Australian Studies

This course examines Australian politics with an emphasis on what makes Australia unique and how its democratic institutions have developed over time. It concentrates on formal political institutions, including the constitution, parliament, the executive, the bureaucracy, federalism and the High Court. It also examines the role of political parties, the Australian electoral system, voters and voting behavior, lobby groups, social movements and the media. It considers the benefits and limitations of the Australian political system in the face of major policy challenges such as climate change, asylum seekers, gun control, marriage equality and economic crisis.

This course examines Australian archaeology. It covers topics such as community-based archaeology, decolonization and how the past informs contemporary issues, providing requisite knowledge for working in the archaeological sector in Australia. Following the stratigraphic sequence of an archaeological excavation, this course moves from the present through British invasion and into the deep past to reveal the layers of extraordinary capacity, diversity and complexity of Australia's First Peoples.

This course examines the key processes that shape Australia's biophysical environment. It explores Australia’s environmental evolution over time and provides foundational knowledge across several environmental science disciplines. The course addresses contemporary environmental issues and highlights the unique challenges facing Australia’s environment in the future. Topics include geology, climate and weather, soils, landscape evolution, water, flora, fauna, and biodiversity, with an emphasis on the interdependence of these systems. The course also investigates current issues in Australian environmental science within the context of the continent’s environmental history.

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This course examines race and racism in contemporary Australia. It introduces theoretical tools from sociology to assist us in understanding how race and racism operate in Australia, who benefits from racism, and why racism is difficult to change. It looks at situations faced by First Nations people in their fight for sovereignty and justice, anti-migrant racisms, and how race, a social construction, is constantly shifting. The course also explores anti-racism efforts, why most are ineffective, and what might be more effective.

This course examines surfing's history, culture, and science with a unique practical immersion. Students will uncover the multifaceted nature of surfing in Australia, which will include examining surfing’s Polynesian roots in the First Nations cultures, its development by the modern surfing industry, as well as delving into the science that shapes the perfect wave. Students will examine the distinct surfing culture which has emerged and is still evolving through Australian music, film and literature. Students will also examine the effects of large businesses such as Billabong and Rip Curl on Australia’s surfing culture. 

This course examines  the history and foundational institutions and principles that underpin the Australian legal system. It covers current legal issues in Australia, and explores these in critical and comparative perspectives. 

This course examines Australia’s rich and complex Aboriginal linguistic heritage in contemporary and traditional contexts. It covers language and the land, kinship and social organization, narrative and conversation, language acquisition, language contact, language and education, language maintenance and revival. There will be a focus on how new ways of speaking are created, how languages are lost, and the ways in which Aboriginal speakers are teaching and reviving their traditional languages today. 

The 2020s have seen the rise of numerous strategic problems for Australia. There are giant states in fierce competition, such as the United States and China, and emerging giants in India and Indonesia. There are also problems from below, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and terrorism. This course examines the security challenges facing Australia and explores how Australia should approach its region.