Cybersociety

Subject HPSC20009 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Standard

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: A 1-hour lecture and a 1.5-hour tutorial/practical session per week
Total Time Commitment: An average of 8.5 hours each week.
Prerequisites: Usually 75 points of first year study across any discipline area.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: There is no specific background knowledge required for this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: This subject was formerly available under the codes 103-005, 103-210 and 136-310; it was also available at 3rd year with the code 672-325. Students who have completed 103-005 or 136-210 or 136310 or 672-325 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Michael Arnold

Contact

Dr Michael Arnold

mvarnold@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

In this subject students will engage in a study of high-technology and information systems in a social and cultural context, and will examine critical issues which lie at the intersection of the social and the technical. Topics covered include cybernetics, cyberspace, cyborgs and other "cybers", virtual lives and virtual communities, the information economy, privacy and surveillance, digital convergence, multimedia and hypermedia, and techno-utopian and dystopian visions. Students will participate in theoretical work and "hands-on" experience. Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to critically analyse and evaluate controversial issues relating to information systems in the social context, argue credible positions in relation to these controversies, and be able to identify and draw upon the major theoretical and methodological discourses through which the relationship between information systems and society might be understood.
Objectives:

Students who successfully complete this subject should

  • critically analyse and evaluate controversial issues relating to information systems in a social context, and argue credible positions in relation to these controversies.
  • identify and draw upon the major theoretical and methodological discourses through which the relationship between information systems and society might be understood.
  • form judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.
  • develop skills in both written and oral communication.
Assessment: An essay of 2000 words 50% (due at the end of semester), an essay of 1000 words 25% (due in week 4), a seminar presentation of 800 words 20% (due throughout the semester) and contribution to an online discussion 5% (due throughout the semester).
Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Book Shop.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

  • conduct independent research.
  • make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument.
Links to further information: http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/hps/
Notes:

For Science third year, see 136-305 (Cybersociety (Science 3)). This subject is available for 2nd year science credit for students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 degree only), or a combined BSc course (except for the BA/BSc).

This subject satisfies the third-year breadth requirement for third-year students in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedicine when taken in 2010 only.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts(Media and Communications)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Gender Studies
History && Philosophy of Science
History and Philosophy of Science
History and Philosophy of Science
History and Philosophy of Science Major

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