Program Overview

You could be a tourist in your own city to get a new perspective. You could study community development or international aid – or learn to put your creative thinking to work for government agencies, corporations or organisations anywhere in the world.

The Bachelor of Arts embraces new directions in teaching and practice-based learning to train the thinkers and researchers of the 21st century. Many of the biggest and most vital issues we face today are about human society and the human condition. How can we understand who we are, how we want to live, or what kind of society we want to create, without the insights, knowledge and skills provided by the humanities?

In this degree you will learn to put theory into practice in a way that is recognised and valued by employers.

Major: History

History is central to any meaningful understanding of the present political, social and moral world - therefore it’s vital to a democratic and open society. If we are to understand the political structures, other institutions, concepts, myths and practices on which modern societies are based, we need to know how they have developed. In this major, you will develop a mental map, stretching back across time and enabling you to situate yourself in the world in which you live.

A History major will also build on your techniques of source analysis and skills of writing and comprehension to a degree, providing you with valuable assets you can utilise for a broad range of careers.

3 reasons to study History at Murdoch

• Study two majors in three years to graduate with two specialisations, or study the History major with minors in Australian Indigenous Studies, Global Politics or Religion to further enhance your career prospects.
• Knowledge of history is fundamental to our understanding of our society and the global system. A degree in this field prepares you for a range of exciting careers where you can create policy, show initiative, manage projects, carry out research, and make a difference in the world.
• You’ll learn from history experts including Dr Arjun Subrahmanyan. Dr Subrahmanyan explores how democracy, social change, intellectual history and modern life have impacted Thailand. He’ll get you thinking about how decisions of the past are impacting and informing the future in Southeast Asia.

What you'll learn
Your core units will include subjects such as The Empire Strikes Back: Imperialism and Colonialism in Modern History. You can choose electives to specialise in the history of Australia, Europe or Asia. In this course you will:

• Build extensive knowledge of the past, and examine historical issues through self-directed research projects that use a variety of secondary and primary sources.
• Construct evidence-based arguments that interpret historical sources, scholarship and changing representations of the past.
• Explore niche topics through your unit electives such as; Spies, Saboteurs and Secret Agents, The Vietnam Wars and Hollywood and History.