Major Overview

Description

The Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage major comprises an interdisciplinary course that will provide you with an opportunity to learn about the history, culture and philosophy of Aboriginal peoples in Australia. The units offered enable you to critically engage with the issues covered, across a number of disciplines, and connect to contemporary Australian social issues. Studying a major in Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage will give you a strong grounding in Aboriginal knowledge systems as well as Western disciplinary constructs around Indigenous knowledge and peoples. Graduates gain a broad understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal people, and their ability to work appropriately and effectively with Indigenous peoples is enhanced. They increase their ability to work in culturally competent ways and develop flexible, generic and portable skills essential to a changing global environment.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate a knowledge of the experience, history and culture of Aboriginal peoples with a particular focus on Western Australia
  2. demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous systems of knowledge and the relevance of these systems across a broad range of disciplines
  3. critically evaluate representations of Aboriginal peoples in historical and academic discourse
  4. demonstrate a knowledge of ethical paradigms in Aboriginal research and conduct independent research
  5. demonstrate an awareness of the major historical and cultural issues that inform present day Aboriginal disadvantage
  6. clearly express ideas in discussion and writing.
Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Courses

Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
NS
non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard
Incompatibility
HIST1100 Aboriginal History
S2 INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take the following unit:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 INDG2300 Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit
Prerequisites
any Level 1 unit from the Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage major
or HIST1100 Aboriginal History
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARTF2000 Curatorial Practices in Contemporary Arts
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one level 1 Unit(s) in your chosen degree
Incompatibility
VISA2051 Curatorial Practices
S2 INDG2500 Moving North: Colonisation and Resistance in Western Australia
Prerequisites
any Level 1 unit from the Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage major
or HIST1100 Aboriginal History
NS INDG2600 Indigenous Representation: Cultural Heritage and The Museum
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
any level 1 Unit(s) from the Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage major
or HIST1100 Aboriginal History
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
VISA2051 Curatorial Practices
or INDG3500 Image, Representation and Appropriation
N/A INDG2700 Knowing Country: The Dreaming and Darwin
Prerequisites
any Level 1 unit or equivalent
Incompatibility
INDG1140 Knowing Country: The Dreaming and Darwin
NS INDG2800 Indigenous Ways of Knowing 2 (Intermediate)
Prerequisites
48 Points of successful prior study and approval by the School of Indigenous Studies.
S1 LAWS2225 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
Prerequisites
LAWS1104 Introduction to Law
or LAWX1104 Introduction to Law
or LAWS1111 Law, Conflict and Change
or LAWS1120 Australian Legal Principles and Institutions
or LAWS1112 Adulting: Law for Everyday Lives

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take the following unit:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 INDG3300 Indigenous Research
Prerequisites
INDG2300 Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit
or INDG2400 Looking South: Noongar Voices
or INDG2500 Looking North: The Wild West
or INDG2600 Indigenous Representation
or INDG2700 Knowing Country: The Dreaming and Darwin
or LAWS2225 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A HIST3014 Intimate Strangers: Journeys in Indigenous Australian History
Prerequisites
a Level 2 History unit
or EURO2201 European Civilisation
or GEND2902 Men and Masculinities in History
or any Level 2 unit from the Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage major
S2 INDG3400 Indigenous People and Global Issues
Prerequisites
INDG2300 Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit
or INDG2400 Looking South: Noongar Voices
or INDG2500 Looking North: The Wild West
or INDG2600 Indigenous Representation
or INDG2700 Knowing Country: The Dreaming and Darwin
or LAWS2225 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
NS INDG3800 Indigenous Ways of Knowing 3 (Advanced)
Prerequisites
96 points of prior study and approval by the School of Indigenous Studies.