Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It examines social life, cultural and social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. Sociology involves asking questions about human life and society, developing understandings of our diverse and rapidly changing world, and identifying the causes of and solutions to social problems. Study sociology to learn key research skills, engage with social issues, and expand your world.

By acquiring sociological skills students develop the ability to analyse a wide variety of social processes, institutions, causes of social change, and the structures of groups and societies. Specific areas of study include social theory and social research methods; social policy and the state; gender, sexuality and the body; crime and punishment; race and ethnicity; social class; families and intimacy; social interaction; social movements; globalisation, development, and social change; and media and popular culture. The Sociology Program at the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts organises these areas thematically, allowing students to navigate their own path through the curriculum, and consolidate in areas of interest over the course of the degree.

Sociology is an exciting area of study, taught with passion, and providing expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths including:

All levels of government: graduate entry programs, industrial relations, criminal justice, work, policy development and implementation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, urban planning, administration, migrant and multicultural affairs.
Community and non-profit organisations: administration, overseas aid and development agencies, social research, policy development, lobbying, environment campaigns
Business: consumer/social research, public relations, publishing, journalism, personnel work, training
Academic work: University and TAFE teaching, research assistant work.

Major Learning Outcomes

A student completing the Sociology major will be able to:

Critically review how Sociology has developed as a discipline and how it relates to other areas of study
Design and report independent sociological research projects, using sociological research methods
Create coherent analytical narratives which exercise critical thinking and judgement on key contemporary sociological theories and consider a range of alternative viewpoints.

Subjects Required for Major Study

A major in Sociology consists of at least 54 credit points. This includes the core subjects listed in the table below plus a further 8 credit points at 200 level and 16 credit points at 300 level from the subjects listed on the electives schedule:

Subject Code	subject Name	Credit Points	Session(s)
Core
Students must complete ONE subject from the following:
SOC 103	Introduction to Sociology	6	Autumn
SOC 104	Investigating Society	6	Spring
Plus:
SOC 203	Introduction to Social Theory	8	Autumn
SOC 231	Social Research Methods	8	Spring
SOC 302	Power, Resistance and Society	8	Spring
Electives
Plus ONE subject from the following:
SOC 205	Childhoods, Families and Relationships	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 206	Youth Cultures	8	Spring
SOC 209	New Social Movements	8	Autumn
SOC 210	Genders and Sexualities	8	Autumn
SOC 222	Crime, Criminality and Criminalisation	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 243	Comparative Sociology	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 244	Punishment: Purpose, Practice, Policy	8	Spring
SOC 250	Everyday Interaction	8	Autumn
CST 301	Culture and Emotion	8	Autumn
CST 228	Happiness: Investigating its causes and conditions	8	Autumn
Plus TWO subjects from the following:
SOC 325	Social Research and Social Policy	8	Autumn
SOC 326	Globalisation and Social Transformation	8	Spring
SOC 327	Emotions, Bodies & Society	8	Spring
SOC 341	Independent Research	8	Autumn, Spring
SOC 345	Scenes, Subcultures and Neo-tribes	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 350	Men and Masculinities	8	Spring
SOC 355	Cultures in Dispossession	8	Autumn

Subjects Required for Minor Study

A minor in Sociology will consist of at least 28 credit points from the schedule of the major. It will include SOC 103 or SOC 104, as well as SOC 203 and SOC 231. It must not include more than two subjects at 100-level.

Subject Code	subject Name	Credit Points	Session(s)
Core
Students must complete ONE subject from the following:
SOC 103	Introduction to Sociology	6	Autumn
SOC 104	Investigating Society	6	Spring
Plus:
SOC 203	Introduction to Social Theory	8	Autumn
SOC 231	Social Research Methods	8	Spring
Electives
Plus ONE subject from the following:
SOC 205	Childhoods, Families and Relationships	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 206	Youth Cultures	8	Spring
SOC 209	New Social Movements	8	Autumn
SOC 210	Genders and Sexualities	8	Autumn
SOC 222	Crime, Criminality and Criminalisation	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 243	Comparative Sociology	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 244	Punishment: Purpose, Practice, Policy	8	Spring
SOC 250	Everyday Interaction	8	Autumn
CST 301	Culture and Emotion	8	Autumn
CST 228	Happiness: Investigating its causes and conditions	8	Autumn
SOC 302	Power, Resistance and Society	8	Spring
SOC 325	Social Research and Social Policy	8	Autumn
SOC 326	Globalisation and Social Transformation	8	Spring
SOC 327	Emotions, Bodies & Society	8	Spring
SOC 341	Independent Research	8	Autumn, Spring
SOC 345	Scenes, Subcultures and Neo-tribes	8	Not offered in 2015
SOC 350	Men and Masculinities	8	Spring
SOC 355	Cultures in Dispossession	8	Autumn

Honours

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours).

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 27 November, 2014