Sociology

The Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) in Sociology is an advanced course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level and is designed to augment students’ ability to apply innovative solutions to complex problems in sociology. Students must have satisfied the requirements of the BA (or equivalent) within the last five years.

Through undertaking both coursework and a minor thesis, the Sociology Honours program enhances students’ ability to acquire advanced research and analytical skills and develop original ideas.

An Honours degree provides a strong foundation for higher degree study at the Masters or PhD level, and can improve employment options and facilitate professional advancement.

The prerequisites for entry to sociology honours are completion of all the requirements for the BA, completion of a major in sociology, and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent.

On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will be able to:

• display an advanced understanding of key debates and problems within their selected area of sociology; and
• demonstrate a advanced knowledge of selected sociological theories and methods in their social, historical and world context; and
• demonstrate an advanced ability to critically assess select major traditions within sociology; and
• demonstrate an advanced and independent ability to apply sociological theories, concepts, methods and evidence to sociological questions within complex and changing social contexts; and
• demonstrate an advanced ability to develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions; and
• communicate sociological principles and knowledge effectively in longer form written communication (a thesis).

Students undertaking pure honours in Sociology must complete:

• A 15,000 word thesis: SOCI40005 Sociology Thesis (50 points);
• Two Compulsory subjects (25 points);
• Two Sociology Honours elective subjects or CRIM90006 Criminology and Sociology Internship (25 points)

Students undertaking combined honours in Sociology and another program must complete:

• SOCI40005 Sociology Thesis (50 points);
• POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points);
• Coursework from the combining discipline (37.5 points)

or

• Thesis in the combining discipline (50 points);
• Coursework from the combining discipline (12.5 points);
• CRIM40002 Qualitative Research Methods (12.5 points);
• Two Sociology Honours elective subjects or CRIM90006 Criminology and Sociology Internship (25 points)

Total 100 points

Compulsory Subjects:

Total: 75 points

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Elective Subjects: