Course Title: Indigenous Studies

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Indigenous Studies

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO1296

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

HUSO1296

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 2 2017

Course Coordinator: Rachel Goff

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2328

Course Coordinator Email: rachel.goff@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 8, Level 10

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

The settler-colonial project impacts all aspects of life in so called Australia. This means that the history of colonisation and its ongoing impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are upheld through colonising systems, structures, values, knowledge and beliefs. This course will introduce you to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation, explore what it means to reside on Indigenous land, and examine the personal and professional responsibilities that non-Indigenous people have as a result. You will critically examine notions of power, privilege, knowledge, race and sovereignty, and learn to recognise and critique settler-colonialism in society and professional practice. Critical self-reflection is a crucial component of this course, which will support you to explore your own position in relation to Indigenous sovereignty. 

To guide these learnings, this course centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives. Each week you will learn from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples including scholars and experts in key content areas, highlighting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing (Martin, 2003), truth-telling, contemporary cultural expression, life experiences, and aspirations. Classes are designed to promote safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous students and will develop a forum for the discussion of ideas, truths, challenges and opportunities. Note: The course may include on Country learning with traditional knowledge holders and may include an additional fee.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

  • Participate robustly in contemporary and changing ideological and political debates impacting on society, in an informed, flexible and grounded manner to evaluate policy and/or engage in policy debates  
  • Apply a body of interdisciplinary knowledge, values and skills in working with and for society’s most vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families, groups and communities  
  • Critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on issues of social disadvantage, marginalisation and oppression in both local and international contexts, and proactively work to promote social justice and human rights.  
  • Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and practical reasoning when identifying and solving problems in diverse contexts 
  • Work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness while promoting respectful, ethical and reflective practice 


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Critically engage with the history of colonisation and its enduring impacts on Indigenous Australians
  2. Understand the importance of critical reflection in relation to self and key concepts including power, knowledge, privilege, race and sovereignty
  3. Build an understanding and appreciation for Indigenous culture, values and perspectives, and the ongoing contributions of Indigenous people to Australian society
  4. Reflect on our individual and collective responsibility in relation to Indigenous Australia, in everyday life and professional practice


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities may include class activities of critical reflection to review lectures/resource content/location of self, site visits of Cultural Significance, peer learning, tutorial presentations, critical reflection, engaging the micro and essay writing and self-exploration of course resources and student research. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1:Contemporary Issues Journal, 35%, CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 2: Connection to Country Report, 40% CLOs 1 & 3

Assessment Task 3: Responsible Practice Statement, 25% CLOs 2 & 4

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.