Big Ideas: Thinking Sociologically
UndergraduateMAQ-SOCX23002027
Course information for 2027 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 18 July 2027
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 26 July 2027
- Price from
- $2,355
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Big Ideas: Thinking Sociologically
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to
- Explain key concepts and perspectives from classical and contemporary sociological theory.
- Compare and evaluate sociological theories for understanding social order, social issues, and uncertainties.
- Apply sociological theories and perspectives to contemporary social phenomena.
- Formulate sociological arguments that integrate theory, concepts and evidence.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
How does our thinking about society change? And how do ideas shape the way we understand the social world? Big Ideas: Thinking Sociologically introduces students to key ideas and debates that have shaped sociology as a discipline.
The unit examines influential classical and contemporary theorists and explores how their concepts help explain social order, class, inequality, change and everyday life. Students develop the sociological imagination by linking personal experiences to wider social structures, institutions, and historical contexts. Through engagement with a range of perspectives, they learn to interpret contemporary social issues and patterns in modern societies. The unit also encourages critical evaluation of different theoretical approaches, including their strengths and limitations. By the end of the unit, students will be able to use sociological theory to analyse social phenomena and communicate informed, well-reasoned interpretations of the social world.
- Reflective Task (20%)
- Interpretive Essay 1 (40%)
- Interpretive Essay 2 (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
MAQ-SOCX1030-Introduction to Justice and Punishment (no longer available)
- MAQ-SOCX1010-Introduction to Sociology: Understanding Everyday Life
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
Others
Pre-requisite 40cp at 1000 level or above
NCCW (pre-2020 units) SOC234, SOCX224, SOC224
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
SOCI2300 Big Ideas: Thinking Sociologically or
SOCI2010 Theorising Societies
SOCX2010 Theorising Societies
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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