1. Home
  2. Introduction to Australian Society [SWK1107]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Introduction to Australian Society

  • Unit Code

    SWK1107

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Colleen Mary CARLON

Description

Students are introduced to an understanding of Australian society through the study of sociology. The unit offers an introduction to frameworks of analysis for studying society. The unit focusses around the theme of society as a socio-cultural construct. Students will be introduced to major sociological theoretical frameworks, which have been utilised to explain and understand the nature of society. Students will develop skills of applying tools of sociological analysis to their practice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply sociological perspectives to select aspects of Australian society.
  2. Demonstrate familiarity with a range of theoretical perspectives used to explain certain aspects of Australian society.
  3. Understand and articulate the relationship between society, and the individual.
  4. Understand and demonstrate an ability to think critically and sociologically.
  5. Understand and explain the history and development of sociological theory and research.

Unit Content

  1. A range of theoretical perspectives used in analysing Australian society (such as, Marxism, feminism, interactionism, functionalism and post modernism) including how differences in these perspectives produce different explanations of Australian society.
  2. Aspects of Australian society such as health and illness, work, families, media, race and ethnicity and gender.
  3. Overview of key sociological concepts and terms.
  4. The role of ideology in shaping beliefs and values.
  5. The role of sociology (theory and research) in providing diverse explanations of individuals, groups and societies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On campus lectures and tutorials. Off campus via Blackboard with notes, readings, weblinks and activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated bibliography20%
EssayArgumentative essay40%
ExaminationExamination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated bibliography20%
EssayArgumentative essay40%
ExaminationExamination40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Arvanitakis, J. (2016). Sociologic : analysing everyday life and culture. Oxford University Press.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK1107|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Introduction to Australian Society

  • Unit Code

    SWK1107

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Colleen Mary CARLON

Description

Students are introduced to an understanding of Australian society through the study of sociology. The unit offers an introduction to frameworks of analysis for studying society. The unit focusses around the theme of society as a socio-cultural construct. Students will be introduced to major sociological theoretical frameworks, which have been utilised to explain and understand the nature of society. Students will develop skills of applying tools of sociological analysis to their practice.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply sociological perspectives to select aspects of Australian society.
  2. Demonstrate familiarity with a range of theoretical perspectives used to explain certain aspects of Australian society.
  3. Understand and articulate the relationship between society, and the individual.
  4. Understand and demonstrate an ability to think critically and sociologically.
  5. Understand and explain the history and development of sociological theory and research.

Unit Content

  1. A range of theoretical perspectives used in analysing Australian society (such as, Marxism, feminism, interactionism, functionalism and post modernism) including how differences in these perspectives produce different explanations of Australian society.
  2. Aspects of Australian society such as health and illness, work, families, media, race and ethnicity and gender.
  3. Overview of key sociological concepts and terms.
  4. The role of ideology in shaping beliefs and values.
  5. The role of sociology (theory and research) in providing diverse explanations of individuals, groups and societies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On campus lectures and tutorials. Off campus via Blackboard with notes, readings, weblinks and activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated bibliography20%
EssayArgumentative essay40%
ExaminationExamination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated bibliography20%
EssayArgumentative essay40%
ExaminationExamination40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Arvanitakis, J. (2016). Sociologic : analysing everyday life and culture. Oxford University Press.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK1107|1|2