Faculty of Arts Sociology

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Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisites
2. Requirements for a major
3. Sociology subjects
    3.1. First year
    3.2. Second/third year and third/fourth year
4. Honours entry
5. Honours requirements
    5.1. Pure honours
    5.2. Combined honours
6. Further study
7. Career opportunities
8. For more information
Subject Lists
    First-year subjects
    Second/third-year subjects
        Core subjects
        Optional subjects
    Third/fourth-year subjects
    Fourth-year subjects

Convener: Dr Kevin McDonald

Sociology at the University of Melbourne explores the social patterns characterising contemporary societies. The program also equips students with a range of research skills that allow them to design and carry out data collection and analysis, from in-depth interviewing techniques to computer-based data analysis. Many subjects involve a fieldwork emphasis that underpins the professionally oriented skills that students develop. Majoring students may undertake an internship in a public, corporate or community sector organisation. The program has a strong research identity, with international links to North America, Asia and Europe. Sociology graduates are able to choose a variety of career paths that draw on the substantive areas of their study as well as research skills. Students interested in expanding their interests and knowledge are provided with an articulated structure of higher degree options at the University of Melbourne.

The discipline of sociology involves the study of social practices and relationships. The program at the University of Melbourne focuses on major areas of social change and professional employment. These include the social patterns and issues involved in emerging global cities, media and communications, work and organisations, family transformation, youth issues, health and illness, as well as contemporary forms of social movement and social problems from drug use to poverty. The program in sociology also includes subjects offered through the departments of anthropology, political science, criminology, geography and social theory.

1. Prerequisites

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.

2. Requirements for a major

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 subjects taken at level two or level three (87.5 points), five of which must be chosen from the list of sociology core units (62.5 points).

3. Sociology subjects

3.1. First year

Students take two of the following first-year subjects towards a major in sociology.

3.2. Second/third year and third/fourth year

Students must take five of the following subjects at second- or third-year level toward their sociology major. Subjects offered at third/fourth-year must be take at level three. Students planning to undertake fourth-year honours should note the honours entry requirements.

4. Honours entry

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 and 166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies.

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 by 31 October. Forms are available in the political science office from September.

5. Honours requirements

5.1. Pure honours

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 (62.5 points).

Honours and postgraduate diploma students who did not complete 166-485 Contemporary Sociological Theory at third-year level must complete this subject as part of their fourth-year studies.

5.2. Combined honours

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 (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 (25 points); and

• three honours subjects chosen from the list below (37.5 points).

6. Further study

Masters and doctoral thesis supervision is available, depending on the area of research of the candidate. Currently there are no postgraduate sociology subjects offered.

7. Career opportunities

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.

8. For more information

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

First-year subjects

166-111 Inequalities in Australian Society
166-107 Media, Politics and Society
166-130 Globalisation, the Social & Identity
166-104 Trans-Cultural Exploration of Daily Life

Second/third-year subjects

Core subjects

Optional subjects

Third/fourth-year subjects

166-485 Contemporary Sociological Theory

Fourth-year subjects

166-500 Sociology Thesis
166-528 Sociology Thesis (MYE)
136-532 Reading Texts in Social Theory
136-533 Theories of Modernity
166-410 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry
166-412 Heterarchy, Networks & Self Organisation
166-413 Globalization and its Discontents
191-434 Victims

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