about the school of humanities and social sciences
Our mission
We are dedicated to providing the best education for the future leaders of the Australian Defence Force, so that they are able to think critically, analyse situations carefully, make informed judgements, and communicate clearly and effectively. Our extensive research and postgraduate teaching activities enable us to stay at the cutting edge of knowledge about the human experience in all its social, historical and cultural diversity, adding value to our core undergraduate program.
Disciplines
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW@ADFA comprises academic staff in five scholarly disciplines:
- English -Students who complete a major in English will have an increased knowledge of both the Western literary heritage and their own contemporary culture. Thus, a student might read the Iliad in order to consider the ways in which concepts of heroism and leadership have changed over the centuries, whilst also studying current newspaper articles and films
- History - History seeks to understand individual and group behaviour and to explain the forces that have shaped human civilisation: social change, wars, revolutions and popular movements.
- Indonesian studies - The Indonesian language program provides students with the ability to speak, read, write and understand an educated, standard form of Indonesian. It also provides students with an understanding of both the Indonesian context of their language studies and the inevitable problems of cross-cultural communication that are inseparable from their position as outside observers.
- Politics - Politics explores the social, cultural, economic and institutional realities of making and enforcing decisions; its focus is organised power.
- Applied Ethics - Ethics is a major branch of philosophy, which examines right conduct and the good life. The courses in ethics taught by HASS have an applied focus, seeking to apply ethical theory to real-life situations.
and two areas of cross-disciplinary study:
- Strategic Studies
- Law, Force and Legitimacy
Undergraduate Studies
Our undergraduate teaching balances the development of long-term skills with the short-term demands of the knowledge required of serving officers. Our aim is to develop in our undergraduates the skills that they will need to become adaptable, thoughtful and innovative members of the ADF, skills that will also fit them for lifelong learning.
To undergraduate students, who are officer cadets or midshipmen of the ADF, we offer a major sequence of studies in all of our disciplines but one Applied Ethics.
Student Enquiries: Bernadette McDermott - Telephone: +61 2 6268 8867 - Email: b.mcdermott@adfa.edu.au
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Arts(Honours)
For detailed information about the School of Humanities and Social Sciences undergraduate programs visit the Student Administration Website
Useful Resources
- Undergraduate Life at ADFA
- Student Administrative Services information
- UNSW@ADFA Assumed Subject Knowledge (pdf 32 kb)
- UNSW@ADFA Undergraduate Handbook (pdf 1.6 mb)
Postgraduate Studies
At postgraduate level, we teach a Masters coursework program (with specialist plans in either: Defence Studies; Strategy and Management; or Strategy and Security) to students who may be—but are not required to be—members of the ADF.
- Master of Arts
- Military History
- Strategy and Security
- course outlines s1 2012
For detailed information about the School of Humanities and Social Sciences postgraduate programs visit the Student Adminstration Website.
Useful Resources
Research
We have a strong research focus and outstanding researchers with national and international profiles for their scholarly publications and contributions to public debate. Academic staff are keen competitors for research grants, and the School welcomes postgraduate research students (for Masters and Doctoral thesis projects) in areas where our staff have expertise.
