Future Students - Courses

Explorations in Sociology

Unit Code: LSS102

Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
One Semester	36 hours over the semester, normally 3 hours per week	Lilydale, Online	NIL

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

Formerly known as LSS100 Introduction to Sociology

Co-badged with PSS100 Introduction to Sociology (online)

This is a prescribed unit of study in the Social Science Major/s. It may also be undertaken as a unit of study in any other Swinburne degree program, subject to the prerequisite and degree requirements.

Aims & Objectives:

This unit introduces students to key concepts and debates in sociology and explores contempory issues in Australian society. We explore social identities, social inequalities and social transformations, and examine a range of substantive areas which may include youth culture, consumption, media, popular culture, health and illness, social movements, globalisation and sustainability. After completing the unit, students should be able to:
• understand basic sociological concepts
• think critically about contempory social relations
• apply sociological concepts to the analysis of current social issues
• analyse the ways in which social processes, movements and structures shape individuals, groups and identity in Australian society

Teaching Methods:

Units will be taught in a variety of modes including face to face, online, distance and blended modes. Delivery of this unit may be through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratories, seminars and online.

Assessment:

Minor Essay 15% - 25%
Reflective Essay 35% - 45%
Final Essay 35% - 45%

Generic Skills Outcomes:

This unit will provide discipline-based knowledge and professional capabilities and expereinces continuing to students’ progress in attaining generic skills such as:
• analysis skills, developed through critical reading of sociological literature
• ability to tackle unfamilar problems, developed through analysis of social issues
• communication skills, developed through written and oral presentations
• ability to work independently, developed through library research

Content:

Topics may include:

Race and Ethnicity
Culture and Socialisation
Gender
Healthcare
Sociological Theory
Class
Social Movements
Sociological Perspective
Social Structures, Social Interaction
Education
Marriage and Family
Politics

Reading Materials:

Bryant, J. 2006, Dare to Know: Thinking Sociologically. Pearson, Frenchs Forest. NSW.

Matson, R. 2008, In the spirit of sociology, Pearson Education, USA.

*There are many worthwhile representative texts for preliminary reading or reference throughout the semester, for example:

Betts, K, Farquarson, K. & Seitz, A. 2005, Writing essays and research reports in the social sciences, Thomson, Melbourne.

Holmes, D, Hughs, K & Juilan, R. 2007, Australian sociology: a changing society, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest.

Levin, J. (2008) Sociological Snapshots 5. Seeing Social Structure and Change in Everyday Life. Sage.

Macionis, J. & Plumer, K . 2008, Sociology: a global introduction, 4th edn, Pearson Education, N.Y.

Van Krieken, R, et.al 2006, Sociology: themes and perspectives, 3rd edn, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest.

Willis, E. 2004, The sociological quest, Allen and Unwin, St Leonards.

Textbooks:

Henslin, J. M., Possamai, A. and Possamai-Inesedy, A. (2011) "Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach", Pearson, Frenchs Forest.