sociology/ug-arts-sociology

aos

18 September 2017 16 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Area of study

Students who commenced study in 2015 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirements; 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 2015 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 Social Sciences
South Africa School of Social Science
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton, South Africa
CoordinatorDr Kirsten McLean (Clayton); Dr Alex Asakitikpi (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.

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/2015handbooks/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/2015handbooks/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/2015handbooks/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/2015handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

(b.) at least one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:

(c.) one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):

  • ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research
  • ATS3725 Population and society

(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.

General major in sociology elective units
  • ATS2561 Sex and the media
  • ATS2563 Global consumption
  • ATS2716 Cultural diversity and identity
  • ATS2718 Families, relationships and society
  • ATS2720 Youth, culture and social change
  • ATS2724 Religion, spirituality and society
  • ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
  • ATS3638 Global childhoods: Children's rights, welfare and mobility in a global context
  • ATS3715 Sexuality and society
  • ATS3717 Medicine, health and society
  • ATS3725 Population and society
  • ATS3726 Critical social psychology
  • ATS3730 Environment and society

Major in sociology: Gender studies stream

Students completing a gender studies stream majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/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/2015handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

(b.) one second-year cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):

  • ATS2560 Gender, theory and society

(c.) one third-year capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/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
  • ATS2718 Families, relationships and society
  • ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
  • ATS3638 Global childhoods: 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.

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
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 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)
  • 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
  • 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
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 4097 Bachelor of Arts Scholars Program and Bachelor of Commerce Scholars Program
  • D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4634 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • 4644 Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts