Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. The Australian Indigenous Studies Program
2. Completing an Australian indigenous studies co-major
    2.1. Option 1: A major in anthropology or geography as well as the following:
    2.2. Option 2: A major in history as well as the following:
    2.3. Option 3: A major in political science as well as the following:
    2.4. Option 4: A major in an area of the humanities other than anthropology, geography, history or political science as well as the following:
3. For more information


The University of Melbourne and the Faculty of Arts currently teach a range of subjects across many departments in the field of indigenous studies. The appointment of Professor Marcia Langton to the Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies created the opportunity to bring together this teaching and research into a coordinated interdepartmental program in Australian indigenous studies.

1. The Australian Indigenous Studies Program

Students may enrol in subjects from the Australian Indigenous Studies Program provided they meet prerequisites, where applicable, or with the written permission of the subject coordinator.

Provided that it does not constitute an over-enrolment, those students who previously completed subjects towards a sequence in Australian Indigenous studies may either complete the sequence or convert it to a co-major by enrolling in additional subjects to meet the co-major requirements outlined below.

Australian Indigenous studies subjects
First yearSemester
 166-120 Indigenous People and the State2
Second/third year
 100-005 Exploring Central Australia1, repeat 2
 106-045 Aboriginal Writing1
 106-063 Aboriginal Cultural Studies2
 107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art1
 107-121 Archaeology of Australia1
 107-122 Australian Rock Art2
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)2
 121-225 Place and PossessionNot Offered
 121-226 Native Title2
 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories1
 166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies1
 175-018 Language&Society in Aboriginal AustraliaNot Offered
 476-202 Education 2B Indigenous Aust Studies1
 730-394 Indigenous People and the Law 1788-2000Not Offered
Third/fourth year
 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments2
 175-417 Structure of Aboriginal LanguagesSummer
 191-427 Crime Ethnicity and Race2
 472-402 Indigenous Australian StudiesNot Offered
Comparative subjects with Indigenous studies components
First yearSemester
 136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind2
 166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society2
Second/third year
 100-003 Australia and America1, repeat 2
 106-003 Media and Cultural Difference2
 107-025 Postcolonialism and the CinemaNot Offered
 107-085 Australian CinemaNot Offered
 121-016 Landscapes of PowerNot Offered
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1800-20001
 131-073 Human Rights in Australian HistoryNot Offered
 131-111 Crime Law & Punishment-Colonial VictoriaNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-021 International Relations and its Others2
 166-081 Quantitative Social Research1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 175-020 Language & Culture1
Fourth year/postgraduate
 106-404 Memory and Contemporary Culture2
 106-456 Colonial/Postcolonial Visual CulturesNot Offered
 106-459 Postcolonial Writing and Theory2
 107-417 Australian Cultural Heritage Management2
 121-503 Research Methods and DesignSummer
 131-455 Gender and Colonialism: 1788-19452

2. Completing an Australian indigenous studies co-major

The Faculty of Arts offers BA students the opportunity to undertake a co-major in Australian indigenous studies. The co-major must be taken in conjunction with another BA major. The structure of the co-major varies according to the combining major. There are four co-major structures: one for students undertaking a major in anthropology or geography, one for students undertaking a major in history, one for students undertaking a major in political science, and one for students undertaking a major in other areas of study in the humanities. It is not possible to complete an Indigenous studies co-major without also completing a separate major in another area.

With the approval of the relevant head of department and the Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies, a Bachelor of Arts with a co-major in Australian indigenous studies may lead to honours and ultimately higher degree study with a focus on Australian indigenous studies.

A co-major in Australian indigenous studies requires the completion of nine 12.5-point subjects totalling 112.5 points, which must be taken alongside a major in another area of study. It comprises:

Students enrolled in some BA combined degrees (arts/engineering, artsgeomeng, arts/law, arts/social work, arts/teaching, and arts/medicine) will not be able to complete a co-major in Australian indigenous studies without over-enrolling their arts course, see Taking extra subjects (over-enrolment). BA combined degree students wishing to complete a co-major in Australian indigenous studies should choose their first-year subjects carefully to ensure that they complete the correct prerequisite subjects for both majors.

The co-major takes several forms depending on the student's other major area of study.

2.1. Option 1: A major in anthropology or geography as well as the following:

Australian Indigenous studies subjects
First yearSemester
 One compulsory subject 
 166-120 Indigenous People and the State2
 and one of the following 
 136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind2
 166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society2
 as well as four subjects (50 points) from the list of second/third-year core subjects with the remainder from the list of second/third-year elective subjects. 
Second/third-year core subjects
 100-003 Australia and America1, repeat 2
 100-005 Exploring Central Australia1, repeat 2
 106-063 Aboriginal Cultural Studies2
 107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art1
 107-121 Archaeology of Australia1
 107-122 Australian Rock Art2
 121-016 Landscapes of PowerNot Offered
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)2
 121-225 Place and PossessionNot Offered
 121-226 Native Title2
 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments2
 131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1800-20001
 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories1
 166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies1
 175-018 Language&Society in Aboriginal AustraliaNot Offered
 191-427 Crime Ethnicity and Race2
 730-394 Indigenous People and the Law 1788-2000Not Offered
Second/third-year elective subjects
 106-003 Media and Cultural Difference2
 106-045 Aboriginal Writing1
 107-025 Postcolonialism and the CinemaNot Offered
 107-085 Australian CinemaNot Offered
 131-073 Human Rights in Australian HistoryNot Offered
 131-111 Crime Law & Punishment-Colonial VictoriaNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-021 International Relations and its Others2
 166-081 Quantitative Social Research1
 175-020 Language & Culture1
 476-202 Education 2B Indigenous Aust Studies1

