sociology/ug-arts-sociology

aos

18 September 2017 25 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Area of study

Students who commenced study in 2014 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

print version

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2014 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook. Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered bySchool of Applied Media and Social Sciences
School of Arts
School of Political and Social Inquiry
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland, South Africa

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

  • The sequence of units available differ between campuses. Refer to the individual campus entries below. Also available via off-campus learning (except South Africa), although some later-year units may only be available in on-campus mode.

Description

Caulfield, Clayton

The focus of sociological teaching and research is the study of contemporary societies in a global context. Students investigate diverse human groups, communities, institutions and organisations. Sociologists focus on social structures, cultures and processes of change, and consider class, gender, ethnicity, power and culture to understand the differences in how people live, think and feel. The wide range of units offered are designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore broad theoretical and methodological issues.

Sociology is a versatile major, providing useful background for students intending to work in areas such as social policy, social research and journalism. First year units introduce students to key perspectives and substantive areas of sociology: socialisation, social theory, sexualities and gender, industrialisation and globalisation, class and social inequality. In later years, sociological theories and methods are examined in greater detail. A wide range of electives are available, many of which give students an understanding of the diverse aspects of Australian culture in its global context.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

  • analyse and compare social processes and phenomena in a range of institutional, political, cultural and policy contexts, informed by core sociological theoretical concepts
  • understand and critically assess the major sociological perspectives and apply them to pressing real-world problems through applied research
  • demonstrate critical and analytical skills in relating theories to empirical issues
  • work independently and/or cooperatively, have skills in problem solving, think creatively, argue from evidence, and have an advanced ability to communicate ideas effectively.

Gippsland and off-campus learning

Sociology is the study of human societies, focusing on the organisation of social life from individuals to social institutions. It examines people and other actors in their social contexts, and provides insights into the ways factors such as class, wealth, race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, disability, and religion shape societies at the individual, group and institutional levels. Central to the sociological endeavour is a critical perspective: sociologists question the popular explanations of social life, through the application of rigorous and systematic methods of enquiry, and examine the dynamics of power and inequality.

Sociology graduates are well equipped to go into a variety of careers across a range of government and non-government sectors, particularly those that require high level research and critical thinking skills.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the major, students will be able to:

  • understand the nature of social relationships and institutions, patterns of social diversity and inequality, and processes that underpin social change and stability
  • understand the research processes including design, methodology and methods, and ethics, and the diversity of approaches to research
  • summarise, interpret and synthesise the findings of sociological research including empirical research using quantitative and qualitative data
  • develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions
  • communicate sociological ideas, principles and knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

South Africa

Human behaviours and the context in which they are expressed are interesting to observe but complex to understand. The nature, structure and dynamics of human social interactions are the subject-matter of sociology. The sociological enterprise is to understand the flux and contradictions that characterise human societies and for this reason, sociology is not just a 'living' course, but also a dynamic and reflexive one. The reflexivity of sociology therefore, foists on both practitioners and students a unique opportunity to engage in an intellectual discourse to unveil the embedded matrix that mask the ever evolving complexity of human societies. This enterprise however, goes beyond the mere fulfillment of human curiosity; rather it is a genuine enterprise to contribute to the development of society by proffering perceptive solutions that will guide political leaders and policy makers. Students of sociology are therefore prepared to understand the nature, constituents, and structure of social institutions and how they interact to produce functional or dysfunctional whole. Specifically, students explore the broad issues of the family as a traditional institution and other alternatives; intimate relationships; the media and sexuality; power and gender relations; social justice; and the sociology of health and illness behaviour among other topics.

Units

Caulfield and Clayton

Minor in sociology

Students completing a minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in sociology must complete four units (24 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

(b.) additional elective units from the list below (12 points)

Note: Students can take the second-year cornerstone units from the major in sociology and units from the gender studies major stream as electives.

Major in sociology

Students can study a general sociology major or complete the major in the gender studies stream (see below).

Students completing a general majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in sociology must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(c.) one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):

  • ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research**

(d.) additional elective units from the list below (24 points)

A minimum of three units (18 points) must be completed at third-year level.

Note: Students can take the remaining cornerstone units as electives.

