Admission and Unit Information – Bachelor of Social Science

This introductory unit provides foundational skills and knowledge required for professional practice in a range of social science related careers in which working with and as part of communities is essential. With an emphasis on practical understanding through both team-work and fieldwork it introduces students to a range of skills in interpersonal and written communication, and to community and organisational processes and structures. It enables students to identify issues of change; conflicting and collaborative interests; participation and collaboration. It provides practical experience in working with others to achieve shared objectives with mechanisms for goal setting, issues identification, information and resource sharing that operate in everyday life and all professional contexts.

Understanding Society is a core unit offered by the School of Social Sciences and Psychology which will introduce students in the first year of their studies to key concepts and theories used in examination of and for understanding social action, social policy, social institutions, social structure and social change. Students enrolled in the unit will be introduced to factual information concerning contemporary societies and the methods of interpreting such information. At the conclusion of their studies in this unit students will have been presented with opportunities to develop skills in critical reading and sociological analysis.

This unit focuses on the local experiences of cultural and socio-economic difference. This includes applied social science approaches to inequality, diversity, community, sense of place, and environmental sustainability in the urban setting. There is an emphasis upon spatial literacy for social scientists (fieldwork, mapping, data analysis and place description).

This unit introduces the main theoretical perspectives for understanding the 'individual in society', including biological, cognitive, behavioural and personality explanations of individual behaviour. Students are guided and encouraged to explore relevance to everyday life and contemporary issues. Once established, these theories are extended to understanding individuals in society using a bio-psycho-social framework. Theoretical stances related to 'levels of explanation', 'individualism vs collectivism' and 'personality vs situation' are explored as are topics such as social cognition; social influence, and social relations, for example, social identity, prejudice, aggression, pro-social behaviours, attitude formation and change and relationships.

This unit introduces students to the nature of western ethics and moral discourses, to ethical methodology and to the possibilities and limits of ethical discourse and practice. It covers the history of the formalisation of ethics as well as its current philosophical and sociological dimensions. It also deals with various case studies of ethical issues and moral debates students may encounter in their everyday day and professional lives. Students will be invited to reflect on moral discourse(s) and on the use of ethics for social justice and fairness.

This unit will focus on understanding the research process from its epistemological and theoretical underpinnings through to designing a research proposal. Students will develop a reflexive and informed approach to the research process and the applications of research in the social sciences. Research ethics and the applications of research will be examined and students will have the opportunity to develop a research plan as the basis for unit 101552 - Applied Social Research.

This unit will focus students on the challenges and issues in undertaking research through the completion of a small research project. Students will have the opportunity to apply their learning from 400337 Social Research Methods to the completion of an applied research project. Through the process of planning, implementing and finalising a research project students will have a direct experience of the theoretical, ethical, political and practical aspects of applied social research.

This unit will provide students with the opportunity to engage with contemporary debates in the social sciences. Students will examine key concepts and structures in the social sciences such as place, work, community, family, power, diversity and globalisation within the context of current political and social events. This will encourage the student to critically analyse and understand current debates and contentious issues relevant to the social sciences. Students will use both theoretical and applied knowledge to develop an informed position on matters of continuing importance to the community and the polity.