2.2. Option 2: A major in history as well as the following:

Australian Indigenous studies subjects
First yearSemester
 One compulsory subject 
 166-120 Indigenous People and the State2
 and one of the following 
 136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind2
 166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society2
 as well as four subjects (50 points) from the list of second/third-year core subjects with the remainder from the list of second/third-year elective subjects. 
Second/third-year core subjects
 100-003 Australia and America1, repeat 2
 100-005 Exploring Central Australia1, repeat 2
 106-045 Aboriginal Writing1
 106-063 Aboriginal Cultural Studies2
 107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art1
 107-121 Archaeology of Australia1
 107-122 Australian Rock Art2
 121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)2
 121-225 Place and PossessionNot Offered
 121-226 Native Title2
 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments2
 131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1800-20001
 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories1
 166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies1
 175-417 Structure of Aboriginal LanguagesSummer
 191-427 Crime Ethnicity and Race2
 730-394 Indigenous People and the Law 1788-2000Not Offered
Second/third-year elective subjects
 106-003 Media and Cultural Difference2
 107-025 Postcolonialism and the CinemaNot Offered
 107-085 Australian CinemaNot Offered
 121-016 Landscapes of PowerNot Offered
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 131-073 Human Rights in Australian HistoryNot Offered
 131-111 Crime Law & Punishment-Colonial VictoriaNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-021 International Relations and its Others2
 166-081 Quantitative Social Research1
 175-018 Language&Society in Aboriginal AustraliaNot Offered
 175-020 Language & Culture1
 476-202 Education 2B Indigenous Aust Studies1

2.3. Option 3: A major in political science as well as the following:

Australian Indigenous studies subjects
First yearSemester
 One compulsory subject 
 166-120 Indigenous People and the State2
 and one of the following 
 136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind2
 166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society2
 as well as four subjects (50 points) from the list of second/third-year core subjects with the remainder from the list of second/third-year elective subjects. 
Second/third-year core subjects
 100-003 Australia and America1, repeat 2
 106-003 Media and Cultural Difference2
 121-225 Place and PossessionNot Offered
 121-226 Native Title2
 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments2
 131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1800-20001
 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories1
 131-111 Crime Law & Punishment-Colonial VictoriaNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-021 International Relations and its Others2
 166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies1
 191-427 Crime Ethnicity and Race2
 730-394 Indigenous People and the Law 1788-2000Not Offered
Second/third-year elective subjects
 100-005 Exploring Central Australia1, repeat 2
 106-045 Aboriginal Writing1
 106-063 Aboriginal Cultural Studies2
 107-025 Postcolonialism and the CinemaNot Offered
 107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art1
 107-085 Australian CinemaNot Offered
 107-121 Archaeology of Australia1
 107-122 Australian Rock Art2
 121-016 Landscapes of PowerNot Offered
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)2
 131-073 Human Rights in Australian HistoryNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-081 Quantitative Social Research1
 175-018 Language&Society in Aboriginal AustraliaNot Offered
 175-020 Language & Culture1
 476-202 Education 2B Indigenous Aust Studies1

2.4. Option 4: A major in an area of the humanities other than anthropology, geography, history or political science as well as the following:

Australian Indigenous studies subjects
First yearSemester
 One compulsory subject 
 166-120 Indigenous People and the State2
 and one of the following 
 136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind2
 166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society2
 as well as four subjects (50 points) from the list of second/third-year core subjects with the remainder from the list of second/third-year elective subjects. 
Second/third-year core subjects
 100-003 Australia and America1, repeat 2
 100-005 Exploring Central Australia1, repeat 2
 106-003 Media and Cultural Difference2
 106-045 Aboriginal Writing1
 106-063 Aboriginal Cultural Studies2
 107-025 Postcolonialism and the CinemaNot Offered
 107-030 Contemporary Aboriginal Art1
 107-085 Australian CinemaNot Offered
 107-121 Archaeology of Australia1
 107-122 Australian Rock Art2
 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments2
 131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1800-20001
 131-051 Aboriginal & Pacific Islander Histories1
 166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage1
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies1
 175-018 Language&Society in Aboriginal AustraliaNot Offered
 191-427 Crime Ethnicity and Race2
 730-394 Indigenous People and the Law 1788-2000Not Offered
Second/third-year elective subjects
 121-016 Landscapes of PowerNot Offered
 121-017 Society and Environments2
 121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)2
 121-225 Place and PossessionNot Offered
 121-226 Native Title2
 131-073 Human Rights in Australian HistoryNot Offered
 131-111 Crime Law & Punishment-Colonial VictoriaNot Offered
 166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society2
 166-021 International Relations and its Others2
 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies2
 175-020 Language & Culture1
 476-202 Education 2B Indigenous Aust Studies1

3. For more information

Prospective students are advised to consult with the Australian Indigenous Studies Program Office, housed in the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies (SAGES):

Room 201, Old Commerce Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 3936/8239
Fax: +61 3 8344 3835
Email: indigenous@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.indigenous-studies.unimelb.edu.au


Status:                   Official 2003
Last Modified:            Monday April 28 22:11
SGML to HTML Conversion:  Information Division - CWIS (SDI)
Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Enquiries:                http://unimelb.custhelp.com/

Valid CSS! Valid XHTML 1.0!