SCY2121

Sociology of youth

Neville Knight

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Caulfield
* Prerequisites: First-year SCY sequence or equivalent

Objectives Students in this subject will develop an overview of the recent history of how youth have been regarded in western society; an understanding of perspectives expressed by different authors writing about youth; the ability to identify and evaluate different views on issues relating to youth; competence in articulating arguments orally and in written form on a variety of topics concerning youth; awareness of the implications of policy decisions affecting youth, made by government and non-government agencies.

Synopsis Meanings of the terms `youth' and `adolescence': youth culture and subcultures; styles in youth subcultures; youth as a social problem; theories of delinquency; a social history of some youth subcultures; youth, the family and homelessness; youth suicide; peer-group interaction and heterosexual relationships in adolescence; types of leadership in youth work; the education of youth in schools; youth employment and unemployment; youth and leisure.

Assessment One seminar paper (2000 words): 30%
* One essay (2000 words): 30%
* Test (2 hours): 40%

Prescribed texts

Reader (available from the department)
Frith S The sociology of youth Causeway, 1984 (available from the department)