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Study humanities & social science online with Macquarie University through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

The Bachelor of Arts (OUA) at Macquarie University is a distinctive course that equips its graduates with knowledge and skills that can be applied in any career or in further study. No other course offers as much flexibility and a wide range of study options as the Bachelor of Arts. You will be given the opportunity to turn your passion into a career while developing a strong set of core transferable skills valued by industry and the society. In consultation with industry, the Bachelor of Arts (OUA) places a strong emphasis on skills for success in the 21st century workplace. You will be taught by active researchers, leading academics and award winning teachers.

Make your degree unique and study what interests you. Analyse critically, think creatively and problem-solve at work or in everyday life. Complete foundational studies then tailor your degree with a major. Create a portfolio and build your connections.

Bachelor of Arts

With its dual focus on policy analysis and applied social research, the Master of Public and Social policy (OUA) is a unique and innovative course in Australia. Through your studies, you will develop a deep knowledge of how policy is shaped, as well as the skills to help you analyse, design and deliver effective policy solutions to serve the public interest. You will also acquire the knowledge and skills to engage with and undertake research addressing global challenges facing contemporary societies, including sustainable communities, welfare reform, immigration, population health, drugs and alcohol.

Take a dual focus towards policy and social research. Learn how policy is shaped, before gaining skills to design and deliver your own. Use research to address sustainable communities, welfare, immigration, population health and more.

Master of Public and Social Policy

Please note: All Macquarie subjects are now available in Semesters. Please refer to the <a href="https://www.open.edu.au/your-studies/getting-started/key-dates" target="_blank">Key Dates </a>page for further information.The course will provide pathways for you, to further studies in Ancient History, support specific professional development needs (eg for teachers) or preparing you for entry into the Master of Ancient History in an online mode.You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of a complex body of knowledge in a range of the disciplines offered: Ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Early Christianity, Coptic Studies, and Ancient Languages.In addition to the coursework offered through a program of online seminars, you may conduct research in your chosen field.From 2020 the Macquarie subject codes have changed. All subjects previously studied under the old subject code will be recognized as equivalent.

Study the art, architecture, religion and literature of ancient civilisations to develop an understanding of cultural history. Specialise in Ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Early Christianity, Coptic Studies or Ancient Languages. 

Graduate Certificate of Ancient History

Graduates in the Master of Ancient History (OUA) will have specialised knowledge in this discipline and skills for research and further learning. In this course, you will have the opportunity to gain advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in a range of relevant disciplines. In addition to the coursework offered through seminars, you will conduct research in your chosen field. You may only enrol in the course as an online student. The course caters for anyone who wishes to further their studies in Ancient History, support specific professional development (eg teachers), or prepare for higher degree research studies.

Understand who we are today by looking into the trials of history. Learn how to critically examine cultures of ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds at a postgraduate level.  

Master of Ancient History

Myth in the Ancient World

Critical Thinking

Happiness, Goodness and Justice

The Philosophy of Human Nature

Introducing Indigenous Australia

Latin A

Literature: Modern and Contemporary

Spanish Studies 1

Literature: Medieval to Modern

Studying the Past: An Introduction to Ancient History in the 21st Century

This subject was previously known as SLAX101 Introductory Spanish I.This subject is for students who have never studied Spanish before. Students who have studied Spanish or had some informal exposure to the language through family, friends or travel should contact the unit convenor before enrolling in this unit. The course follows a communicative approach and is designed to develop skills in listening comprehension and speaking, but similarly promotes proficiency in reading and writing in order to cultivate the competencies and guidelines established by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The subject aims to prepare students to, among others: introduce themselves and others, ask and answer questions about personal details, understand and use everyday expressions, and interact in simple ways with native speakers of Spanish.

Start your exploration of the Spanish language. Expose yourself to Spanish writings and conversational scenarios. Articulate words, phrases, names and sentences. Learn to read, write, speak and comprehend some Spanish to a basic level.

