1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
  3. Specialisation (Formal)
  4. Sociology
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Sociology

Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)Specialisation (formal)Year: 2025

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Overview

Please be advised that the Sociology Specialisation does not accept applications for mid-year admission. Candidates can only commence in Semester 1. The specialisation of Sociology is unavailable for combined honours.

The Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours) in Sociology is an advanced course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than a pass degree. It involves one additional year of study at fourth-year level and is designed to augment students’ ability to apply innovative solutions to complex problems in sociology. Students must have satisfied the requirements of the BA (or equivalent) within the last five years.

Through undertaking both coursework and a minor thesis, the Sociology Honours program enhances students’ ability to acquire advanced research and analytical skills and develop original ideas.

An Honours degree provides a strong foundation for higher degree study at the Masters or PhD level, and can improve employment options and facilitate professional advancement.

The prerequisites for entry to sociology honours are completion of all the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, completion of a major in sociology, and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this specialisation, students should be able to:

  • Display an advanced understanding of key debates and problems within their selected area of sociology
  • Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of selected sociological theories and methods in their social, historical and world context
  • Demonstrate an advanced ability to critically assess select major traditions within sociology
  • Demonstrate an advanced and independent ability to apply sociological theories, concepts, methods and evidence to sociological questions within complex and changing social contexts
  • Demonstrate an advanced ability to develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions
  • Communicate sociological principles and knowledge effectively in longer form written communication (a thesis).

Last updated: 14 January 2025

Structure

100 credit points

Students undertaking pure honours in Sociology must complete:

  • A 15,000 word thesis: SOCI40006 Sociology Thesis Part 1, and SOCI40007 Sociology Thesis Part 2 (50 points);
  • A research methods subject (12.5 points);
  • Three course work subjects in one area of study (37.5 points).

Students undertaking honours in Sociology must complete:

  • SOCI40006 Sociology Thesis Part 1, and SOCI40007 Sociology Thesis Part 2 (50 points);
  • SOCI40008 Reading Social Theory (12.5 points)
  • SOCI40009 Writing Sociology (12.5 points)
  • One research method subject (core) (12.5 points);
  • One Sociology Honours elective subject (12.5 points)

The specialisation of Sociology is unavailable for combined honours.

Total 100 points

Honours students are required to achieve an honours grade (ie. H1, H2A,H2B, H3) for each subject and thesis component of their course in order to complete the degree.

Subject Options

Compulsory Subjects:

Total: 75 points

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Code Name Study period Credit Points
SOCI40006 Sociology Thesis Part 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 25
SOCI40007 Sociology Thesis Part 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 25
SOCI40008 Reading Social Theory
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SOCI40009 Writing Sociology
June (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Core Subjects:

Research method subjects - Total: 12.5 points

Code Name Study period Credit Points
POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar
February (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANTH40012 Explanation and Understanding
March (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Elective Subjects:

Total: 12.5 points

Code Name Study period Credit Points
SOTH40001 Emotions in Society
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SOCI40003 Understanding The Life Course Not available in 2025 12.5

Links

http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/students/honours

Last updated: 14 January 2025