Sociology

Sociology is offered by the department of Sociology and Social Policy, which is part of the School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS).

Program structure and content
Sociology is the study of contemporary society. Its concerns range from the local to the global, from the everyday world we live in to the large scale questions about global processes and patterns of social life. Sociology provides theoretical and methodological approaches to investigate and analyse social, economic, political and cultural phenomena. The titles of the units we teach reveal the diversity of the fields of study in Sociology and Social Policy. We aim to provide students with strong conceptual and research training. We also emphasise historical and comparative approaches in understanding our globalising world.

The study of sociology is a rewarding and stimulating enterprise, both intellectually and in terms of future career prospects in a variety of professional fields. It is also an important addition to related disciplines such as Government, Economics, Philosophy, Education, Psychology, Anthropology and History, and it usefully complements studies in English, Art History and Theory, Languages, Law and Science.

Requirements for a major
36 senior credit points in Sociology and Social Policy, including SCLG2601 Sociological Theory and one of the methods units, either SCLG2602 Social Inquiry: Research Methods or SCLG3603 Quantitative Methods for Social Science. This is in addition to the first year requirements of SCLG1001 Introduction to Sociology 1 and SCLG1002 Introduction to Sociology 2 and the other junior and senior units required for your degree.

Double Major in Sociology and Social Policy
Many students undertake majors in both Sociology and Social Policy, allowing for the study of social issues both historically and comparatively in breadth and depth. Students intending to complete a double major in Sociology and Social Policy will need to complete SCLG2601 Sociological Theory, either SCLG2602 Social Inquiry: Research Methods or SCLG3603 Quantitative Methods for Social Science, SCPL2601 Australian Social Policy, SCPL2602 The Principles of Social Policy, SCLG2611 Welfare States: A Comparative Analysis and an additional 42 credit points of senior level Sociology or Social Policy. This is in addition to the first year requirements of SCLG1001 Introduction to Sociology 1 and SCLG1002 Introduction to Sociology 2, and the other junior and senior units required for your degree.

First year Sociology
There are two junior Sociology units:

• SCLG1001 Introduction to Sociology 1
• SCLG1002 Introduction to Sociology 2

Senior Sociology
The senior units of study make it possible for students to build on their junior year and focus on particular fields of sociological theory and research. They are grouped under the following themes (some units cut across themes):

1. Social Theory: Sociological Theory, Violence Imaginaries and Symbolic Power; Contemporary Sociological Theory, Law and Social Theory, Global Transformations, Contemporary Cultural Issues, Sociology of Knowledge.
2. Media, Culture and the Self: Social Construction of Difference, Media in Contemporary Society, Self and Society, Childhood and Youth, Sociology of Sport, Sociology of Religion, Sociology of Friendship, Contemporary Cultural Issues.
3. Social Policy and the Welfare State: Australian Social Policy, Social Movements and Policy-Making, Social Inequality in Australia, The Principles of Social Policy, Welfare States: A Comparative Analysis, Development and Welfare in East Asia, Power, Politics and Society.
4. Social Research: Social Inquiry, Quantitative Methods for Social Science, Sociology of Health and Illness, Social Inequality in Australia, Empirical Sociological Methods, Sociology of Knowledge.
5. Law and Social Change: Social Justice, Law and Society, Social Construction of Difference, Crime, Punishment and Society, Violence, Imaginaries and Symbolic Power, Human Rights and Social Protest, Social Inequality in Australia, Law and Social Theory, Indigenous Social and Legal Justice.
6. Health, Medicine and Science: Sociology of Health and Illness, Social Inequality in Australia, Social Construction of Difference, Science, Technology and Social Change.
7. Globalisation: Global Transformations, Human Rights and Social Protests, Sociology of Terror, Environmental Sociology, Urban Sociology, Science, Technology and Social Change.

Cross-listing
Up to 12 credit points from the approved cross-list may be counted towards a major in Sociology.

Honours (see chapter 5 for further information)
Students intending to process to Sociology IV honours must have completed at least 48 senior credit points of Sociology or Social Policy, including SCLG3602 Empirical Sociological Methods, and have achieved an average mark of credit or better in those units.

Contact/further information
Department website: sydney.edu.au/arts/sociology_social_policy
Chair of Department: Dr Catriona Elder
Email: