ATS2894 - Accommodating minorities in Australia? - 2017

This unit provides students with a critical understanding of how minority groups are included or excluded from the dominant Australian society. It begins with a historical examination of the ways in which groups have been discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, social status or sexual preference. It then explores attempts to create a more just and tolerant society and questions whether mainstream society is willing to accommodate the needs of minority groups.

This unit provides students with an understanding of different attitudes towards minority groups and is designed to increase knowledge of and skills in historical and political research methods.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an awareness of the patterns of inclusion and exclusion of minority groups since white settlement of Australia;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of different theories relating to the fear, hatred, and mistrust of the other;
3. Interrogate different policies relating to minority groups;
4. Critically engage with key historical and political theories in oral presentations and written exercises; and
5. Locate and retrieve primary source materials using archival, rare book, microfiche and microfilm collections; and
6. Present a structured response to an essay question

Within semester assessment: 60% + Exam: 40%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr David Waldron

Required to contribute to on-line discussions

24 credit points at first year level

ATS3894