- 2018

Undergraduate

Minor / Major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2018 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 component of any bachelors double degrees.

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

Managing faculty

Faculty of Arts

Offered by

South Africa School of Social Science

Coordinator(s)

Dr Alex Asakitikpi; alex.asakitikpi@monash.edu

Location

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 fulfilment 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, you will 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.

Availability

Sociology is offered in the Bachelor of Social Science at Monash South Africa as a major or minor.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

  1. analyse and compare social processes and phenomena in a range of institutional, political, cultural and policy contexts, informed by core sociological theoretical concepts
  2. understand and critically assess the major sociological perspectives and apply them to pressing real-world problems through applied research.

Units

Minor requirements (24 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minor.

  1. Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
    • AZA1365 Everyday life in sociological perspectives
    • AZA1366 Families, relationships, health and the media
  2. Two additional units (12 points) from those listed under (b) in the major. It is highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.

Major requirements (48 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to a major and at least 18 points must be credited to the major at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
    • AZA1365 Everyday life in sociological perspectives
    • AZA1366 Families, relationships, health and the media
  2. Two level 2 units (12 points):
    • AZA2719 Theoretical perspectives in political and social thought*
    • AZA2723 Methodological issues in the social sciences*

    * Students intending to do honours in sociology are required to complete this unit.

  3. Four level 3 units (24 points) chosen from:
    • AZA3380 Sociology of development
    • AZA3629Not offered in 2018 Beliefs, religion and spirituality: A global perspective
    • AZA3717 Medical sociology
    • AZA3720 Sociological perspectives on youth culture and social change
    • AZA3737Not offered in 2018 South Africa and African social justice
    • AZA3744 School of Social Science workplace internship
    • AZA3869 Political philosophy and justice
    • AZA3871 Environmentalism: A philosophical perspective

Relevant courses

Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*

  • 4086 Bachelor of Social Science

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.

* Students cannot complete both the minor and major in the same area of study.