Students passionate about history might have found their “forever” home in a Bachelor of History degree in which graduates do not just study the past but develop the analytical toolkit demanded by an uncertain future.
In times of rapid technological change, pandemics, climate crisis, and shifting geopolitical landscapes, the ability to analyse complex patterns, understand cause and effect, and learn from past experiences has never been more crucial.
How will a history graduate prove invaluable to an employer?
“History graduates tackle complex problems and make sense of confusing situations. They explain complicated ideas clearly to anyone – from CEOs to confused stakeholders,” says Professor Ray Laurence, who is part of a team of course creators in History and Archaeology.
“While others panic about immediate issues, history grads see the bigger picture. They'll say, ‘We've seen this before – here's what comes next.’ They always back up their advice with solid evidence, not hunches.
“You're hiring critical thinkers who stay calm under pressure and communicate clearly.”
Bachelor of History students, says Professor Laurence, learn that societies can transform, that problems have solutions, and that informed decision-making requires an understanding of both continuity and change. Whether they become museum curators, policy advisors, or corporate leaders, History graduates bring this essential long-term perspective to their work.
They also bring advanced research and critical thinking; communication abilities; digital literacy; and project management skills. “These capabilities prepare graduates for diverse careers – from museums and education to public policy, media and business leadership,” he adds.
How the course works
The new three-year Bachelor of History launches in 2026. Students will be able to study History and/or Archaeology for their whole degree across 24 units, something that has not been possible before at Macquarie University.
The Bachelor of History combines historical inquiry with practical skills development across four major streams: Ancient History, Archaeology, Modern History, and Public History and Heritage. They all speak to one another, enabling a study program shaped with both personal interest and employability in mind.
An eight-unit Core provides a broad training in all of the degree’s moving parts. The broad knowledge developed in the Core subjects begins in the first year with students introduced to the earliest written texts, archaeology, the relevance of history today, and heritage. The second year has units on Indigenous histories and oral history.
Each stream has eight units. Students choose one major but can opt to take two. This allows for combinations of subjects that were not possible previously at Macquarie or, indeed, at most other Australian universities. Students can major in Ancient History and Archaeology, for example, or combine Archaeology with Modern History.
Ancient history buffs will voyage around the cultures of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Lessons in leadership, slavery, women and gender show students how to become empathetic leaders.
The new Major in Archaeology retains a strong focus on practical skills, with laboratory methods studied early on alongside the places like Greece and Rome. This approach builds on knowledge of archaeology gained by HSC students via the Cities of Vesuvius core unit in schools across NSW but expands their knowledge through a wider study of the archaeology of the ancient world.
The Major in Modern History examines transformative moments within global history, from the early medieval period to the present, examining the complex networks of connection, exchange, and conflict that have shaped our contemporary world. Expect an analysis of key events, movements, and individuals that have influenced Australia’s social, political, economic, and cultural development, as well as the country’s role in global affairs.
Public History and Heritage is a new area of study at Macquarie University. It provides a unique opportunity for undergraduates to learn how to communicate history to broad audiences, and develop skills required by the GLAM sector (that’s Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums). While other universities offer Public History at postgraduate level, Macquarie University students can embed public-facing history and archaeological study from their first year in the Bachelor of History degree. While less familiar to students than, say, modern history, it asks questions just as crucial: What is history for? and Who is history for?
With a Bachelor of History, graduating students will have job-ready skills, industry connections and real-world experience.