Understanding Society

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

This subject explores our contemporary society through sociological perspectives, which seek to understand the ways in which we are socially constructed through the complex processes of identity and social change. Students will be encouraged to develop C Wright-Mills describes as a 'sociological imagination' when investigating the social world. Society in the 21st century is overcome by global flows, national identity appears to have become less of a foundation for social life. Stable identities such as family and class are giving way to new and difficult-to-chart experiences. New technologies are redefining whom we are, work patterns are continually changing, and new social problems are emerging. As a result, selfhood, understood as both the way in which we relate to ourselves and the way we relate to others, is in a process of rapid and uncertain transformation. These changes in society create new forms of power, conflict and creativity and also lead to new questions for sociology. This subject critically examines these using a number of key concepts. These are: Social change, Power and conflict, Inequality, Identity, Risk, Uncertainty, Individualisation, Networks, The symbolic, Embodied experience. Drawing on these key concepts, this subject will closely examine the relationship between the individual, the collective and key social institutions in the context of seeking to understand the complex and dynamic nature of human society. It looks closely at the following key themes in the contemporary social world: Population and migration, Power and inequality, Difference and otherness, New family forms, Emerging patterns of work, Media, communications and other technologies, Consumption and identity, Deviance and subcultures, New social movements, Religion, sport and dance cultures. As a result, this subject provides an important pathway for students to engage with key sociological concepts and perspectives and to develop a sociological imagination which will prove to be an exciting lens to view human society in all its diversity.

• have an introductory knowledge of sociological approaches to contemporary social change with a focus on globalisation, teh social and self-identity.
• have an introductory knowledge of main frameworks in contemporary sociology.
• have a knowledge of issues of ethics in social research.
• be able to use sociological frameworks to explore dimensions of contemporary social life relating to family, work, and subcultures.
• have an introductory ability to read and interpret data in table form.
• have an introductory ability to use the internet for social research.
• have an introductory ability to design and carry out a fieldwork project to explore a sociological question.

Short Essay of 1000 words (25%) due early-semester, Research Essay of 2,000 words (50%) due mid-late semester, and a Take-home Test of 1000 words (25%) due in the examination period.

This subject has a minimum Hurdle Requirement of 75% Tutorial attendance. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment or sit the final examination. Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

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

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

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.

• Research Skills - developing a range of research skills, from library to internet-based research.
• Thinking Theoretically - learning how to critically engage with the theoretical approaches introduced in this subject both in written assessments and tutorial discussions.
• Thinking Creatively - constructing questions, developing arguments, and exploring ideas beyond that which is presented in lectures and reading material.
• Analytical Skills - developing basic reading and analysis skills through weekly tutorial quizzes on assigned reading material.
• Written Communication - developing writing skills through essay preparation and composition.
• Oral Presentation and Co-operative Learning - building the confidence to participate in the context of group discussions.
• Time Management and Planning - learning how to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision.