ASC308 - Social Theory Rewired: Power, Passion and Post Humanism
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | 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 |
| Prerequisite: | ASC101, ASC102 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ASC203, ASC408 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| 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. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
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
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ASC308 can be found via the University Library.
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
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.