Indigenous Education and Research Centre Indigenous Subjects

Indigenous Subjects

IERC Undergraduate subjects

Our team of professional lecturers teach various Indigenous subjects to further enhance your learning outcomes while studying a degree at JCU. Our students gain knowledge and understanding of the importance of culture to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and other Indigenous peoples living in the Tropics.

All subjects are available internally at JCU Townsville and JCU Cairns.

Semester 1, also available externally.

Includes field trips: Cairns students - Mossman Gorge, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Townsville students - Cape Cleveland and Harvey's Range, JCU oval fire and weaponry display with Uncle Rusty.

Find out more: IA1011 subject information

Semester 2, also available externally.

Includes field trips: Cairns students - tour Australian Tropical Herbarium with Indigenous ethnobotanist Gerry Turpin. Townsville students - behind the scenes tour of Indigenous artefacts at the Museum of Tropical Queensland.

Find out more: IA1012 subject information

Semester 1, also available externally.

Find out more: IA2022 subject information

Semester 2, also available externally.

Find out more: IA2023 subject information

Semester 2, also available externally.

This subject includes an optional field trip to Malaysia in SP2 2020 for twenty IA2030 students.

Held during the Malaysian summer, this field trip will explore the Indigenous Communities of Malaysia. Students are required to attend lectures for one week and field trips over two weeks to various Indigenous Communities.

The cost of the course is $US2,200 plus airfares. The $US2,200 covers the cost of the program, accommodation, meals and transport within Malaysia during the program.

Airfares and other incidentals will need to be covered by the students. Financial assistance is available through OS-HELP.

There are 10 New Colombo Plan Grants (for Australian Citizens) up for offer which is $3000.  This will cover the cost of the program.

This will be held in the last week of June and first two weeks of July (exact dates will be released in February 2020).

To be eligible for this trip, you must be enrolled in IA2030 in 2020.

For a glimpse of what to expect during this incredible opportunity, check out: http://bit.ly/2n3KhoZ

Find out more: IA2030 subject information

For more information please contact:Dr Dianna Hardy dianna.hardy@jcu.edu.au or Sandra Boswell sandra.boswell@jcu.edu.au

Semester 1, also available externally.

Find out more: IA3024 subject information

Semester 1, also available externally.

Find out more: IA3025 subject information

Semester 2.

Find out more: IA3030 subject information

Postgraduate Courses

A JCU Master of Philosophy (Indigenous) provides exceptional students with the opportunity to complete a significant independent research thesis. Find out more about the MPhil (Indigenous) here.

The Master of Philosophy (Indigenous) offers an innovative approach to research education, combining structured intensives with a cohort model. A MPhil, or Masters by Research, differs from coursework in that you will develop and undertake your own research project with the assistance of advisors and the academic team at the IERC.

In an MPhil (Indigenous), you will undertake two research intensives where you will work with peers and advisors to learn about Indigenous research, develop your research skills and advance your project. Following the intensives, regular meetings with your experienced advisors will assist you as you undertake your research, culminating in the presentation of a thesis.

Indigenous Teaching Programs lecturers: Dr Ailie McDowall (Townsville), Associate Professor Felecia Watkin-Lui (Cairns), Dr Vincent Backhaus (Cairns) and Dr Dianna Hardy (Townsville).

Thinking about a research higher degree?
JCU's Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates provide advice for new candidates.

JCU 2020 Undergraduate Study Guide

For a list of all undergraduate courses offered at James Cook University, view the 2020 Study Guide