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Sociology
Bachelor of ArtsMajorYear: 2017
Sociology
Contact information
Coordinator
Email: dan.woodman@unimelb.edu.au
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Overview
Sociology engages with central dimensions of life in contemporary societies, from transformations in the life course, contemporary families, gender relations, ethnic, racial and sexual identity, and the body, through to media, new technologies, and globalisation. It engages with emerging patterns of social inequality and new forms of social problems, and the ways in which people and societies confront these new challenges. Sociology also explores emerging questions of action and identity – from new social movements to subcultures to forms of action evident in contemporary social transformations.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this major, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a sociological understanding of the nature of social relationships and institutions, patterns of social diversity and inequality, and processes that underpin social change and stability; and
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge of sociology as an academic discipline in its social, historical and world context, including its principal concepts and theories; and
- demonstrate an ability to apply sociological theories, concepts and evidence to sociological questions within complex and changing social contexts; and
- communicate sociological principles and knowledge effectively using appropriate formats both oral and written; and
- demonstrate an ability to develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions; and
- demonstrate an understanding of research processes in the social sciences including design, methodology and methods, analysis, interpretation, and the diversity of approaches to research; and
- recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of social and political phenomena; and
- work productively in groups.
Last updated: 31 January 2025
Structure
75 credit points
Sociology is available as both a 100-point major and a 75-point minor.
Major:
Level 1 (25 points)
- one
Code Name Study period Credit Points Arts Foundation Subject No longer available - and one level 1 Sociology subject (SOCI10001: Understanding Society highly recommended)
Level 2 (37.5 points)
- MULT20003 Critical Analytical Skills and
- 25 points from level 2 subjects listed (SOCI and SOTH coded subjects are recommended)
Level 3 (37.5 points)
- MULT30018 Applied Research Methods (capstone subject)
- 25 points from level 3 subjects listed (SOCI and SOTH coded subjects are recommended)
Total 100 points
Minor:
Level 1 (25 points) consisting of:
- One
Code Name Study period Credit Points Arts Foundation Subject No longer available - 12.5 points from level 1 subjects listed
Level 2 (25 points) consisting of:
- 25 points from level 2 subjects listed (MULT20003 Critical Analytical Skills is strongly recommended).
Level 3 (25 points) consisting of:
- 25 points from level 3 subjects listed
Total 75 points
The capstone subject is not available in the minor or as breadth studies.
Subject Options
Level 1 Subjects
12.5 points of the following level 1 subjects for students completing a major or minor and one
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
Arts Foundation Subject | No longer available |
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
CRIM10001 | From Graffiti to Terrorism | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI10001 | Understanding Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI10002 | Sociology of Work and Occupations | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOLS10001 | Law in Society | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Level 2 Compulsory Subject
This subject is compulsory at level 2 in the sociology major.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MULT20003 | Critical Analytical Skills | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Level 2 Elective Subjects
Not all subjects listed in the major are available to students completing a minor, level 2 subjects included in the minor, see below.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
GEND20003 | Genders, Bodies & Sexualities | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEND20008 | Sex and Gender Present and Future | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEOG20001 | Society and Environments | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MULT20008 | Australian Indigenous Politics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20007 | Terrorism: Shifting Paradigms | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOTH20002 | Modernity: Foundations of Sociology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ANTH20011 | Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CRIM20004 | Order, Disorder, Crime, Deviance | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20014 | Sociology of Youth | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20016 | Sociology of Culture | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOLS20001 | Law, Justice and Social Change | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Level 3 Capstone Subject
The capstone subject is compulsory for students completing a major in sociology.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MULT30018 | Applied Research Methods | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Level 3 Elective Subjects
Not all subjects listed in the major are available to students completing a minor, level 3 subjects included in the minor, see below.
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ANTH30005 | Power, Ideology and Inequality | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
HPSC30023 | Science and Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MULT30017 | Indigenous People and Social Control | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30001 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30009 | Living in a Risk Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30010 | Social Differences and Inequalities | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOLS30001 | Law in Social Theory | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOTH30001 | Critical Theories | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CRIM30005 | Crimes of the Powerful | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
JAPN30002 | Social Problems in Japan | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30005 | Sociology Internship | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
SOCI30012 | Digital Technology and Social Change | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
INDO30003 | Popular Cultures in Indonesia | Not available in 2017 | 12.5 |
SOTH30004 | Psychoanalysis and Social Theory | Not available in 2017 | 12.5 |
Level 2 Elective Subjects (Minor)
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ANTH20001 | Keeping the Body in Mind | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEND20003 | Genders, Bodies & Sexualities | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEND20008 | Sex and Gender Present and Future | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
GEOG20001 | Society and Environments | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MULT20008 | Australian Indigenous Politics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20007 | Terrorism: Shifting Paradigms | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOTH20002 | Modernity: Foundations of Sociology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CRIM20004 | Order, Disorder, Crime, Deviance | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20014 | Sociology of Youth | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI20016 | Sociology of Culture | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOLS20001 | Law, Justice and Social Change | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Level 3 Elective Subjects (Minor)
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ANTH30005 | Power, Ideology and Inequality | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
HPSC30023 | Science and Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MULT30017 | Indigenous People and Social Control | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30001 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30009 | Living in a Risk Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30010 | Social Differences and Inequalities | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOLS30001 | Law in Social Theory | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOTH30001 | Critical Theories | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
CRIM30005 | Crimes of the Powerful | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
JAPN30002 | Social Problems in Japan | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
SOCI30012 | Digital Technology and Social Change | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
INDO30003 | Popular Cultures in Indonesia | Not available in 2017 | 12.5 |
SOTH30004 | Psychoanalysis and Social Theory | Not available in 2017 | 12.5 |
Links
http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/study-areas/sociology-social-policy-and-social-theoryLast updated: 31 January 2025