ATS3956 Trauma and memory in the modern world
Faculty of Arts
ATS3956 Trauma and memory in the modern world is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
In this unit you will examine the histories, theories, and applications of trauma and memory in relation to twentieth- and twenty-first century events. You will explore these interrelated concepts from interdisciplinary perspectives—including psychoanalysis, literature, history, philosophy, and anthropology. Through this lens, you will investigate a range of transnational and transhistorical case studies. Topics may include: hospitality and hostility in the context of immigration state sovereignty in modern society; war traumas experienced by soldiers, civilians, and refugees; the legacies of colonization and decolonization; testimonies of gender-based violence and struggles; memories of pandemics, disease, mourning, and caring; and the ethics of empathy and listening in relation to others’ suffering. Together, these topics highlight how personal and collective traumas in history are remembered and represented.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- In-Class Participation ActivityExercise10%
- Online QuizQuiz / Test25%
- EssayWritten25%
- Research ProjectProject40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
examine the various individual, historical, cultural, and political factors that contribute to the shaping of traumatic memory;
- 2
insightfully articulate and assess the scholarly debates regarding differences between individual and collective experiences of trauma, and the limitations and possibilities of applying Western conceptions of trauma in non-Western contexts;
- 3
explain how trauma operates as both an internal psychological experience and as an external, social, and global phenomenon, including in international representations of violence and suffering;
- 4
critically analyse different kinds of historical sources relevant to trauma and memory, including audiovisual testimonies;
- 5
communicate effectively in written and oral formats and in individual and collaborative settings.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but students need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
This unit will provide you with opportunities to work with peers in groups and pairs in class. You will have interactive discussions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the topic, and reinforce your learning.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
Learning resources
Technology resources
This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications (https://www.monash.edu/esolutions/students/bring-your-own-device-byod). Free specialist software is available via MoVE (https://www.monash.edu/learning-teaching/innovation/learning-technologies/move)
Where it fits
ATS3956 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- HOLGENST03Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHolocaust and genocide studiesNo reviews yet
- HMNRGTSJ01Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHuman rights and social justiceNo reviews yet
- HMNRGTSJ02Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHuman rights and social justiceNo reviews yet
- JEWISHST07Level 2 and 3 elective unitsJewish studiesNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Yu Wang
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Yu Wang
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS3956?
ATS3956 has no prerequisites.
When is ATS3956 offered?
In 2026, ATS3956 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS3956?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS3956 have an exam?
No. ATS3956 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS3956?
ATS3956 is part of Holocaust and genocide studies; Human rights and social justice; and Jewish studies.