Faculty of Arts Australian Studies

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Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. Time commitment to study
2. Prerequisites
3. Requirements for a major
4. Australian studies subjects
    4.1. Recommended subjects
    4.2. Core subjects
    4.3. Optional subjects
5. Combined honours entry
6. Combined honours requirements
7. Further study
8. Career opportunities
9. For more information
Subject Lists
    First/second-year subjects
    Second/third-year subjects
    Fourth-year subject
    Fourth-year/postgraduate subjects

Conveners: Dr Nikos Papastergiadis (The Australian Centre) and Dr June Senyard (History)

Australian studies is an internationally recognised program providing an interdisciplinary perspective on Australian society and culture. The program is run by the Australian Centre in association with the Department of History and hosts a number of respected research fellows. The centre is a founding member of the International Australian Studies Association and jointly manages the Australian Studies in Taiwan Project on behalf of the Australian Government. This global network provides a strong foundation for research and enhancement of the student learning experience, yielding new insights to comparative analyses. Students are able to gain direct experience of the Australian landscape, its people and the shaping of its culture and identity by undertaking fieldwork study in central Australia. A variety of career pathways are available to students of Australian studies which draw on the analytical and research knowledge gained in this area of study. Alternatively, students interested in expanding their interests and knowledge in Australian studies are provided with an articulated structure of higher degree options at the University of Melbourne.

Australian studies allows students to develop integrated analyses of the Australian experience from across disciplines. Students are encouraged to apply different methodologies and theoretical approaches to issues such as the environment, indigenous affairs, folklore, gender and sexuality, the visual and literary arts, urban planning, politics and popular culture.

1. Time commitment to study

As well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorial and seminars a considerable additional time committment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subect.

A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. In addition, general estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts can be found on Time commitment to study.

2. Prerequisites

The program commences at first year and there are no prerequisites for entry at this level.

Students may also enter at second year given the completion of 25 points at first year in subjects which focus on Australia. However, students must consult the relevant area of study entries in this Handbook to ensure that they meet the prerequisites, if any, for the second/third-year subjects listed below.

Students are permitted to complete all of the Australian Centre's undergraduate subjects over the course of their degree. However, no more than two subjects can be taken within a 12-month period.

3. Requirements for a major

A major in Australian studies usually consists of nine 12.5-point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:

• two first-year subjects (25 points) which must focus upon Australia or be taken from the list of first-year subjects in Australian studies below; and

• seven second/third-year subjects in Australian studies (87.5 points), which must include:

  • three subjects from the list of core subjects below; and

  • four subjects from the list of optional subjects below.

  Students who wish to include a subject that is not listed must seek approval from the convener of Australian studies.

4. Australian studies subjects

4.1. Recommended subjects

It is recommended that students take two of the following subjects at first year toward an Australian studies major.

4.2. Core subjects

Students must take three of the following core subjects at second/third-year toward their Australian studies major. These subjects are intended to provide a survey of Australian culture and society.

4.3. Optional subjects

Students must take four of the following optional subjects toward their Australian studies major. The normal prerequisite for entry to subjects offered at third/fourth-year is completion of 37.5 points of study at second year.

5. Combined honours entry

Currently there is no pure honours program in Australian studies. This means that students must combine fourth-year honours in Australian studies with another area of study.

The prerequisites for entry to combined honours in Australian studies are:

• completion of all the requirements for the BA;

• completion of a major in Australian studies;

• an average grade of H2B or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the major;

• admission to honours in another area of study within the Faculty of Arts.

For information on how to apply see Applying for Honours.

6. Combined honours requirements

Although it is possible to complete an honours thesis in Australian studies and there is a specifically developed honours subject, 102-511 Imaging Australian Spaces, students undertaking combined honours in Australian studies may enrol in honours subjects from any area of study within the Faculty of Arts, provided that those subjects are judged to have substantial Australian content. The decision as to which subjects fulfil this requirement must be made in consultation with a program convener.

Combined honours in Australian studies and another area of study must take one of the following forms:

• 102-503 Australian Studies Thesis (37.5 points); and

• two honours subjects with substantial Australian content from any area of study (25 points); and

• three honours subjects in the combined area of study (37.5 points).

or

• honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points); and

• two honours subjects in the combined area of study (25 points); and

• three honours subjects with substantial Australian content from any area of study (37.5 points).

7. Further study

A range of multidisciplinary postgraduate courses are offered to meet the needs of both established professionals and others wishing to pursue further research in the area of Australian studies.

8. Career opportunities

A degree with a major in Australian studies is of relevance to graduates entering education, librarianship, the public service, the media or other roles where an understanding of preoccupations in Australian cultural production is of significance.

9. For more information

Dr Nikos Papastergiadis
The Australian Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 3849
Web: http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au

or

Dr June Senyard
History Department
Third Floor, John Medley Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 5963
Fax: +61 3 9347 7731

First/second-year subjects

102-111 Australia Now

Second/third-year subjects

102-003 Australia and America
102-005 Exploring Central Australia
102-210 From Mateship to Mardi Gras
102-211 Migrant Nation: Culture and Identity
102-213 Face, Place, Race: Images of Australia
760-213 Australian Theatre

Fourth-year subject

102-503 Australian Studies Thesis

Fourth-year/postgraduate subjects

102-505 Australian Studies 5A
102-506 Australian Studies 5B
102-511 Imaging Australian Spaces
102-512 From Cosmopolitanism to Transnationalism

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