Download PDF

Course Outline

HIS240 History of Nationalism and National Identity: 18th Century and Beyond

Course Coordinator:Amy Clarke (aclarke1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course explores the historical contexts (18th-19th century events) and ramifications (20th-21st century events) of nationhood, national identity and nationalism, encompassing key issues and events (e.g. First and Second World Wars, fall of the Soviet Union) and prominent nationalist movements. Students will develop a layered and wide-reaching understanding of 20th-21st century history that ranges across European, Asian, North and South American and Australian contexts, and that has on-going relevance today.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – 1 hour non-sequential online materials / activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus face-to-face two-hour seminar/workshop. 2hrs Week 2 10 times
Online
Learning materials – 1 hour non-sequential online materials / activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online two-hour seminar/workshop. 2hrs Week 2 10 times

Course Topics

Histories of nations and nationalism - 18th to 21st centuries

Theories of nationalism (e.g. ethnic, cultural, civic) and national identity

Histories of nationalism in: Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia

Histories and impacts of of colonisation/decolonisation on 20th-21st century nations

Influence/impact of nationalism in empire building, global conflicts, Indigenous rights movements, high and popular culture, and contemporary politics

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate knowledge of the broad development of nationalism across the 18th to 21st centuries. Knowledgeable
Communication
2 Demonstrate an ability to conduct research, interpretation and analysis of appropriate primary and secondary sources relating to the history of nations and nationalism. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Communication
Information literacy
3 Demonstrate an awareness of relevant historical and political theories and concepts relating to nations, nationalism, and national identity. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Communication
4 Demonstrate original, effective and academically appropriate communication in written and oral formats. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Communication

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Workshops will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 25% 
5 quizzes worth 5 marks each
 Refer to Format Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Activity Participation Individual 35% 
Active engagement with and participation in tutorials, plus written submission of approx. 750 words (excluding direct quotes, references, list of sources).
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Essay Individual 40% 
2,250 words (excluding direct quotes, references, list of sources)
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online Quizzes
Goal: 
To demonstrate knowledge of the development of nationalism across the 18th-21st centuries.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Submit: Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.

Five fortnightly online quizzes beginning in Week 2. Students will complete five (5) short online quizzes throughout trimester. Each quiz will be worth five (5) marks, and will comprise a combination of short-answer and multiple choice questions.

Quiz content will be drawn from the previous fortnight's Online Learning Materials and set readings.

Students may refer to notes and the set readings while undertaking the quizzes, but should not use Google or any generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT). Each quiz will be active for two weeks only; students can complete each quiz at any point during the two-week period it is active.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of course material and set readings.
 1 3 4
2 
Ability to critically analyse and synthesise material into original, concise answers.
 1 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Tutorial Activity and Written Piece
Goal: 
To demonstrate an awareness of 1-2 nationalist movements of the 20th century through the analysis and synthesis of a small number of scholarly secondary sources.
Product: Activity Participation
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Active Participation in Tutorials:
Students are required to attend and participate in tutorial discussion and in-class activities set in Weeks 2-7. The activities conducted in tutorials will directly inform the subsequent written submission.

Written submission:
Approx 750 word (excluding direct quotes, references, list of sources) written piece reflecting on tutorial set readings and in-class activities. The referencing style used should be Harvard, APA, or Chicago 17A.

More information to be provided on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrates effective analysis and synthesis of scholarly secondary sources relating to the history and theory of nationalism.
 1 2 3 4
2 
Demonstrates engagement with and understanding of course themes through active participation in tutorial activities and discussions.
 1 3 4
3 
Demonstrates effective, original, and well-structured scholarly written communication.
 4
4 
Demonstrates academic integrity, with work suitably referenced to academic standards, and meeting word count expectations.
 2 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Research Essay
Goal: 
To demonstrate an awareness of the significance of ethnicity and/or culture and/or politics in shaping nationalist movements and notions of national identity; and to communicate this effectively by conducting research, interpretation and analysis of primary and secondary sources.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Submit: Friday, first week of Exam Block.

Students will produce a 2,250-word essay responding to a set topic/theme on the history of nationalism and national identity. 

Students will be provided with a list of possible research topics for Task 3 on Canvas at the beginning of trimester.

In responding to the chosen topic, the Essay should: combine knowledge of course concepts/themes with in-depth original research (primary and appropriate scholarly secondary sources); apply historical and relevant theoretical argumentation and analysis; and evaluate relevant historical and relevant theoretical cultural concepts.

The Essay must demonstrate academic integrity, using appropriate academic language and formatting. All primary sources must be referenced and (if using images in essay) labelled. All secondary sources must be scholarly in nature. Direct quotes, indirect (paraphrased) quotes/ideas, and any historical information located during research for this essay must be referenced. A List of Sources must be provided at the end of the essay. The List of Sources, direct quotes, and references will not be included in the Essay word count.

The referencing style used should be Harvard, APA, or Chicago 17A.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrates an ability to conduct in-depth research, analysis and synthesis of appropriate primary and scholarly secondary sources relating to the history and theory of nationalism.
 1 2 3 4
2 
Demonstrates an ability to construct a well-informed argument about the history of nationalism that builds upon course themes.
 1 2 3 4
3 
Demonstrates effective, original, and well-structured scholarly written communication.
 4
4 
Demonstrates academic integrity, with work suitably referenced to academic standards, and meeting word count expectations.
 2 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

Download PDF