Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit gives students a critical understanding of community building, innovation, maintenance and failure. Topics include traditional communities, utopian communities, theories of social organisations, cooperatives, religious communities, sects, self-sufficient communities, community networks and the challenges facing Australian rural communities.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. understand the range of social formations that exist both as parts of communities and as communities in themselves;
2. comprehend a range of perspectives on community organisation;
3. critically understand the factors involved in community building, community innovation, community maintenance and community failure;
4. employ a range of analytical skills and conceptual frameworks; and
5. write well argued and competently written essays for assessment.

Assessment

Written work: 60%
2 hour exam: 40%

Contact hours

2 hours per week (1-hour lecture, 1-hour tutorial)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

History-politics
Community studies

Prerequisites

Completion of eight first-level units in Humanities and Social Sciences or permission

Prohibitions

GSC2701