HIST 4002 - Honours History Special Course

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

This course provides an advanced approach to a field of study (ie a geographical area, time-period and/or theme) within the discipline of History. Different staff members with expertise in different fields of historical inquiry will lead small groups of students through carefully devised curricula. Through the seminars and the written assessment students will acquire a sound understanding of key historical debates and will apply critical analysis to historical questions that interest them.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HIST 4002
    Course Honours History Special Course
    Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact 2 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completed degree (72 units) normally including 24 units of History major
    Restrictions Available only to students admitted to the relevant Honours program
    Course Description This course provides an advanced approach to a field of study (ie a geographical area, time-period and/or theme) within the discipline of History. Different staff members with expertise in different fields of historical inquiry will lead small groups of students through carefully devised curricula. Through the seminars and the written assessment students will acquire a sound understanding of key historical debates and will apply critical analysis to historical questions that interest them.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Tom Buchanan

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Demonstrate a detailed and high-level understanding of a particular historiography or historical problem.
    2 Recognise a wide range of methodologies, conceptual approaches and domains of knowledge when applied to the past.
    3 Identify, analyse, evaluate relevant primary and secondary sources to construct evidence based arguments and produce independent historical research.
    4  Think independently and critically about the methodologies that are used by historians, and to apply (and, if necessary, adapt) these methodologies to understanding the past.
    5  Communicate effectively in a range of formats and to demonstrate a thorough grasp of the scholarly conventions of the discipline of history.
    6 Demonstrate proficiency in the use of a range of contemporary technologies to conduct research, communicate results and communicate with others.
    7 Demonstrate the skills of a historian which are appropriate for performing a range of professional roles, undertaking leadership positions, and sustaining lifelong learning.
    8 Demonstrate a sensitivity to the diversity of historical cultures and the ethical implications of historical enquiry within a global context.
    9 Develop a critical, self-reflective approach to the study of history, based on respectand mutual responsibility.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3,
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    8
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Students should talk advantage of provided reading lists, university library resources and other resources available online and nearby. On occasion, there may be a set text or reader.
    Recommended Resources
    Students should talk advantage of provided reading lists, university library resources and other resources available online and nearby.
    Online Learning
    Resources will be available through canvas. On occasion, teaching may be supported through discussion forums and document sharing applications.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Seminars

    Participation in one of the special subjects gives you a chance to enjoy small group learnign with a specialist teacher. They are taught through seminars and designed to introduce you to the subject matter and the historiography of the topics covered, and to develop your skills in research and analysis.

    Independent research

    As the purpose of Honours is to prepare students for research, students shall be expected to conduct independent reading and research on the theme of their special subject, supported through the seminar experience.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The workload for this course is 78 hours, broken down in the following way:

    Seminar attendance  24 hours
    Independent reading and research  30 hours
    Assessment preparation and writing  24 hours

    Learning Activities Summary
    The Special Subject is a seminar program. Learning activities are designed to introduce you to the key concerns of particular fields within the discipline, especially historiography. Each week students will be introduced to particular debates or questions in the field and encouraged to think about sources and methodologies that would progress such debates.
    Specific Course Requirements
    A special subject is compulsory for honours students.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Special subjects are designed to provide the underpinning research skills required by students to research and write an effective thesis, an independent piece of student research that is at the heart of the small group discovery experience. Therefore the entire course, particularly when combined with the thesis component in semester two, is a small group discovery experience.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Students are expected to write 5-6,000 words of text, or equivalent. Typically this is in the form of two essays or one extended essay, but assessment may vary across topics. All forms of assessment promote the achievement of the learning outcomes.

    Assessment Related Requirements
    None.
    Assessment Detail
    Students are expected to write 5-6,000 words of text, or equivalent. Typically this is in the form of two essays or one extended essay, but assessment may vary across topics. All forms of assessment promote the achievement of the learning outcomes.
    Submission
    Submission of assignments will be through Turnitin on Canvas.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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