SOCIOLOGY

By studying Sociology at Notre Dame students learn to see themselves and the world in which they live through varying sociological perspectives.  Sociology is the study of society and the way it operates: its cultures, relationships, social stratification and all forms of interaction. Sociology equips graduates with the skills to be problem solvers.  They are well positioned for graduate employment in such areas as social policy, government and politics, administration, business and education. Sociology is a major ideally suited to combination with such professional degrees as Business, Law, Behavioural Science and Education.  It is a discipline ideally suited for application in such postgraduate research degrees as a Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).		Back to Arts and Sciences Fremantle | Sydney
		Units eligible
		Unit descriptions
		Degree Planner
		Internships
		Study Abroad
		Experience the World
		Honours
		Double Degrees available
		Postgraduate Study

SOCIOLOGY UNITS

Sociology is available as a Major and Minor on our Sydney campus.  Some units in Sociology are also available for study in Fremantle.

Sociology units are run on a two-year rotation cycle and consider such themes as social problems and solutions and the development of public policy.

Eight approved units are required for a major in Sociology; six approved units are required for a minor.  Full requirements for the Sociology Major and Minor can be found on the School of Arts and Sciences homepage, published in the Majors and Minors lists. 

Sociology Units
The Sociology programs in Sydney and Fremantle contain such units as the following:

SO101 Introduction to Sociology
SO102 Social Problems and Solutions
SO103 The Social Implications of Globalisation
SO202 Sociology of Childhood
SO203 Sociology of Health and Medicine
SO301 Sociological Theory and Method
SO302 Sociology of Globalisation and Citizenship
SO306 Public and Social Policy
SO307 Human Response to Disaster
SO312 Genocide
AB100 Aboriginal People
PS309 Social Psychology of Justice
RM100 Research Methods

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS, UNITS ON OFFER and DEGREE PLANNERS

The following resources are published on the School’s homepage and provide information regarding unit availability, unit content and program requirements:

• Units on Offer
• Majors, Minors and Specialisations lists
• Degree Planners
• Unit Descriptions

INTERNSHIPS

Students of a range of Arts majors, including Politics, History, Communications, Legal Studies and Sociology, may be eligible to conduct an Internship as part of their degree.  Offered in Semester Two each year, the Internship takes the place of one unit and places the student on location with government or private industry. Students can hope to acquire helpful professional skills as part of the Internship, apply the learning they have so far gained in their discipline area at University, and develop personal and professional networks which may assist them in future employment.
Contact the School of Arts and Sciences for further information.

STUDY ABROAD

The Study Abroad program allows Notre Dame’s Sociology students to spend one semester of their degree at an overseas university in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe or Asia while gaining full credit in their degree at home.  Some students may be eligible for a Student Exchange Scholarship to help reduce the cost of airfares, accommodation and other expenses.

Sociology students may be particularly interested in spending a semester with our North American partners, Boston College or American Catholic University in Washington DC.

For more information please contact Notre Dame’s Study Abroad office.

EXPERIENCE THE WORLD

A variety of opportunities for extended scholarly and service learning exist for those students conducting a degree in Notre Dame’s School of Arts and Sciences.  Participation in these programs will provide students with additional professional and life skills that will not only enrich their learning experience at University, but will make their degree more marketable and attractive on completion.

East Kimberley Community Immersion
Students of such Arts and Sciences majors as Social Justice, Politics, History, Communications, English Literature, Legal Studies, Sociology and Theatre Studies may be eligible to participate in our East Kimberley immersion program.  This unique and often life-changing educational experience sees small teams of students travel to remote communities of Australia’s north-west twice a year.  In such towns as Wyndham and communities as Oombulgurri, Notre Dame students spend four weeks living and working with local young people in a project designed to achieve meaningful reconciliation and greater engagement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia.

This program is normally available as an elective within a degree program and may, on approval of the Dean, be eligible to be counted towards a major or minor.

Caritas Australia development program
We believe that university education should be about more than training for a profession.  Rather, we want Notre Dame students to be ready to change the world.

Students of Arts and Sciences at Notre Dame are eligible to participate in an overseas program we conduct each year in partnership with the aid organisation, Caritas Australia.  Teams of Notre Dame staff and students visit an overseas location such as Cambodia, Uganda or India. In an immersion experience of up to four weeks, the teams explore the development work conducted by Caritas and studies, among other things, the intersection of poverty, development, politics and globalisation.

The Caritas program may be available as an elective within a degree program and may, on approval of the Dean, be counted towards a major or minor.

DEGREE PLANNERS

To review the content of a Bachelor of Arts, Behavioural Science, Communications, Counselling or Science, or to download the official course planner for your degree, please click here.

HONOURS

Students who have completed an Arts, Behavioural Science, Communications or Science degree, with at least a distinction average in their major, may be eligible to undertake a fourth year in the School’s Honours program.

Honours in Sociology provides a professional finish to your undergraduate degree and should make your educational qualifications more competitive in the industry in which you hope to building your career.  Honours in Sociology may lead students to higher degree research such as a Master of Arts (MA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Because of the unique nature of Notre Dame’s School of Arts and Sciences, students completing an Honours degree in Sociology have the opportunity to develop an inter-disciplinary research project which may combine their work in Sociology with such other disciplines as Politics, History or Behavioural Science.

Students completing an Honours program in Sociology will undertake a major research project under supervision, complete coursework in Sociology or related units, participate in a regular interdisciplinary seminar series and contribute to a conference program regarding their research activities.

For further information on Honours please speak with any academic member of staff or contact the Honours coordinators.

INTEGRATED BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) & DIPLOMA OF EDUCATION (DipEd, Secondary)

Students of Sociology may be interested in a combined Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Diploma of Education in Secondary Education (DipEd), now available at Notre Dame.  This four year double degree program provides a double major in two Arts disciplines and integrates training in Education, including practical placements, throughout the four years of study.

This is a highly professional and demanding degree which offers the best of both worlds: thorough grounding in two key disciplines of study as well as extensive training in Educational philosophies and practices.

The integrated BA/DipEd provides those studying such disciplines as History, Politics, English Literature, Theatre Studies, Behavioural Science and Sociology with an opportunity to seek employment in government, private industry or the education sector, and provides students with even greater options for employment upon graduation.  Better still, students enrolled in the integrated BA/DipEd may be eligible to receive a Commonwealth Support Place.

DOUBLE DEGREES

Sociology combines well with the study of other degrees at Notre Dame, including a Bachelor of Communications, Business, Law or Education. 

Adding a Sociology major, or other Arts and Sciences discipline areas, to your professional degree will add to your graduate employment opportunities, increase your learning experience at university and provide you with enhanced writing and research skills.

POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

History, Politics, International Relations, Social Justice, Archaeology, English Literature and a range of other discipline areas are available for postgraduate study at Notre Dame.  A Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are available as postgraduate research degrees by thesis and are completed under supervision by an academic member of staff.