Course Title: Social and Political Theory

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Social and Political Theory

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

330H Social Science & Planning

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2024

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Internet

Summer2014,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018

Flexible Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO2075

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

PGRDFlex23 (FF)

Course Coordinator: Professor Rob Watts

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8247

Course Coordinator Email: rob.watts@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 37. Floor 04. Room 14

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

The course offers you an overview of major theoretical and political debates and provides an essential foundation for your studies in the Social Sciences. The course will help you to develop skills and understandings which can be usefully applied to your professional work. The course demonstrates that the best professional practice and social theory develop in various forms of dialogue. As a result, the course places strong emphasis on linking theoretical debates to practical examples and dilemmas.
In addition to a focus on applied theoretical content, the course will introduce you to a range of basic postgraduate writing and research skills and conventions. A range of topics can be covered under the heading ‘Social and Political Theory’ and it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance between breadth and depth. The course engages with a number of key themes, such as: wealth and poverty; crime; health care gender and sexualities; race, racisms and racialised states; contesting democracy; environmental social theory; materialism and over-consumption. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

 

Upon successful completion of this course you be able to:

  • Describe the key issues and questions that contemporary social and political theorists have explored
  • Illustrate in written work the capacity to recognise the ways in which diverse theoretical perspectives lead to alternative and competing possibilities for analysis and action
  • Use your knowledge of different theoretical perspectives to debate key social political issues and theories relevant to your chosen area of postgraduate study
  • Illustrate in written work your skills in the preparation of critical written argument appropriate for studies at postgraduate level

In this course you will also develop the following graduate capabilities:

  • Communication
  • Critical analysis and conceptual development
  • Ethics and values



Overview of Learning Activities

You will be able to engage in a variety of lectures and smaller classes.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be provided with access to a range of electronic resources via myRMIT/studies. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on the above learning outcomes and capabilities. You will be required to prepare assessment tasks with a total word length or equivalent of 5,000 words. Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

  • If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
  • A student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
  • Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment