Undergraduate MUR-SOC134-2018

Introduction to Sociology

Begin to see how gender, class, ideology and society influence the way people behave. Get a bird's eye view of the history of sociological study. Probe religion, family and ethnicity. Ask what tools are available to conduct sociological analysis.

Duration

13 weeks

Student rating

3.62

Study method

100% online

Available loans

FEE-HELP
HECS-HELP

Assessments

100% online

Prior study

Not required

Study terms

26 Aug 2019

This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 22,000 students and 2,000 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.

University ranking

Subject details

What you'll learn

At the completion of this subject students will be able to:

engage creatively with the relationship between the individual, society and the globe, using sociological thinking
understand some tools of sociological analysis
understand the history of sociology
analyse the work of some of the thinkers who have influenced the discipline
recognise the relevance of sociology to everyday questions about contemporary issues in the social world
use research, reading and library skills to stimulate and support sociological understanding
use effective communication skills, especially writing skills.

Topics covered

- What is society?
- The individual, society and the world
- Foundations of sociology
- Studying society
- Ethnicity and identity
- Religion and ideology
- Health and society
- Family and gender
- Deviance, lWA, crime and sexuality
- Theories of power
- Work education and sociology
- Review of unit
Study resources
- Instructional methods
  - Discussion forum/Discussion Board
  - Online assignment submission

Entry requirements

Equivalent subjects

You cannot enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

MUR-SOC105

Special requirements

No special requirements

Description

To what extent are we products of our social environments? How do gender, class, ethnicity, ideology, etc., influence how we think and act? What is power, how is it used, by whom and for what ends? What methods can we use to study society? Examine Australian society, using research and insights from sociological theories on the nature of social institutions, power and inequality and the possibility of social change. Have your assumptions challenged and your understanding of the world stimulated.

Assessments

Poster (20%)
1500 word essay (30%)
Contribution to discussions (15%)
Presentation (35%)

Textbooks

Current study term (25 Aug 19 to 24 Nov 19)

Click on the titles of the listed books below to find out more:

Sociology, 6th ed.

Robert van Krieken et al

Required

Sociological Theory, 9th ed.

George Ritzer and Jeffery Stepnisky

Recommended Only

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