Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

Unit Overview

Description

Australia's foreign wars have played a critical role in national life and identity. This unit explores Australian involvement in a range of conflicts, including the New Zealand Maori wars, the Sudan conflict, the Boer War, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf wars, with a focus on the experiences of service personnel, the home front, reporting of war, and commemoration. It raises questions about the place of wars in national histories, myth and memory. It analyses representations of wars in media such as film and fiction, memory and memorial, art and architecture, and in ceremony and commemoration. It discusses the relationship between the reality of war and changing representations of war, including histories of Australia's wars.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationMode
Not available in 2024UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 3 option in the History major sequence
  • Level 3 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe and assess key historiographical, methodological and theoretical issues in understanding Australia's foreign wars; (2) identify and evaluate some of the major methodological challenges in war history, including the range of sources and approaches; (3) demonstrate an understanding of an important aspect of Australia's foreign wars and their domestic contexts; (4) analyse a range of historical sources for essay assessments using appropriate methodologies; (5) relate their interpretations to key historiographical debates in Australia's war history; and (6) present complex arguments engaging with the historiography and methodology of Australia's war history in both written and oral assessments.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) short essay; (2) research essay; and (3) workshop participation. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit rules
Prerequisites
a Level 2 History unit
Incompatibility
HIST2270 From Sudan to Saddam: Australia's Foreign Wars
Contact hours
2 hours per week
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.