Key facts
UNE unit code: SOCY540
*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 2 - On Campus
- Trimester 2 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
We are living through a period of increasing social, cultural and political instability. Moral, legal and cultural norms are under pressure, and these global and national shifts affect your own life and communities in complex and subtle ways. Social theory gives you tools to interpret and understand social interactions, social and political structures, and the cultural and political upheavals happening around us.
In this unit, you build a grounding in foundational social theory so you can understand and critique the challenges and changes we are facing today. You investigate key branches of sociological theory through foundational thinkers such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, DuBois and Gilman, alongside contemporary theorists including Bourdieu, Foucault, Butler, Said and others. You develop the knowledge, social theory and critical thinking capabilities to be a theorist of your own life and the world around you, ready to examine social theories that address capitalism, power, ethnicity, gender, colonisation, identity and globalisation.
By the end of the unit, you can use theory to analyse and critique current real-world social, political and economic challenges, including inequality, the housing crisis, challenges to democracy, racism, war, climate change, and evolving social perceptions of gender, sexuality and identity.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 2 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- expertly demonstrate coherent knowledge of a broad range of debates within social theory and the context in which those debates arose;
- concisely identify, critically analyse and present major theoretical issues that underlie the range of debates in written or verbal form;
- critically apply theoretical and conceptual knowledge to present a clearly structured argument that supports complex or involved discussion points; and
- demonstrate autonomy and judgement through research abilities and written analysis in an advanced sociological writing style.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Critical Reading Assessment | Yes | 40% | All offerings | No. Words: 2000 |
| Assessment 2: Essay and live verification interview - Assurance Task 1 | Yes | 40% | All offerings | Essay and live verification interview. Live verification interview, five minutes (approx.). Students must obtain at least 50% in both Assurance Task 1 and 2 (and at least 50% overall) to receive a pass or better in the unit. No. Words: 2500 (equivalent) |
| Assessment 3: Tutorial Presentation and Participation - Assurance Task 2 | Yes | 20% | All offerings | Students need to attend at least 2 tutorials over the course of the trimester. At one tutorial, they will present three to eight minutes (approx.) on a topic addressed in the unit, answer questions and participate in discussion. (15%) At the other tutorial they attend, students need to actively participate in discussion. (5%) Students must obtain at least 50% in both Assurance Task 1 and 2 (and at least 50% overall) to receive a pass or better in the unit. No. Words: 1000 (equivalent) |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory: Text and Readings
ISBN: 9781506387994
Appelrouth, S. and Edles, L., Sage 4th ed. 2020
Text refers to: All offerings
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