HIS 2000 Contemporary Australia

SubjectCat-NbrClassTermModeDescriptionUnitsCampus
HIS2000210051, 2003EXTContemporary Australia1.00TWMBA
Academic Group:FOART
Academic Org:FOA003
HECS Band:1
ASCED Code:090305

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Libby Connors
Moderator: Maurice French



PRE-REQUISITES:

Pre-requisite: HIS1001 or USQ95212 or USQ95211 or AST1001 or INR1000 or INR1001


RATIONALE:

Nil


SYNOPSIS:

This course will explore the social, economic, political and cultural history of Australia from World War II to the present. Its themes will be the persistence of racial beliefs and their impact on Australia's response to world affairs, Australia's new relations with Britain and the United States, prosperity and its effect on class and gender, the challenge of the social movements of the 1960s, 70s and 80s and the influence of the New Right in the 1990s. There will be further development of critical and interpretative skills through the analysis of primary sources. NOTE: Students who have already passed old unit 95501 will not be permitted to enrol in this course.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will demonstrate:

  • a knowledge and understanding of developments in post-war Australian society;

  • the ability to distinguish primary and secondary sources and to evaluate them critically;

  • the ability to synthesize material from diverse sources and to construct an argument.

  • competence in defending particular historical interpretations in both class discussion and assignment work.



    • TOPICS:


    DescriptionWeighting (%)
    1. Total war, gender and the return to domesticity
    		 10.00
    2. The legacy of the depression and post-war idealism
    		 10.00
    3. White Australia policy and post-war immigration
    		 10.00
    4. ANZUS, the Commonwealth and British nuclear tests
    		 10.00
    5. The Cold War and Australian political and cultural conservatism - spies, censorship and religious sectarianism
    		 10.00
    6. Vietnam and the challenge of the social movements
    		 10.00
    7. Whitlam and his dismissal
    		 10.00
    8. Reassessments of the Fraser years in the light of economic rationalism
    		 10.00
    9. Social movements and their impact on Australian society and culture
    		 10.00
    10. Economic rationalism and the demise of the Australian Settlement
    		 10.00

    TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

    Books can be ordered by fax or telephone. For costs and further details use the 'Book Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au by entering the author or title of the text.

    Bolton, G. 1996, The Oxford History of Australia: Vol 5 "The Middle Way", 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.




    REFERENCE MATERIALS:

    Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

    Lees, S. & Senyard, J. 1987, The 1950's:..how Australia became a modern society, and everyone got a house and car, Hyland House, Melbourne.




    STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

    ACTIVITYHOURS
    Directed Study65
    Examinations2
    Private Study93


    ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

    DescriptionMarks Out ofWtg(%)RequiredDue Date
    2500 WORD MAJOR ESSAY100.0030.00Y04 Apr 2003
    PRIMARY SOURCE COLLECTION100.0025.00Y23 May 2003
    EXAMINATION 2 HOURS100.0045.00YEND S1(see note )
    NOTES:
    .
    Exam dates will be advised when the timetable has been finalised

    OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

    1. Students must attempt all items of assessment to pass the course. A final grade is determined on the basis of total accumulated points after all pieces of assessment have been attempted. It is assigned in accordance with faculty regulations.
    2. The final grade is based on the aggregate of all assessment items and is assigned as follows: HD = 90-100, A = 80-89, B = 65-79, C = 50-64, F = 0-49