of the origins of important current issues and crises, intercultural competence, and an ethical awareness that is indispensable in the workplace of today and tomorrow. AvailabilityHistory is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor and a major, and in A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.

“History isn’t only a subject; it’s also a method. …The work of the historian is not the work of the critic or of the moralist; it is the work of the sleuth and the storyteller, the philosopher and the scientist, the keeper of tales, the sayer of sooth, the teller of truth.”

― Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States

The history major empowers you to make sense of our complex and contradictory world through knowledge about the past. Through training in critical thinking, research, and writing, you will learn to recognise, understand, and confront the political, cultural, and economic structures that define societies. 

The major is structured to develop in you a range of skills and knowledge. You will learn critical reading, research, and writing skills at every level of the major, but each year puts one aspect of the historian’s toolkit front and centre. Two gateway units provide an engaging, wide-ranging introduction to the past across a broad chronological sweep. In semester 1, you are exposed to the study of the modern era, and in semester 2, they dive deeper into the pre-modern past. In first year, we focus on learning source analysis—how to ask questions of historical evidence, understanding the limits of the evidence, and the circumstances that created it.

Second-year cornerstones cover core thematic concerns of historical inquiry across the pre-modern/modern divide. In second year, we build on these skills by delving more deeply into historiographical concerns, i.e., how historians have written about the past. Majors will gain a deeper appreciation of historical methodology through inquiry into debates among historians.

With the capstone, you have the opportunity to pursue a major research project of your own design. Our emphasis is on the craft of writing, while developing advanced skills in source analysis and historiography.

Elective offerings develop either a thematic or national focus. Thematic units cover a wide range of topics, including the histories of war, the economy and environment, imperialism, decolonisation, crime and depravity, and disease. Units centred on nation-states include histories of Australia, the US, China, Japan, Germany, and Russia.

Despite its concern with the past, history is a forward-looking discipline. History majors leave Monash with job-ready, transferable abilities. The major equips you to conduct deep, evidence-based research, to advocate verbally and in writing, to project manage, and to work collaboratively. History majors also develop an understanding of the origins of important current issues and crises, intercultural competence, and an ethical awareness that is indispensable in the workplace of today and tomorrow.

Availability
History is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor and a major, and in A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.Read less

Requirements for progressing to honours
Progression to honours requires 24 credit points of relevant level 3 units, which should include at least one capstone unit.

Learning outcomes

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In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of your course, and successfully completing this area of study you will be able to:1.Understand current philosophical, historical and cultural debates about the nature of history as a discipline and a discoursekeyboard_arrow_down2.Understand how historians can shape the present and the futurekeyboard_arrow_down3.Think reflectively about different forms or genre of historical representationkeyboard_arrow_down

Requirements
48 credit points

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Ruleskeyboard_arrow_downNo credit points

No more than 12 credit points at level 1 may be credited to the major and at least 18 credit points must be at level 3.

Level 1 gateway unitskeyboard_arrow_down12 credit points

You must complete 12 credit points from the following units. Note: ATS1325 or ATS1326 can be counted as a gateway unit towards history or international studies but not both.arrow_forwardATS16106 CPRevolution and Empire in the modern world (Introduction to history A)arrow_forwardATS16116 CPExchange and encounter in the premodern world (Introduction to History B)arrow_forwardATS13256 CPInternational studies: Origins of globalisationarrow_forwardATS13266 CPInternational studies: Challenges of globalisation

Level 2 cornerstone unitskeyboard_arrow_down6 credit points

You must complete one of the following unitsarrow_forwardATS21106 CPSlavery: A historyarrow_forwardATS29326 CPStruggles for justice: The history of rebellion, resistance and revolt

Level 3 capstone unitkeyboard_arrow_down6 credit points

You must complete the following unitarrow_forwardATS38656 CPMaking history: Research and writing

Level 2 and 3 elective unitskeyboard_arrow_down24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points from the remaining cornerstone unit and from the electives listed below, with at least two units at level 3.ATS20576 CPGenocideATS21066 CPEnvironment, economy and society in world historyATS21896 CPConflict and coexistence 1: Jews, Christians and Muslims from antiquity through the middle agesATS22586 CPThe global rise of populismATS23946 CPDecolonisation: Past and presentATS25796 CPWitches and depravity in the medieval and early modern worldATS25846 CPAustralia’s black historyATS25956 CPThe rise and fall of Nazi GermanyATS26006 CPThe HolocaustATS26206 CPModern Japan: From Samurai to PokemonATS26336 CPGlobal cities: Past, present and futureATS27586 CPReligion, philosophy, scienceATS28276 CPEncountering EmpireATS28286 CPThe history of warATS28296 CPPeople and plagues: Diseases that changed historyATS30796 CPModern China: From the Middle Kingdom to Mao and beyondATS31246 CPLife in the Soviet UnionATS31906 CPConflict and coexistence 2: Jews, Christians and Muslims in the modern worldATS32226 CPDeveloping research literacyATS33946 CPDecolonisation: Past and presentATS35826 CPArab-Israeli conflictATS35846 CPAustralia’s black historyATS35996 CPModern Israel: History, politics and societyATS36236 CPNationality, ethnicity and conflictATS36266 CPGlobal disasters: Catastrophe and social changeATS39086 CPAmerican empire: The United States from colonies to superpowerATS39356 CPProfessional practiceInternational study tours
No credit pointskeyboard_arrow_downATS261212 CPThe Renaissance in FlorenceATS295712 CPMedieval Italy: Sites of encounterATS299512 CPBlood and guts: A history of medicine in EuropeATS320812 CPIn the footsteps of refugeesATS328412 CPFinal journey: Remembering the HolocaustATS331112 CPText and community in Medieval and Renaissance ItalyATS361212 CPThe Renaissance in FlorenceATS395712 CPMedieval Italy: Sites of encounterATS399512 CPBlood and guts: A history of medicine in Europe

Contacts

Coordinator(s)

Expand allAssociate Professor Paula Michaels
keyboard_arrow_downEmail:[email protected]

Organisational contacts

History

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