Sociology equips students to critically examine society in all its aspects, including how it shapes and is shaped by individuals and groups. Students will use the concepts of class, gender, sexuality, and culture to investigate issues of inequality and difference that structure the social worlds we inhabit. In developing sociological imagination, students study social structures, institutions and processes of change. Core to the sociology major at Monash is a commitment to understanding how individuals live, think, and feel in rapidly changing global contexts. You may enrol in either the general stream of the major or in the gender studies stream.
In this major, students will investigate contemporary identities, communities, institutions and organisations, and how power operates at these different levels. Our graduates have the capacity to design, undertake, and assess research ranging from broad scale statistical studies to small scale qualitative research with diverse communities. Students acquire skills that enable them to intervene to advance social change, inclusion and cohesion.
Sociology is a versatile major, providing useful background if you are intending to work in areas such as social policy, social research and journalism.
Availability
Sociology is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major and a minor, and in A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:
- apply sociological concepts to analyse and compare social processes in different institutional, political, cultural and policy contexts
- evaluate the credibility of knowledge claims and information sources
- devise projects to investigate contemporary issues and social problems
- apply major sociological perspectives to generate new knowledge and solutions to pressing real-world problems.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.
Students complete one of the following streams.
General stream
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3725 Population and society
- ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research
- Four units (24 points) from the remaining cornerstone or capstone units or the general stream elective list, with at least two units at level 3.
Gender studies stream
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):
- ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research
- Four units (24 points) from the gender studies stream elective below with at least two units at level 3.
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at first-year level may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major including cornerstones, capstones and electives. It is highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
General stream
- ATS2561 Sex and the media
- ATS2716 Cultural diversity and identity
- ATS2718 Families, relationships and society
- ATS2720 Youth, culture and social change
- ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
- ATS3223 Gender, violence and society: Understanding social patterns
- ATS3224Not offered in 2019 Gender, violence and society: Criminal justice responses
- ATS3563 Global consumption
- ATS3715Not offered in 2019 Sexuality and society
- ATS3717 Health, culture and society
- ATS3725 Population and society
- ATS3726Not offered in 2019 Self and society
- ATS3730Not offered in 2019 Sustainability and society
- ATS3935 Professional practice
International study tours
- ATS2619Not offered in 2019/ATS3319Not offered in 2019 Cultural diversity in contemporary Europe
- ATS3248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
Gender studies stream
- ATS2561 Sex and the media
- ATS2718 Families, relationships and society
- ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society
- ATS3223 Gender, violence and society: Understanding social patterns
- ATS3224Not offered in 2019 Gender, violence and society: Criminal justice responses
- ATS3563 Global consumption
- ATS3715Not offered in 2019 Sexuality and society
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
Diplomas
- A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*
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.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2038 Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2039 Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Arts
- B2046 Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
