History

Use this icon to personalise the page to your pathway, preferred campus and study level.

This page has been personalised for you. Select the icon to turn this off.

Personalisation is not available through private browsing.

Examine the past, to understand the challenges of the future

The study of history is important in today's ever-evolving society. So much more than just dates and facts, history can tell us who we are, where we came from and where we're going. By making connections between the past and present, we can better understand contemporary society.

Studying history at Griffith, you'll go beyond the classroom to investigate some of today's biggest issues from a historical perspective.

Historical study also plays an important part in developing valuable career skills in research, writing and documentation.

Skip to degrees

Key dates

Stay up-to-date with the latest Griffith events and activities

Find out more

Study history at Griffith

Learn from the past to prepare for the future

The study of history looks at change and continuity in society over time, the defining moments which shaped our world.

At Griffith, you’ll learn about the past as a way of understanding the present from many different angles – socially, culturally, politically and economically. You’ll learn about ancient civilisations, and delve into the way global actions shaped Australia’s history and influenced our present.

With seven subjects to choose from, you’ll cover a diverse range of historical events including the impact of past terrorist attacks, political violence and the ecological attitudes from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries.

You’ll learn to recognise and analyse trends and interconnections across centuries and civilizations, and examine topics such as the global impact of disease, environmental changes, warfare, trade and religious belief.

Examining evidence from the past will also help you understand human nature and the human condition.

Studying at Griffith will expose you to a wide range of viewpoints and opinions from a well-respected team of teaching staff. You’ll learn important professional skills, including how to read critically, carry out research, write with clarity, and make a persuasive evidence-based argument.

5-Star Rated

Humanities and Social Sciences is rated 5-stars for Educational Experience by the Good Universities Guide 2018, a leading independent provider of high-quality education and career information.

Daniel Lyons

Griffith Bachelor of Arts graduate

Bachelor of Arts student Daniel Lyons secured an enviable job with the Royal Australian Air Force before he graduated. As a Communications and Information Systems Controller, Daniel manages, monitors and maintains Local Area Networks, as well as operate communication facilities and safe keep classified data. 'The critical thinking skills I developed throughout my Bachelor of Arts degree have definitely given me the edge in getting this role,' he says.

Study options

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null},"_default_preview":{"id":"_default_preview","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null},"datasource":{"id":"datasource","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0088|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=627a3d1d-9b6e-44a8-a005-64b2bccd4ab0"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.214","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"query_and":"discipline:0088|T:Single|B:|W:|J:","city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","num_ranks":"1000"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Degrees	Campus	OP rank
Bachelor of Arts	Online
Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Arts	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Nathan
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Gold Coast
Bachelor of Journalism	Nathan
Bachelor of Journalism	Gold Coast
Bachelor of Journalism (Honours)	Gold Coast Nathan
Graduate Certificate in World Historical Studies	Online

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null},"_default_preview":{"id":"_default_preview","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null},"datasource":{"id":"datasource","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0088|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=ded61a40-cf78-42e9-8a92-3efad810468b"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.214","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"query_and":"discipline:0088|T:Double|B:|W:|J:","city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","num_ranks":"1000","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0088%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Expand your qualifications and your career options with our range of double degrees. As a double degree graduate, you’ll have a special skill set that will help you stand out with future employers.

Double Degrees	Campus	OP rank
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Commerce	Nathan
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts	Nathan
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast

It is important to check the degree requirements including placement requirements, before you apply.

Scholarships

Over 600 Scholarships available

Find out more about Scholarships

Career outcomes

Develop marketable professional skills

A degree in history from Griffith gives you practical skills useful for a wide variety of careers

Research and writing are at the heart of historical inquiry, along with analytical thinking: all highly valued by employers in the private sector and in government. With a specialisation in history from Griffith you have the opportunity to work in a wide range of roles including:

As a curator in galleries around the world
As a journalist reporting from remote parts of the world
Continuing on to a graduate diploma of education to become a history teacher
In screen production to make your mark in the film industry

Create a personalised degrees guide

Explore what Griffith has to offer

Get started

Life at Griffith

You can gain more than just a degree at Griffith. With plenty of opportunities to balance life and study, you can make memories and mates to last a lifetime.

Learn more about life at Griffith University

News

View all news articles

November 21, 2018

Griffith launches Centre for Creative Industries

November 20, 2018

Top humanities honour for Griffith historian

Key dates

View all key dates

Monday 5 February — Friday 21 December

Ongoing Q&A sessions

Book a 30 minute, personalised appointment with a member of our student recruitment team, to help find the right degree for you and get personalised advice about your study options. You can also find out about scholarships and discover admission pathways to university. Find out more

Saturday 15 December — Thursday 20 December

Explore Your Options - Online

Chat online with our expert study advisers after you have received your entry score, to discuss your study options. Find out about admission pathways, entry requirements and program options, plus what you can do if your OP or ATAR score was higher or lower than expected.

*Excluding Sunday 16 December Find out more

Sunday 11 August — Sunday 11 August

Open Day 2019

With 240 information sessions, activities and tours across our Gold Coast, Nathan and South Bank campuses, discover what’s possible at Griffith. Find out more