Handbook home
The Great War 1914 to 1918 (HIST10014)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The Great War, the ‘seminal catastrophe of the twentieth century,’ now lies a century behind us, but its aftershocks continue to reverberate down to the present. This subject will provide a global history of the war with special attention devoted to Australia’s role. Issues to be addressed include: Who was responsible for the war? Was WWI the first total war? To what extent did the war transform social and moral norms, gender, race and class relations, and the relationships within the global economy? What were the war aims of the belligerent nations? How did soldiers experience the war? Why did they keep fighting for so long? How did the war affect civilians? Did the war achieve anything or was it just an exercise in futility? Why did the peacemaking at Versailles fail? The subject requires that students read a range of materials, both secondary and primary. The tutorials are designed to enable students to explore key issues in European history and historiography during the period 1900-1920.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- demonstrate a general knowledge of some of the principal figures and significant events of World War I;
- understand how the concept of total war might be applicable to the First World War;
- gain an understanding of some of the key historiographical debates on topics such as the origins of the war, the nature of combat, the impact of the war on class, race and gender relations, and the legacy of the war;
- be able to analyse primary and secondary sources in constructing historical arguments;
- demonstrate research skills using printed and electronic sources in preparation of a critical primary source analysis; and
- develop skills of critical thinking through group discussion of subject readings and preparation of written assessment.
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- A 1000 word essay due in week 5 (25%)
- A 1000 word essay due in week 9 (25%)
- A 2000 word final essay due in the first week of the end of semester examination period (50%)
Hurdle requirement:
- Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials and successfully complete the online 'Researching History' program in order to pass this subject.
- All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Julie Fedor Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours – 24 x 1 hour lectures and 11 x 1 hour tutorials Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Stevenson, D., 1914 - 1918: The History of the First World War, Penguin, 2004
A subject reader will be available.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 19 March 2024