Bachelor of Arts (Major: History)

School of Arts & Sciences

Do you have a desire to understand the people and events that have shaped the modern world? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History will provide a rigorous study of history to help you comprehend the world’s complexities today. Notre Dame’s Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History offers a broad perspective, which will encourage you to critically approach a range of topics, including the West’s interactions with diverse non-Western cultures, to think critically about issues such as gender relations and post-colonialism and to rethink what it means to be Western in the global 21st century. Contact us today to find out more.

• Why study this major?

  If you are interested in a broad view of history rather than a study of long-forgotten civilisations, our degree will give you deep insights into history that is vital for our understanding of the modern world. Only by studying our past and taking note of the various factors that inspired historical events can we appreciate the economic, cultural, and religious forces that have shaped our society and those of many other nations.

  You will study history ranging from classical Greece and Rome to the Enlightenment, from ancient civilisations in Asia to the rise of American global influence. Our History Major places a strong emphasis on historiography using a range of texts, both visual and written.

  Special attention is paid to Australia and its Pacific context, the classical world and its impact on the early modern and modern worlds, and medieval Europe and its interaction with non-Europeans, especially Jewish and Islamic peoples.

  Upon graduation, you will not only gain a powerful insight into the events and personalities on which the modern world is founded and a deep understanding of the lived experience of past people but also learn necessary research and analytical skills which you can apply in a range of occupations and professions.

  Completing a Bachelor of Arts with a History Major allows you to work almost anywhere in the world. You might decide to travel during your degree, with both long and short-term opportunities available through our Study Abroad or Experience the World programs.

• Program summary

  Structure of Major

  Fremantle and Sydney

  Students must complete 200 units of credit, as follows:

  LEVEL ONE: FOUNDATION LEARNING

  Students must compete the following TWO courses:

  • HIST1000 A History of Western Civilisation
  • HIST1001 Making Australian History

  LEVEL TWO: EXTENDED LEARNING

  Students may complete ANY of the following courses:

  • ARCL3030 Unearthing the Past: The History and Archaeology of Western Australia
  • HIST2000 Writing Lives: Personalities in History from Antiquity to the Present
  • HIST2002 Ancient Worlds
  • HIST2003 Modern America: From Slave Nation to Superpower
  • HIST2004 Of Vice and Virtue: Social Change in Victorian Britain
  • HIST2005 Age of Empire and Revolution in Europe, 1789-1989
  • HIST2008 The Caesars
  • HIST2009 The Kennedys: America in the 60s
  • HIST2010 Australia and the Asia Pacific: from Past to Present
  • HIST2013 A History of Ancient Greece
  • HIST2015 Rome: The History of a Civilisation
  • HIST2016 A History of Crime: Assessing the Evidence
  • HIST2017 Screening History: The Politics of Moving Pictures
  • HIST2018 Australians and the World Wars
  • HIST2021The History and Politics of Southeast Asia
  • HIST2022 The Modern Middle East
  • HIST2023 Making History and the Politics of the Past
  • HIST2024 The Tudors
  • HIST2026 The European Middle Ages, c. 450-c.1250
  • HIST2027 Renaissance to Enlightenment 1250–1789
  • HIST2028 Visual Evidence: Art and Artefacts in the Western Tradition
  • HIST2029 Nazi Germany: Assessing the Evidence

  LEVEL THREE: ADVANCED LEARNING

  Students must complete AT LEAST TWO of the following courses in their final year of study:

  • HIST3000 Writing Lives: Personalities in History from Antiquity to the Present
  • HIST3001 History in Practice: Professional Project
  • HIST3008 History Internship (substitute ARTS3002 Internship or Professional Project)
  • HIST3016 A History of Crime: Assessing the Evidence
  • HIST3023 Making History and the Politics of the Past
  • HIST3028 Visual Evidence: Art and Artefacts in the Western Tradition
  • HIST3029 Nazi Germany: Assessing the Evidence

  *Please note that students may not enrol into courses which they have completed at Level Two
  (e.g.: completion of HIST2000 precludes enrolment into HIST3000).

  Students may complete other courses on approval of the Dean, and if available, to a total of 50 units of credit:

  ARTS3010 Experience the World I; ARTS3030 Experience the World Study Tour (50 units of credit);
  Church History Courses listed in the Bachelor of Theology Requirements (3248): THEO2310 Early
  Church History: the Story Begins, THEO2340 Modern Church History, & THEO2350 Reformations:
  Churches in the 16th Century.

  Church History Courses listed in the Bachelor of Theology Regulations (3248).

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements WA

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  * Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section*.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Entry requirements NSW

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

  OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section*.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts graduates will be able to;

  1. Demonstrate broad theoretical and practical knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts of one or more disciplines or practice areas
  2. Identify appropriate sources and evaluate information
  3. Demonstrate an awareness of different conceptual approaches and/or research methods
  4. Demonstrate the technical skills, professional skills and ethical practice required by one or more disciplines
  5. Synthesise knowledge and apply skills in order to solve complex problems
  6. Communicate arguments and/or ideas in a range of forms
  7. Work independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with others; and
  8. Reflect upon personal knowledge, skills and experiences.

• Practical component

  When you study the History Major, you will have the opportunity to complete an internship of approximately 80 hours that will allow you to put the theory into practice in a workplace environment.

• Career opportunities

  Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors; many employers will welcome the transferable skills. The following careers are open to graduates of this program: historian Intelligence analyst, strategic policy writer, ministerial and parliamentary liaison officer, community project officer, heritage consultant, and writer in various settings such as cultural institutions, museums and libraries; education; the public service, policy development and diplomacy; the non-government and not-for-profit sectors; and research.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Honours

  An Honours award is available for this program. Further information can be found in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) regulations, or by contacting the School of Arts & Sciences.

• Opportunities and experiences

  At the University of Notre Dame, we believe that gaining a global perspective is an important part of your university education. We offer various opportunities for students to study abroad and become active global citizens. These opportunities include exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit Opportunities and experiences to find out more.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships provide financial support to students while they are completing their studies. There are various scholarships available to prospective and current students, across all study levels and campuses.

  These can be funded by Notre Dame, industry, individuals and non-profit organisations, to provide financial assistance to students to support costs associated with study. This could include buying food, paying rent, transport, and household bills, raising children as single parents, being a single-income household, becoming unemployed or caring for a sick loved one.

  Please visit the Scholarships Finder to see which scholarships are available to Undergraduate students.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  International Full-Fee Paying
  Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• Student profile data

  ATAR and selection rank profile

  The University of Notre Dame Australia offers clear and transparent information regarding ATAR and selection rank for domestic students beginning in Semester 1. This data includes the highest, median and lowest ranks required for admission to assist you in making informed study decisions.

  Explore our detailed overview of ATAR offers and student profiles to find the ideal degree that matches your interests and aspirations.

  View our ATAR and selection rank profile data.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Book a 1-on-1 advice session with a career advisor or call us on 1800 878 916.

  Fremantle and Broome
  Email: future@nd.edu.au
  Address: 23 High St, Fremantle, WA 6160

  Sydney and Melbourne
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008

  International students
  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, fill out our Make an Enquiry form, and you can book a session with one of our friendly International Student Advisors.

  Fremantle and Broome International Office
  Phone: +61 8 9433 0873
  Address: 19 Mouat St, Fremantle, WA 6160
  Postal address: PO Box 1225, Fremantle WA 6959

  Sydney and Melbourne International Office
  Phone: +61 2 8204 4229
  Address: 140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
  Postal address: PO Box 944, Broadway NSW 2007