Becoming a well-rounded historian depends on the acquisition of professional skills as well as the deepening of intellectual engagement. Key skills and capabilities include being able to situate one's own research within a broader historical field, identify the key 'question' or 'problem' which that project addresses, and communicate historical ideas and interpretations in appropriate styles, genres and modes. Historians now need to be able to engage with a wide range of audiences, to speak publicly about their own research in academic, pedagogical and public contexts, and to translate research into accessible - including digital and online - forms. They also engage with the work of others through various forms of reviewing (books, films, exhibitions and peer review of unpublished research). And they make connections between their own research discoveries and public and policy debate through opinion pieces, essays, expert advice, and media interviews and commentary. This course will offer instructional programs and activities designed to nourish and enhance the professional development of historians in the widest sense.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand the key principles and practices of communicating historical research and knowledge effectively to diverse audiences;
- translate a piece of their own historical research for a particular audience in a suitable format;
- articulate in succinct spoken and written form the key problem or question to which their research contributes;
- present a clear, concise and critical summary of their research project to an audience of peers, and respond effectively and appropriately to questions about content, method, argument, historiography, and contribution;
- contribute constructively to history-focused activities designed to deepen intellectual engagement, such as reading and writing groups, work-in-progress seminars, and conferences and workshops; and
- develop a repertoire of capabilities, and evidence of those capabilities, to enhance employability in academic and professional positions
Indicative Assessment
- Translation of piece of their own research for a public audience, OR an equivalent-length critical review of a piece of public history, OR a reflective response to Masterclass (c. 1000 words) (assessed by primary supervisor) (30) [LO 1,2,6]
- Public presentation at a work-in-progress symposium (c. 20 minutes), abstract (c. 300 words) and written script for the spoken paper (c. 2000 words) (assessed by primary supervisor) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Expanded written version of work-in-progress paper that indicates responses to questions/discussion and supervisor feedback (c. 5000) (assessed by primary supervisor) (40) [LO 1,3,4]
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
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) Compulsory attendance at an intensive on 'What's your problem? From topic to thesis' (3x4-hour workshops = 12 hours)
b) Compulsory attendance at a workshop on "Public Address: Communicating historical research" (4 hours)
c) Contribution to online forums, including posting comments and questions, based on assigned readings for both intensives (4 hours)
d) Participation in an HDR work-in-progress mini-conference, including contributing to convening it and presenting at it (6 hours)
e) Participation in ONE additional intensive offered in the School of History (or elsewhere with permission) - either a 'masterclass' or a 'skills' workshop and which requires preparation in advance (6 hours)
f) Participation in regular (i.e. monthly) meetings of a reading or writing group (e.g. biography reading group, gender and history reading group, history writing group etc) and which requires preparation in advance (6 hours)
g) Independent student reading, research, and writing (92 hours)
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
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 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 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $6360 |
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.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8009 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |