History

Personalised by

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

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

Flexible study options

Learn how we can help make University work for you.

Find out more about Flexibility

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

{"executionContext":"Public","query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":{"facetDefinitions":[],"metadataFieldsUsed":[]},"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"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":["-33.861496,151.2055"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"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":"43.245.40.213","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-search01.log"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetCollectionConstraints":null,"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.213","logQuery":null,"rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"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","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","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":"Sydney","countryCode":"AU","countryName":"Australia","dmaCode":0,"latitude":-33.861496,"longitude":151.2055,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":"1001","region":"02"},"hostname":null,"funnelbackVersion":{"major":15,"minor":20,"revision":0},"customData":{},"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
Bachelor of Arts	Online
Bachelor of Arts	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Nathan
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Gold Coast
Bachelor of Journalism (Honours)	Gold Coast Nathan

{"executionContext":"Public","query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":{"facetDefinitions":[],"metadataFieldsUsed":[]},"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"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":["-33.861496,151.2055"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"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":"43.245.40.213","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-search01.log"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetCollectionConstraints":null,"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.213","logQuery":null,"rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0088|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"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","num_ranks":"1000","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213","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":"Sydney","countryCode":"AU","countryName":"Australia","dmaCode":0,"latitude":-33.861496,"longitude":151.2055,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":"1001","region":"02"},"hostname":null,"funnelbackVersion":{"major":15,"minor":20,"revision":0},"customData":{},"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
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast Nathan

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 study 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

25 Sep 2019

Griffith research nationally recognised

06 Sep 2019

Our Outstanding Alumni Award winners

Key dates

View all key dates

Monday 21 October — Friday 25 October

Trimester 3: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.

Tuesday 29 October — Thursday 31 October

Application Support Nights

Need help with your university application? Receive personalised advice and assistance from one of our expert study advisers to start and/or complete your university application.

Find out more.

Monday 16 December — Thursday 19 December

Explore your options

If your OP or ATAR result changes your direction, chat online with our expert study advisers to explore your study options. Find out about admissions pathways, entry requirements and changing your preferences.

Find out more.