ASC308 - Social Theory Rewired: Power, Passion and Post Humanism

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2020 unit information

Important Update:

Classes and seminars in Trimester 2/Semester 2, 2020 will be online. Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect delivery of other learning experiences in this unit. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates one week prior to the start of your trimester or semester.

Last updated: 2 June 2020

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (online), CBD*

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Vince Marotta
Prerequisite:ASC101, ASC102
Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

ASC203, ASC408

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 1-hour class per week, 1 x 1-hour seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

1 x 1-hour class per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week

Note:

*CBD refers to the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute; Community Based Delivery

Content

The unit explores the nature of ‘the social’, ‘society’ and the individual in sociological thought. It introduces students to various approaches to society such as those advocated by neo-liberalism, feminism, critical race theories and queer theories. Drawing on posthumanist and intersectional framework we also examine contemporary social, political and economic issues.

  • develop critical thinking through analytical and conceptual thought;
  • practice interpretation of theoretical texts;
  • demonstrate reasoned points of view;
  • design and produce critical and evaluative written work;
  • locate social theory within contemporary issues and critically evaluate the multiple understandings of the social.
 

These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit

At the completion of this unit, successful students can:

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

ULO1

Define important concepts within sociological theory, such as ‘society’, the individual, the cyborg, post-humanism and the quantified and relational self

 GLO6: Self-management

ULO2

Analyse salient social theories of Karl Marx, Pierre Bourdieu, Dorothy Smith, Michele Foucault, Erving Goffman, Donna Haraway, Rosi Braidotti and Kimberlé Crenshaw

 GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO3

Argue the strengths and weaknesses of different versions of the 'self' and the social and how inequalities can be understood through an intersectional lens

 GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Apply social theories to developments in contemporary society

 GLO5: Problem solving

ULO5

Evaluate a range of sociological and critical theories of ‘the social’, critically examining their predictive implications in relation to relevant empirical evidence and counter-evidence

 GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO6

Argue the value of sociological theory in deepening our understanding of society, the self and identity

 GLO2: Communication

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

Assessment

Trimester 1:
Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)		 Indicative due week
Assessment 1 (Individual) - Class/Online Exercises 800 words or equivalent 15% Week 5
Assessment 2 (Individual) - Essay 2000 words 50% Week 10
Assessment 3 (Individual) - Test 1200 words or equivalent 35% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: ASC308 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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