Same-Sex Desire: From God to Genes

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

‘From God to Genes’ examines same-sex desire and same-sex behaviours as understood by a variety of disciplines, including genetics, theology, history, law and medicine. Through interdisciplinary team teaching, and a range of learning and assessment activities, students will be introduced to the ways in which contemporary debates around ‘homosexuality’ are the product of diverse understandings and disciplinary approaches. The subject will investigate the relationship between academic disciplines, as well as between academic debates and the broader community.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• identify the ways in which same-sex behaviour, attraction and identity have been understood and debated by a variety of disciplines;
  
• explain how and why different disciplines have different understandings of these phenomena;
  
• understand how the study of contemporary debates about sexuality deepens our understanding of broader debates in a complex society; and
  
• apply interdisciplinary understandings of sexuality to their professional and public lives.

• A 3000 word essay due mid semester (60%) or 3 x 1000 word essays due mid semester (20% each)
• A research portfolio due end of semester (20%)
• A 1000 word opinion piece essay due in examination period (20%)

Hurdle requirement:

• Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject.
  
• All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

A subject reader will be available.

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• 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.