Students have an opportunity to learn on-Country in an immersive and unique learning experience taught by and with people of that Country. In designing each field school, we follow protocols of the people in whose Country the field school is taught, respecting their cultural and intellectual authority, and their authority and responsibilities for their places. This course is delivered in partnership with local people. Each field school offers students a unique opportunity to travel away from the main campus of the ANU, to develop insight into First Nations and other Indigenous Peoples, and learn from Country.
Assessment tasks will vary depending on the field school and its context. Individual assessment tasks that can include activities, presentations, workshop leadership, collaboration tasks, interviews, or written assignments. An assessment task will include a group project exploring an issue identified or inspired by First Peoples who collaborated in the delivery of the course. The specific learning outcomes and assessment rationale and criteria are set out in the special topics class summary and course page on Wattle.
Students enrolled in a field course may take a 6-unit extension of this course (that is an independent research project). If prerequisites are met, this may be accredited as a capstone course. Students will undertake a group research project exploring an issue or issues that arise from the immersive learning experience.
Topics may include but are not limited to:
Plants, people, place: desert ecology
Governance and self determination: Mparntwe field school
Bush foods and botanicals: Yawuru field school
Desert Knowledges: Independent research project
Tense past: artistic interventions in the colonial archive (lutrawita field school)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate insight into and understand First Peoples' knowledge or knowledges taught in this course;
- demonstrate insight into First People's perspectives taught in the course;
- demonstrate insight into theoretical perspectives, methodologies from the discipline of Indigenous Studies that arise in this course, including that relating to standpoint and other decolonising methodologies; and
- demonstrate knowledge of the place in which the field trip is conducted.
Work Integrated Learning
Fieldwork
Students are prepared for the field school prior to departure and then subsequently have an opportunity to critically analyse and reflect on the practical experience and the place where they learn. These field school expand students' capacity to engage with other diverse cultures and challenges that arise in unfamiliar settings. Such field schools enhance insight into oneself and others, creating opportunities that engender respect for those with different experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Other Information
Dates for field schools are subject to changed and will be confirmed three months before the intensive teaching period starts. Student are required to pay a course contribution fee that allows this field course to take place. Students will organise and pay for the cost of their travel to the field school.
There is a limit on the number of students who can join this course. Students must register an expression of interest to enrol via the following website: CASS Permission Code Request Form.
Students who have nominated the Australian Indigenous Studies Major (AUIS-MAJ) or Indigenous Science and Knowledges Major (ISCK-MAJ) in ISIS, and have completed the course requisites will be granted a permission code on application. Please visit this link for more information on nominating a major in ISIS.
Admission for all other student applicants will be assessed by the convener on a case-by case basis. Selection is based on:
(i) relevant disciplinary and sub-disciplinary areas of study. Preference will be given to students completing (1) relevant areas of study within CASS, and (2) relevant areas of study from other colleges.
(ii) the quality of the EoI, demonstrating a willingness to explore and deepen understanding of First Peoples' knowledges and perspectives, ways of knowing, and experiences since colonisation in a reflective and respectful way. The intent is to select students who show potential to engage actively and reflectively in the course content, and are aware that material in this course may be uncomfortable or distressing.
Some of the trip options may require students to safely traverse 5km over uneven ground at a moderate pace, and stay in basic cabins and dorms rooms with others participating in the course.
Indicative Assessment
- Course engagement (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Annotated bibliography or literature review (15) [LO 3,4]
- Portfolio of reflections (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Reflective essay (25) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Group research project (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
For the 6 unit offering, this course involves 130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact including lectures, tutorials, tutorial-like activities, and workshops; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading, viewing and writing.
For the 12 unit offering, this course involves 260 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 72 hours of contact including lectures, tutorials, tutorial-like activities, and workshops; and
b) 188 hours of independent student research, reading, viewing and writing.
Inherent Requirements
To complete this course, students must participate in the field trip of up to ten days to a domestic field location. In order to participate in the trip, students must have the ability to:
- Undertake autonomous domestic travel;
- Monitor and manage their own health while studying with a group of people in an international and/or isolated field location; and
- Understand and respect the needs of the community in which the field trip is being held and engage with respectful community protocols.
Students who cannot meet these requirements will not be able to participate in the trip and therefore cannot complete the course.
For more information, please refer to the CASS trip information page.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
The prescribed text and other materials are set out on the course wattle site.
Preliminary Reading
The prescribed text and other materials are set out on the course wattle site.
Assumed Knowledge
For information about this, see the Field school description under 'Other information'.
Assumed knowledge of shared histories in Australia at a tertiary standard and Indigenous standpoint theory; and, assumed insight into positionality and skills in reflexivity.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 to 12 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
| 7.00 | 0.14583 |
| 8.00 | 0.16667 |
| 9.00 | 0.18750 |
| 10.00 | 0.20833 |
| 11.00 | 0.22917 |
| 12.00 | 0.25000 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $720 per unit |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $930 per unit |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Summer Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1307 | 01 Jan 2026 | 23 Jan 2026 | 23 Jan 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | In Person | N/A |
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5318 | 01 Apr 2026 | 24 Apr 2026 | 24 Apr 2026 | 30 Jun 2026 | In Person | N/A |