WHY STUDY HISTORY?
    People read histories, and write them, to find out how things came to be as they are. Their curiosity may be sparked by a book or a building, an institution or a ritual. Why do we date our years from the birth of Jesus? How has Australia been moulded by its convict history? In what ways have our ideas about gender and sexuality developed over time? How did the USA come to have such permissive gun laws? Why do we have members of parliament? Instead of assuming that this just the way things are, people who study history want to know why and how.

    In doing history at University students learn more about what happened, but also more about the process of finding out. History means learning:
    • the kinds of question to ask and where to look for answers;
    • how to find and assess evidence, how to recognise interpretations of what happened and how to weigh them against one another;
    • how to communicate clearly and accurately, in written and spoken form.

    WHAT HISTORY CAN DO FOR YOU
    Employers in all fields tell us that they are looking for "bright people" who have good communication skills, who are accustomed to solving problems and understanding human behaviour, who can learn quickly, who know how to assimilate information and who have a sense of perspective.

    We teach all of these skills, through our emphasis on research, analysis, writing and oral communication. The Careers and Appointments Service tells us that History graduates - possessing these skills - are eagerly accepted in a range of occupations: teaching, all sectors of the public service (policy, administration, research, foreign affairs), banking and retailing, hotel management, marketing and public relations, all branches of the media, archives and museums, personel and executive positions in secondary industry, trade unions, political parties, and voluntary organisations involved in local and international relief.

    HISTORY AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    History offers units in a wide range of areas from a variety of perspectives. Themes covered include war, revolution, empire, slavery, religion, immigration, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and film. The time span covered is from the ancient world to the present, while the regions covered in the units we offer include Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. There are also courses on historical theory and method.

    Students may also study for an Honours degree in History.  Honours includes a research thesis of 15,000 words and two special subjects.

    The History Program of the Graduate School also provides teaching and supervision for graduate studies leading to the Graduate Diploma in History and to the degrees of Master or Arts and Doctor of Philosophy.  For details of graduate courses see The Graduate School Handbook, or www.anu.edu.au/graduate/programs/hf

    Please consult the 2002 Undergraduate Handbook for more detailed course descriptions and for prerequisites, incompatibility of units and other requirements.