Social Theory Thesis

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Research Subject.

360 hours

Admission to the Social Theory Honours program or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts.

Social Theory at the undergraduate level

For the purposes of considering request 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/

An approved topic will be selected in consultation with the coordinator.

On completion of this subject students should:

• have knowledge of the major ideas and theories of classical and contemporary social theory;
• have background in the classical and contemporary social theory on which to base further research and study in the area;
• have experience of thinking systematically about difficult intellectual problems of an abstract nature;
• have practice conducting research, speaking articulately, writing clearly and reading with attention to detail;
• have experience with methods of critical analysis and argument employed in social theory, leading to improved general reasoning and analytical skills.

A thesis of 12 000 words, due at the end of the second semester of enrolment.

The following Hurdle Requirements must be met in order for students to be eligible to submit the final Thesis:

1. Supervision: Regular supervisory meetings

2. Topic Proposal Form: To be submitted by the first week of the Semester of thesis enrolment

3. Progress Report: To be submitted half way through the thesis year

4. Thesis Draft: A full draft of the thesis is to be submitted approximately 5 weeks prior to the final thesis submission date.

Final Theses submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day.

Appropriate texts will be determined in consultation with the thesis supervisor.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• develop skills in written and oral communication;
• conduct independent research;
• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;
• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.

Please note this thesis subject is currently being phased out and is only available to students who commenced their Honours/PD-Arts program prior to 2013. Students wishing to enrol in Honours/PD-Arts from 2013 will need to enrol in a 50 point thesis subject (SOLS90002) as per the course requirements for BH-Arts & PD-Arts.

This is the Thesis subject for students studying the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Theory and for pre 2008 students completing Social Theory combined honours.

Enrolment in this thesis subject must be over two consecutive semesters.