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Search : Index : Faculty of Arts
Subject Lists
First year subjects
Second/third year subjects
Core second/third year subjects
Optional second/third year subjects
Fourth year subjects
Core subjects not offered in 2001
Core second/third year subjects not offered in 2001
Optional subjects not offered in 2001
Optional second/third year subjects not offered in 2001
Optional fourth year subjects not offered in 2001
Convener: Dr Kevin McDonald
Sociology at the University of Melbourne explores the social patterns that characterise contemporary society. The program equips students with research skills that allow them to design and carry out data collection, analysis and research. This emphasis on fieldwork-based study underpins the professionally oriented skills students will develop. Students are encouraged to undertake internship placements in public, corporate or community sector organisations. The program has a strong research identity, with international links to North America, Asia and Europe. Graduates of sociology are able to choose from a variety of career pathways that draw on the analytical and research knowledge gained in this area of study. Students interested in expanding their interests and knowledge in sociology are provided with an articulated structure of higher degree options at the University of Melbourne.
Sociology is the study of social and cultural questions at the centre of contemporary life. The discipline addresses the phenomena of social action, identity and social movements and investigates the forms of crisis evident in contemporary social problems such as addiction or social dislocation. Investigations proceed from a range of perspectives, including family, sexual identity, urban life and new forms of work, and draw substantially upon interdisciplinary frameworks of analysis. The program in sociology includes subjects offered by the Departments of Anthropology, political science, criminology, geography and Social theory.
The program commences at first year and there are no prerequisites for entry at this level.
The general prerequisite for second/third year subjects in sociology is 25 points of first year sociology. Students with a 12.5 point sociology subject and another first year subject from anthropology, criminology, political science or geography may also proceed.
A major in sociology usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:
two first year subjects in sociology (25 points) and;
seven second/third year subjects (totalling 87.5 points), five of which must be chosen from the list of sociology core units.
Students take two of the following first year subjects towards a major in sociology.
| First year subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| 166-003 Inequalities in Australian Society | 1 | |
| 166-006 Media, Politics and Society | 2 | |
| 166-080 Society and Self Identity | 1 | |
| 166-104 Doing Sociology | 2 | |
Students must take five of the following subjects at second/third year toward their sociology major. Please note the honours entry requirements.
| Core subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Semester | |
| 166-081 Quantitative Social Research | 1 | |
| 166-082 Work, Management & Globalisation | Not Offered | |
| 166-083 Sociology of Youth & Youth Policy | 2 | |
| 166-084 Global Cities: Sociological Explorations | Not Offered | |
| 166-085 Identities & Action: Social Movements | 2 | |
| 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies | 1 | |
| 166-087 Sociological Theory | Not Offered | |
| 166-089 Sociology Internship Research Project | 2 | |
| 166-090 Love, Family and Sexuality | Not Offered | |
| 166-091 Medicine, Health and Illness | 1 | |
| Criminology | ||
| 191-008 Sociology of Crime and Deviance | 2 | |
| Geography | ||
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| History and philosophy of science | ||
| 136-074 Society: Revolutions to Social Movements | ||
| Public policy and management | ||
| 166-071 Policy Research Skills | Not Offered | |
| Optional subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Political science | Semester | |
| 166-015 Transforming Australian Culture | Not Offered | |
| 166-032 Sexual Politics | 1 | |
| Social theory | ||
| 136-073 Critical Theories | 2 | |
| Anthropology | ||
| 121-057 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World | 2 | |
| 121-060 Power, Ideology and Inequality | 2 | |
| Criminology | ||
| 191-003 Crime and Public Policy | 2 | |
| 191-014 Youth Crime and Society | 2 | |
| 191-015 Corporate and White Collar Crime | 2 | |
| 191-020 Women, Gender and Crime | 2 | |
| Geography | ||
| 121-015 Development and the Third World | 1 | |
| 121-016 Landscapes of Power | Not Offered | |
The prerequisite for entry to Fourth Year Honours in Sociology is:
completion of all the requirements for the BA and;
completion of a major in sociology with an average grade of H2A or higher over the second/third year subjects within the major and;
completion of 166-081 Quantitative Social Research, 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies and 166-087 Sociological Theory.
