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

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:

2024

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

From 2025

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online,

Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Chris Pollard
Cohort rule:Nil
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.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

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

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

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

Note:

*Community Based Delivery (CBD) is for National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute students only.

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.
ULO 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

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Seminar/Online Exercises 600 words
or equivalent
15% Week 5
Assessment 2 - Essay 2000 words or equivalent 50% Week 10
Assessment 3 - Test 1400 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 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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