Education, Politics and Social Movements (EDUC30074)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2017

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Overview

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This subject explores how education has been utilised for social and policy change through social movements in Australia and internationally. Students will have the opportunity to investigate a range of international and national examples of social and political movements that connect to education in different ways - from campaigns for justice, to equality, feminism, Indigenous self-determination and queer rights. They will examine educational, historical and sociological issues related to power, politics, justice and freedom. This subject will equip students with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse policy reform so as to understand the relationship between history, education, and social movements.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject students should be able to:



  • Understand the role of social movements in educational, social and political change and policy reform
  • Critically analyse the ways in which education has been variously utilised as a vehicle for social change
  • Understand the contested and multifaceted nature of education policy and practice reform
  • Critically analyse the role of students and educators as agents of change in historical and contemporary social movements

Generic skills

This subject will assist students to develop the following set of transferable skills:

  • Analytic and critical thinking skills in relation to real world social and political problems and issues
  • Improved academic written skills through analysis of case studies of social movements and education
  • Verbal communication skills through collaborating with peers in in-class discussions
  • The ability to connect social theories to social and political problems and issues, past and present
  • The development of scholarly critique through in-depth engagement with the literature

Last updated: 9 April 2025