ECC3144 Economic history: The rise of capitalism
Faculty of Business and Economics
ECC3144 Economic history: The rise of capitalism is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs ((ECC1000, ECW1101, ECB1101 or ECF1100) and (ECC1100, ECX1200, ECW1102, ECB1102 or ECF1200)); and ECX2144.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECC3144
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After ECC3144
No unit lists ECC3144 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
To be successful in this unit, background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent of VCE Year 12 Higher level. You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or you have covered relevant topics in your final years of secondary study. You should self-assess your maths competency prior to enrolling in this unit.
Overview
The unit covers core topics in economic history, including the sources of long-run economic change, the industrial revolution, the “Great Divergence,” the economic rise of the US, the spread of industrialisation, the processes promoting globalisation, and the origins of Australia’s prosperity. The unit offers an understanding of the deep historical processes out of which modern economic growth emerged. To that end, the unit employs an interdisciplinary approach, grounded in economics, but drawing key insights from history and other social sciences.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Quiz / Test70%
- Presentation30%
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
understand how the core features of major modern economies emerged historically
- 2
understand and critically analyse recent research in economic history
- 3
critically engage with debates on the sources of long-run economic change
- 4
apply an interdisciplinary approach that integrates economic insights on the processes of long-run economic change with those gleaned from history and other social sciences.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops36 hours
- Applied sessions12 hours
- Assessments-
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
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. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
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.
Where it fits
ECC3144 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Gary Magee
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECC3144?
You need ((ECC1000, ECW1101, ECB1101 or ECF1100) and (ECC1100, ECX1200, ECW1102, ECB1102 or ECF1200)); and ECX2144 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is ECC3144 offered?
In 2026, ECC3144 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ECC3144?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECC3144 have an exam?
No. ECC3144 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ECC3144?
ECC3144 is part of Economics and economic policy.