The study of the past is constantly evolving and this unit sets out to introduce students to the changing nature of the study of antiquity and the on-going significance of the past in the modern world. This unit also introduces students to the study of primary sources, or evidence from Greek and Roman world, and the evaluation of how history is written through an analysis of a specific historical area. The first section of the unit is focused on the study of ancient sources - what is our evidence and how did authors millennia ago write about major world events - pandemics, war, politics, and so on that continue to be a focus for us today. This section of the unit will give you a thorough understanding of the issues around the use of evidence in Ancient History.The second section of the unit focuses on the writing of ancient history in the modern world. You will study a developing area of recent research and critically evaluate how this research is created, its limitations and its strengths, and its significance for those living in the modern world.The third section introduces students to recent research on the ancient Mediterranean and current approaches to the writing of the Ancient History of this region that includes a variety of ancient cultures and peoples: Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, Italian, Numidian, Sicilian and so on.

Explore how universities in today’s modern world research and make meaning of the past. You’ll review evidence of major events in Greek and Roman history. And with a critical eye, you’ll evaluate ancient sources against current principles and processes.

This subject was previously known as JPNX101/JNPX1010 Introductory Japanese I.This subject provides introductory Japanese language instruction for students with no previous knowledge of Japanese. Students develop basic speaking, listening, reading &amp; writing skills, including mastery of the hiragana &amp; katakana scripts. By the end of the course, students should be able to describe their surroundings, ask questions, make plans, and effectively participate in a variety of fundamental conversations. Furthermore, the course will also assist students in developing an awareness of sociocultural issues which influence Japanese language use. The class provides opportunities for interactive language learning, and a wide variety of methods for Japanese practice through the use of online resources.

Begin your journey to writing, reading and speaking Japanese. Learn about different components of the Japanese writing system such as hiragana and katakana. Acquire a grasp of kana scripts. Interact with online resources to test your studies.

Japanese Studies I

English literature is foundational to modern life, providing everyday cultural references and a storehouse of stories that entertain us and enrich our communication and interaction with each other. This entry unit is informed by the questions: What is literature for? Why is it necessary? Why is it useful? Running through our program is the idea that literature helps us conceive of what it means to be human, and to apprehend the lived experience of other humans.  This unit surveys English literature from its medieval beginnings, through the Shakespearean Renaissance, to the late nineteenth century, when the Modernist movement began to supplant the Decadence of the late Victorian era, and children’s literature began to proliferate, contributing to our modern idea of what it means to be a child. Students will read a wide variety of literature and will be introduced to a range of concepts and tools for studying these texts. Along with a chronological knowledge of literary movements, this unit develops skills at university level in critical reading, textual analysis and writing about literary texts. Short literary works and weekly critical studies provide focal points for developing detailed and informed ways of interpreting different kinds of narratives. This unit will also provide students with an introduction to further studies in English and creative writing at Macquarie.

An introduction to the study of literary texts. You’ll learn how to think carefully about novels, poems and plays. Explore society reflected on paper and learn about what it means to be human. Build a base for further English studies and the arts.

Please note: This subject is available in Macquarie Session 3, which is an intensive semester that spans only 5 intensive teaching weeks, plus a mid-session recess and an assessment period. Students are advised to enrol in only one or two subjects in Session 3. Students who would prefer to take the unit over 13 teaching weeks should enrol in the Session 1 or 2 offering.This unit introduces students to contemporary Indigenous thought, culture and politics in Australia. Students in this unit learn about Indigenous futurism and activism, the history of race and settler colonialism in Australia, and Indigenous studies and decolonial thinking. Students will also be introduced to contemporary expressions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities. This is a transformative unit that provides students with skills and knowledge to be agents of change in their communities and the world at large.

Gain insights into Indigenous perspectives. You’ll explore modern expressions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Unpack how Indigenous people envision their future. Get ready to contribute towards a more inclusive Australia.

What is it that makes us good or evil, virtuous or vicious? What does it mean to be a competent agent who can be held responsible for moral as well as immoral action? And what does morality and moral theory require of us as agents? Thinking about what motivates morality raises important questions about the role played by reason, will, emotion and intuition in bringing about moral­ behaviour. It also offers a basis for critically examining prominent ethical theories to see how well they can accommodate the lived realities of human agency and motivation. And it invites further questions about the contribution of social context and psychopathic conditions in explaining ordinary and extreme forms of wrongdoing. This unit will critically examine the philosophical and psychological literature on moral agency, virtue, goodness, and evil, as well as exploring historical and contemporary philosophical accounts of the importance of such things as integrity, character, autonomy and respect for others in moral life and moral relations.

