Feminist Social Policy (SOCI90021)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Subtitle: Families and Citizenship Through an Intersectional Lens
Feminist Social Policy takes a comparative and critical approach to understanding and evaluating social policy and policy-making at a national and international level. This subject aims to critically explore normative assumptions about what constitutes the family, parenthood, youth, marriage, disability, child and elder care. Students in this subject will be encouraged to broaden and deepen their understanding of how social policy is organised and impacted by these social, cultural, economic and political normativities by drawing on contemporary theories of intersectionality and citizenship. Taking a feminist perspective, this subject will outline key shifts in women’s employment trends, de/familization, blended and chosen families, global fertility rates, disability rights, and welfare provision. Students will have the opportunity to explore themes of intersectionality and citizenship throughout their engagement with the subject, as well as articulate a comparative analysis of social policy from across the world.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- Understand theories of intersectionality and citizenship as they apply to social policy issues in employment, health, education, culture, housing and community care
- Demonstrate competence in critical thinking and comparative analysis through essay and report writing, seminar discussion and presentations
- Communicate feminist principles, research and knowledge effectively using written formats
- Demonstrate proficiency in the application of policy analysis skills to empirical problems at local and global levels
- Demonstrate an ability to develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions in oral and written contexts.
Generic skills
- Research skills, through the competent use of library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research
- The capacity to think in theoretical terms, through class requirements and engagement with theories and methods of the social sciences
- Comparative policy analysis, through a sound rationale and deployment of the use of comparative perspectives
- Written and oral skills, through the presentation of complex ideas using persuasive arguments effectively and articulately.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Public Policy or Sociology at Undergraduate level.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
A research paper, on a question as guided by the subject co-ordinator
| During the teaching period | 30% |
A research essay, on a question as guided by the subject co-ordinator
| During the examination period | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures where offered. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Megan Sharp Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours: A 2-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025