Entry to honours must be approved by the convenor of sociology and the Faculty of Arts honours course adviser.
Students wishing to undertake their thesis in sociology will need to make a written application to the sociology convenor 31 by October. Forms are available in the Political Science office from September.
Students undertaking pure honours in sociology must complete:
166-500 Sociology Thesis or 166-528 Sociology Thesis (MYE) (37.5 points) and;
five honours subjects in Sociology chosen from the list below (totalling 62.5 points).
Students undertaking combined honours in sociology and another area of study must complete:
166-500 Sociology Thesis or 166-528 Sociology Thesis (MYE) (37.5 points) and;
two honours subjects chosen from the list below and;
three honours subjects in the combined area of study (totalling 37.5 points).
or
honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points) and;
two honours subjects in the combined area of study (totalling 25 points) and;
three honours subjects chosen from the list below (37.5 points).
| Honours subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Semester | |
| 166-092 Advanced Sociological Theory | 1 | |
| 121-503 Research Methods and Design | Summer | |
| History and philosophy of science | ||
| 136-079 Reading Texts in Social Theory | 1 | |
| 136-080 Theories of Modernity | Not Offered | |
| Politics | ||
| 166-055 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry | 1 | |
| 166-062 Heterarchy, Networks & Self-Organisation | 1 | |
| 166-066 Globalisation and its Discontents | 1 | |
| 166-067 Australia's Welfare State: Comparisons | 2 | |
| Criminology | ||
| 191-015 Corporate and White Collar Crime | 2 | |
| 191-020 Women, Gender and Crime | 2 | |
| 191-029 Victims | 2 | |
Masters and doctoral thesis supervision is available, depending on the area of research of the candidate. Currently there are no postgraduate sociology subjects offered.
Sociologists work in a wide range of areas, in government, private and community sectors. They work on questions such as changing family patterns, changes in ethnic communities, health and employment issues. In the public sector sociologists work in areas such as neighbourhood and community service development, or in social policy in areas dealing with ageing, youth or women's issues and services. They are involved in program implementation and development, in social and environmental impact assessment, and in evaluation in areas such as health programs, urban development or housing policies.
Sociologists also work in the media, public communication and marketing. They are involved in workplace change, employed by union or employer organisations, or work as consultants. They are found in private and public social forecasting organisations. They are involved in community consultations and community relations work, where for example, large organisations such as hospitals have to understand and respond to community concerns or specific groups.
Sociologists are also found in non-government organisations such as social change groups, peak bodies and research and policy organisations such as the Institute of Family Studies.
Sociologists are involved in policy evaluation and program implementation. They are involved in promoting public debate, constructing competing ways of exploring questions facing our society and culture. In a whole range of areas, sociologists are employed in jobs that are part of shaping and making sense of the world we live in.
Dr Kevin McDonald
Sociology Program Coordinator
Department of Political Science
Fourth Floor, John Medley Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 8344 6565
Fax. +61 3 8344 7906
Web: http://www.sociology.unimelb.edu.au
166-003 Inequalities in Australian Society
166-006 Media, Politics and Society
166-080 Society and Self Identity
166-104 Doing Sociology
166-500 Sociology Thesis
166-528 Sociology Thesis (MYE)
136-079 Reading Texts in Social Theory
166-055 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry
166-062 Heterarchy, Networks & Self-Organisation
166-066 Globalisation and its Discontents
166-067 Australia's Welfare State: Comparisons
166-092 Advanced Sociological Theory
191-029 Victims
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Status: Official 2001 Last Modified: Wednesday May 23 22:24 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au