Humanities and Social Sciences

Sociology Program

Undergraduate Studies

Common Resources for Current Students

Subjects (units) offered in the Sociology Program reflect the broad and varied nature of the discipline. Sociology is concerned with the study of social life - the structural arrangements and cultural patterns which shape group behaviour at every level of social action, whether global, national or local.

Sociologists work within a number of theoretical and methodological traditions and the range of subjects offered within the Program is accordingly diverse. Within that diversity, however, the program is structured to ensure that students specialising in sociology are conversant with core concepts and basic research methods.

Sociology is recognised as a core discipline for purposes of satisfying the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (ABA) degree in social sciences and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (ABSS). Apart from taking a major in Sociology, students may simply add individual sociology subjects to their degree.

In the first year of study, students are introduced to basic concepts in a range of topic areas and social processes. In second and third year students can select from a broad range of subjects covering topics such as gender, family, social policy, health and medicine, new religious movements, deviance, multiculturalism, social movements, culture, everyday life, community studies, social theory, and others.

A major in sociology consists of 130 credit points of sociology subjects or subjects cross-listed as equivalent to sociology subjects. A major will consist of at least 30 credit points of sociology (or equivalent) at first year, and at least 60 credit points of sociology (or equivalent) at third-year level.

Students taking 130 or more credit points in sociology, or wishing to proceed to honours, must complete at least 20 credit points of subjects classified as research methods, and Current Issues in Sociology (SOC2CIS/SOC3CIS).

Students who have successfully completed a 'core' subject in sociology prior to 1995 will be deemed to have completed the equivalent of Current Issues in Sociology (SOC2CIS/SOC3CIS).