The Ethics and Moral Psychology of Good and Evil

This subject was previously known as PHIX137 Critical Thinking.Please note: This subject is available in Macquarie Session 3, which is an intensive semester that spans only 5 intensive teaching weeks, plus a mid-semester recess and an assessment period. Students are advised to enrol in only one or two subjects in Session 3. Students who would prefer to take the unit over 13 teaching weeks should enrol in the Session 1 or 2 offering.This subject aims to teach the fundamentals of critical thinking and reasoning. Students will learn how to construct, analyse and critically evaluate arguments; how to detect common fallacies in reasoning; and how to think logically and creatively. We teach these skills by developing practical techniques for the evaluation of reasoning, and applying them to arguments from business, law, science, politics, philosophy and the media. Critical thinking skills are invaluable across all disciplines, and will benefit students in academic contexts and in life beyond university.s

Identify methods used to structure arguments. Beware of fallacies and pseudo-arguments. Prepare for discourses on subjects including science, philosophy and law. Sharpen your approach to thinking critically and producing well-reasoned arguments.

This subject was previously known as PHIX131 Mind and World.The subject introduces the big philosophical questions about human nature, personal identity and the meaning of life. Are human beings somehow unique in nature? Do we have distinct selves that endure through time? Do we have free will? What is the relation between our identity and the things that matter to us? The main theme is whether there is such a thing as human nature at all. We begin by asking whether mind is entirely physical or could in principle survive bodily death. We also explore the links between the self, time, and memory. The remainder of the unit introduces some key thinkers of the twentieth century; and we explore their views on freedom, lived experience, and our relations to others. The unit as a whole offers a detailed introduction to controversial questions about the nature of the mind, showing how historical understanding animates current debates, and demonstrating the relevance of philosophy to live modern issues about science, human nature, and culture.

Open your mind to philosophical arguments about identity, human nature and the meaning of life. Pry into what makes individual human beings unique. Position the concept of free will against determinism. Join in arguments by 20th century key thinkers. 

In 1215 CE, a Mongol army led by Genghis Khan conquered the Chinese city of Zongdhu (present-day Beijing), creating the basis for the largest contiguous land empire in human history. That same year, leaders of the Latin Church met for the Fourth Lateran Council in Rome at the other end of Eurasia, establishing western European Christian doctrine for the next three centuries. These civilizations soon came into contact as the Mongol Empire enabled commerce and cultural exchange between east and west Eurasia. This unit explores how the increasingly complex network of connections that linked Europe and the wider world between the High Middle Ages and the eve of the modern era helped to create the particular society and culture that we today frequently refer to as “the West.” We focus on the historical contingency of this creation and the ways in which both European and non-European influences and factors forged the idea of the West. From medieval encounters between Christianity and Islam to eighteenth-century encounters between Pacific Islanders and Europeans, from the thirteenth-century Eurasian economic world system to the truly global economy that emerged after 1500, from the horseback empire of the Mongols to the martime empires built by European states, we explore the transformation of the premodern world. The unit considers these processes from both European and non-European perspectives.

Explore a crucial period of premodern history. Analyse the religious, political, economic, and cultural events that contributed to the creation of Western society. Dive more deeply into an aspect of this era by penning a research-based essay. 

Forging the West: A World History of Europe, 1215-1788

Please note: This subject is available in Macquarie Session 3, which is an intensive semester that spans only 5 intensive teaching weeks, plus a mid-semester recess and an assessment period. Students are advised to enrol in only one or two subjects in Session 3. Students who would prefer to take the unit over 13 teaching weeks should enrol in the Session 1 or Session 2 offering. What do the humanities, arts, and social sciences comprise and how do they benefit society? How do they contribute to the rapidly changing world of work? This unit is an interdisciplinary introduction to the main methods used and issues considered in the study of the humanities, arts, and social sciences, with particular reference to the key transferable skills that you will develop in your learning journey through the Bachelor of Arts. Case studies drawn from a variety of disciplines and real-life situations will be employed to illustrate the ways in which the humanities, arts, and social sciences respond to complex problems and social challenges. In addition, you will develop essential skills and strategies to succeed as a Bachelor of Arts student, which are also applicable to the subject disciplines that constitute the degree.

An introduction to the study of the humanities, arts, and social sciences at university—and a gateway to your arts degree. Open your mind to culture, philosophy, and language. Build transferrable skills in critical thinking, research, and analysis. 

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