Handbook home
American History: 1945 to Now (HIST20071)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Covering some of the most significant issues and debates in American history since 1945, this subject aims to develop a deeper understanding of American political and social controversies that remain relevant today. It charts key developments: from McCarthyism to the Patriot Act; from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Black Lives Matter; from liberalism’s apogee to the rise of conservatism. It examines the legacies of and controversies surrounding presidencies from Truman to Trump. With an emphasis on domestic rather than foreign affairs, the subject covers the Cold War, the Sixties – New Left and counterculture, the civil rights movement, social activism in the 1970s, the role of religion in American public life, the rise of the New Right, debates about immigration, and other key topics. The aim is to provide students with a grounding in the aspects of the history of these decades that still shape and animate contemporary debates.
Intended learning outcomes
Students that successfully complete this subject should
- gain a general knowledge of the principal figures and significant events and developments in the history of the United States since 1945;
- gain familiarity with the major historiographical debates concerning U.S. history and with major interpretive perspectives and approaches to the subject;
- develop skills in locating and analysing primary and secondary sources in constructing and evaluating historical arguments;
- develop research skills using printed and electronic sources, both primary and secondary;
- develop skills in clear and persuasive written expression and argumentation;
- develop skills of critical thinking, empathy, and oral expression and argumentation through participating in a multi-session role-play game
Generic skills
- Practice teamwork and leadership, problem-solving, and analytical skills
Last updated: 11 April 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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Research essay
| Mid to late semester | 60% |
Research essay
| During the examination period | 40% |
Hurdle requirement Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of assessment 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. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day and in-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Julia Bowes Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 29 hours: 12 weeks x 1.5 hours lecture per week; 11 weeks x 1 hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available online.
- 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:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- 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: 11 April 2024