* This unit is also a cornerstone unit for criminologycriminology (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/criminology/ug-arts-criminology.html) and behavioural studiesbehavioural studies (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/behavioural-studies/ug-arts-behavioural-studies.html). Students doing a major in sociology along with a major in one of these areas need to choose a different cornerstone unit for each major. A unit cannot be counted twice towards different majors.

** This unit is also a capstone unit for anthropologyanthropology (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/anthropology/ug-arts-anthropology.html), behavioural studiesbehavioural studies (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/behavioural-studies/ug-arts-behavioural-studies.html) and criminologycriminology (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/criminology/ug-arts-criminology.html). Students doing a major in sociology along with a major in one of these areas need to choose a different capstone unit for each major. A unit cannot be counted twice towards different majors.

General major in sociology elective units
  • ATS2561 Sex and the media
  • ATS2563 Global consumption, sex and race
  • ATS2716 Cultural diversity, citizenship and identity
  • ATS2718 Families, relationships and intimate life
  • ATS2720 Youth, culture and social change
  • ATS2724 Spiritualities, faiths and religions: Society and the transcendent
  • ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
  • ATS3638 Global childhoods: Children's rights, welfare and mobility in a global context
  • ATS3715 Sexuality and society
  • ATS3717 Sociology of health and medicine
  • ATS3725 Population and society
  • ATS3726 Critical social psychology
  • ATS3730 Sustainable societies

Major in sociology: Gender studies stream

Students completing a gender studies stream majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) in sociology, must complete eight units (48 points), including:

(a.) two first-year gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

(b.) one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):

(c.) one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):

  • ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research

(d.) additional gender stream elective units from the list below (24 points)

A minimum of three units (18 points) must be completed at third-year level.

Gender studies stream elective units
  • ATS2561 Sex and the media
  • ATS2563 Global consumption, sex and race
  • ATS2718 Families, relationships and intimate life
  • ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
  • ATS3638 Global childhood: Children's rights, welfare and mobility in a global context
  • ATS3715 Sexuality and society

Extended major in sociology

Students studying an extended major in sociology (60 points), must complete an additional 12 points of units from one of the following options:

  • 12 points of gender studies stream elective units*
  • 12 points of third-year units from another arts area of study that builds on the related substantive topics taught in sociology
  • ATS3129 Arts internship (12 points)
  • ATS3130 Arts international internship (12 points)

* Students can only choose this option if they have completed the gender studies stream major (48 points).

Note: Students' choice of option must be approved by the sociology major convenor.

Gippsland and off-campus learning

First-year level

Students studying a sequence in sociology must complete the following two units (12 points):

  • ATS1367 Sociological reflections on everyday life
  • ATS1898 A changing world: Globalisation and social change*

*Students who have already completed ATS1898 in a first-year-level sequence in history-politics can complete another first-year-level arts unit to meet the course requirements. A unit cannot be counted twice towards separate minors/majors.

Second/Third-year level

Students studying a minor or major in sociology must have completed the first-year sequence. In addition:

Compulsory units
  • ATS2831 Social science research methods
  • ATS2597 Qualitative social research
  • ATS3855 Making sense of the social world
Elective units

South Africa

First-year level

Students studying a sequence in sociology must complete the following two units (12 points):

  • AZA1365 Everyday life in sociological perspectives
  • AZA1366 Families, relationships, health and the media

Second/Third-year level

Students studying a minor or major in sociology must have completed the first-year sequence. In addition:

  • a minor requires completion of a further two units (12 points) from List A
  • a major requires completion of a further six units (36 points) from the units listed below, including a minimum of four units (24 points) from List A. A minimum of three units must be completed at third-year level.
List A units
List B units

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • 2327 Diploma in Liberal Arts

Bachelors

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 3914 Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice)
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 1708 Bachelor of Arts (Professional Communication)
  • 1712 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program
  • 4073 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences
  • 1719 Bachelor of Behavioural Science
  • 1731 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication
  • 4086 Bachelor of Social Science

Double degrees

  • 4640 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4098 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Primary)
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 4097 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program and Bachelor of Commerce Scholars Program
  • 4403 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3537 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Science
  • 1798 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 1807 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Business and Commerce
  • 4208 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Education (Primary)
  • 4208 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Disability
  • 4634 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4644 Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4426 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Business
  • 4425 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 4069 Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Science
  • 4648 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts