Overview

This unit provides students with an introduction to the foundations of the discipline of sociology. Successful completion of this unit will prepare students to undertake study in the discipline at more advanced levels through their understanding of the sociological imagination and central sociological theories as applied to a range of current events and issues.

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply a sociological perspective to the social world around them
  • Identify and differentiate between the major theoretical perspectives employed by sociologists
  • Define and use a range of key sociological concepts to appraise the ways in which social processes and social structures shape individuals and groups in contemporary society
  • Discuss and critique published work and communicate this through informed written argument
  • Undertake successful library-based research
  • Identify and utilise the referencing style required by this discipline

Teaching methods

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 4 weeks 4
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.17 12 weeks 146
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 45% 1,2,3,4,5,6 
TestIndividual 35% 2,3 
Written AssignmentIndividual 20% 1,3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Sociology, the Sociological Imagination and Social Stratification
  • Society and Culture
  • Sociological Theory and Methods
  • Class
  • Ethnicity, Race and Racism
  • Gender, Sex and Sexuality
  • Family
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Media
  • Globalisation and Neoliberalism
  • Putting Sociology into Practice

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.