Overview

Sociology is one of the most relevant disciplines for understanding complex social, cultural, and political phenomena today. This "Queen of Disciplines" offers you a range of exciting theoretical, methodological, and conceptual tools for an understanding of human action, social and systemic change, institutions, and the deeper meanings of life. With subject matter such as globalisation, religion, health, work and economy, social movements, gender, and culture, sociologists are often crucially involved in a number of key debates around the ideas and events that impact on real people and their communities. These areas are a part of the sociology major sequence at ACU. You’ll acquire high-order transferrable skills in reasoning, theorising, communicating, and research to do with a broader and deeper perspective of events, all of which are highly sought after by employers.

The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school society and culture teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

Career opportunities

Operating in both government and private industry, sociologists are employed in a variety of roles that centre on people and their environments including community project officers, policy planners and researchers, marketers and social media publicists.

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Completion requirements

A student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. 10 cp from 100-level units (Part A);

b. at least 40 cp from 200-level units (Part B);

c. at least 20 cp from 300-level units (Part C)

Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • SOCS100Introduction to Sociology10 CP
  • SOCS101Global Society and Change10 CP

Complete at least 40 credit points from the following:

  • SOCS207Meaning of Life: Researching Qualitatively10 CP

    Compulsory unit

  • SOCS200All the Feels Emotions Society Culture10 CP
  • SOCS201Social Justice and the New Economy10 CP
  • SOCS202Culture: Rights, Representation, Resistance10 CP
  • SOCS206Globalisation, Religion and Modernity10 CP
  • SOCS208The Power of Social Connection: Social Capital Revealed10 CP
  • SOCS209Race and Ethnicity: Australian and Global Perspectives10 CP
  • SOCS210The Social and Cultural Life of Fijian Young People10 CP
  • SOCS226Global Youth Cultures10 CP
  • SOCS234Sociological Theory and Practice10 CP
  • SOCS235Health, Illness and Wellbeing10 CP
  • SOCS239Sociology of Gender and Sexuality10 CP
  • SOCS243Global Health10 CP
  • SOCS244Difference and Diversity: Social and Sexual Health10 CP

Complete at least 20 credit points from the following:

  • SOCS302People Count: Researching Globally with Quantitative Methods10 CP

    Compulsory unit

  • SOCS300Power Wealth and Welfare: Social Issues and Policy10 CP
  • HUMA332Arts and Humanities Special Project10 CP

Restriction requirement for HUMA332. A quota applies to this unit. An application process applies for special projects on offer and academic merit will be considered. The student must have a GPA of at least 5.5 and be undertaking a major taught by the National School of Arts and Humanities (not including Education Studies, Mathematics and Technology). Permission from the National Head of School is required prior to enrolling in this unit.

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