Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
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Coordinator: Dr John Rundell.
As the world becomes ever more integrated than before through expanding communication channels, we begin to live in an increasingly multi-cultural environment. Understanding why differences arise in cultural and social practices has become an urgent task. Social theory, an emerging discipline that (in such a situation) draws on sociology, anthropology, feminist thought and philosophy, addresses these questions and related issues. Social theory questions the taken-for-granted everyday assumptions which shape our lives. It raises questions about the nature and condition of the societies in which we live by asking about the division of power, the nature of identity, our experiences as pre-modern, modern or post-modern subjects
Social theory can be part of your normal B. A. degree. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts degree are able to transfer the skills they acquire across many sectors such as government, education, the arts, and commerce and industry. Knowledge of social theory will come in handy in a variety of tasks including those of the historian, social worker, teacher, sociologist, journalist or social commentator, art critic and curator, etc.
Enquiries about the Faculty program in Social Theory should be directed to the Ashworth Centre for Social Theory in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.
The normal prerequisite for entry to a major in Social Theory is the completion of 50 points at first-year level (or equivalent). A major in Social Theory consists of at least five subjects at second and third-year level, totalling 83.3 points, which must include :
and at least one subject chosen from:
The remaining subjects may be chosen from those listed below.
Department of English
Department of Fine Arts
Department of History
Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Department of Philosophy
Department of Political Science
Department of Criminology
There is no Pure Honours program in Social Theory. The prerequisite for entry to Social Theory combined honours is a major in Social Theory at an overall average grade of H2A or better and admission to honours in another area of study within the Faculty.
Students enrol in either:
a) two single semester subjects agreed by the Honours coordinator (33.3 points), comprising basic areas of social theory, plus 136-460 Social Theory Honours Thesis, and 33.3 points of coursework in the combining department; or
b)two single semester subjects agreed by the Honours coordinator (33.3 points), comprising basic areas of social theory, plus 66.6 points, including a thesis, in the combining department.
Students enrolled in the honours programme will be required to do one common seminar 136-447 Reading Texts in Social Theory (First semester) Students doing their thesis component in Social Theory (ie not in another department) will be required to choose their other Social Theory seminar from among the following:
Social Theory
Department of Political Science
Students doing their thesis in another department may choose from the additional range of subjects:
Department of English
Department of History
Department of Philosophy
Social Theory : Next:Sociology | Prev:Social Research Methods | Search | Help
Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 10 1995 Last modified: Oct 10 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: Faculty of Arts
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.