Sociology and Anthropology - SOCAB13403
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Social Sciences
Contact: School of Social Sciences
Program: 3403 - Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
This stream structure is for students commencing prior to 2016.
Students commencing from 2016 should refer to the relevant stream version for their program. Please click here for a complete list of programs in which Sociology and Anthropology can be studied.
Sociology and Anthropology are disciplines for students with a special interest in the relations and interactions that constitute individuals, societies and cultures, and in the myriad forms of cooperation, conflict and communication which constitute any society. Both explore the social and cultural realities of human life, seeking to understand how we live our lives. What makes life meaningful? Why do we disagree? Why do we care? What constitutes change? Sociology and Anthropology at UNSW is known for its expertise in critical theory, feminist theory, and classical and contemporary social theory, along with a concern for community engagement, social justice and ethical praxis. We have a strong international reputation for theoretical innovation and teaching excellence.
Aims of the Major Stream
Students commencing from 2016 should refer to the relevant stream version for their program. Please click here for a complete list of programs in which Sociology and Anthropology can be studied.
Sociology and Anthropology are disciplines for students with a special interest in the relations and interactions that constitute individuals, societies and cultures, and in the myriad forms of cooperation, conflict and communication which constitute any society. Both explore the social and cultural realities of human life, seeking to understand how we live our lives. What makes life meaningful? Why do we disagree? Why do we care? What constitutes change? Sociology and Anthropology at UNSW is known for its expertise in critical theory, feminist theory, and classical and contemporary social theory, along with a concern for community engagement, social justice and ethical praxis. We have a strong international reputation for theoretical innovation and teaching excellence.
Aims of the Major Stream
- An understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches that have developed and are developing within and between Sociology and Anthropology.
- An understanding of the nature and extent of diversity and commonality as seen from a variety of perspectives, for example, social, cultural, biological, ecological.
- An understanding of the value of analyses that consider relations between different times, different places and different cultures.
- An understanding of the social nature of the relationship between individuals, groups and social institutions.
- An understanding of the nature and appropriate use of research strategies and methods in gaining sociological and anthropological knowledge.
- An appreciation of the relationship between local, social and global forms, and global processes and broader temporal developments, with particular reference to Australia’s place in the world.
- An appreciation of the complexity of human experience, social situations and events, and an ability to assess the merits of competing explanations.
- An ability to appreciate that human social life is part of a larger natural ecology.
- An ability to question cultural assumptions, and think critically, imaginatively and creatively.
- An ability to undertake independent study.
- An ability to identify the ethical issues in social research.
- An ability to undertake and present scholarly work that values reasoned and open-minded discussion and debate.
- An ability to examine the relevance of sociological and anthropological work to issues in the community.
Stream Structure
A student who wishes to gain a major stream in Sociology and Anthropology must complete 54 units of credit including 12 uoc at level 1, at least 18 uoc at level 2 and at least 18 uoc at level 3 including the capstone course.
Level 1
- ARTS1870 Rethinking the Social (6 UOC)
- ARTS1871 Cultural Experience (6 UOC)
Level 2
- ARTS2870 Global Citizens (6 UOC)
- ARTS2871 Power and Powerlessness (6 UOC)
- ARTS2873 Doing Fieldwork (6 UOC)
- ARTS2874 Culture and Emotion (6 UOC)
- ARTS2876 Understanding the Self (6 UOC)
- ARTS2877 Technologies, Culture, Society (6 UOC)
Level 3
- ARTS3872 Media Publics (6 UOC)
- ARTS3874 Culture and Human Rights (6 UOC)
- ARTS3875 Researching Culture & Society (6 UOC)
- ARTS3883 Personhood in Asia (6 UOC)
- ARTS3886 Living Social Justice (6 UOC)
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Sociology and Anthropology major stream:
- ARTS3758 Global Change Internship (6 UOC)
- ARTS3759 Internship Prep (6 UOC)
Sociology and Anthropology Capstone course (Compulsory)
- ARTS3870 Debates in SOCA (6 UOC)
Note to students in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts:
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts will complete ARTS1871 Cultural Experience (6 UOC) as part of their Social Work core requirement. Students who choose a major or minor in Sociology and Anthropology must complete an additional 6 UOC UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective.
